So, you didn't expect IPG's SVP of Operations to be a die-hard "Boss" fan?
Think again.

"For me, he's the hardest working guy in rock and roll, and he sings about everyday people and everyday problems. He has a tremendous work ethic. He still puts on three hour concerts at 53 years old."

It's this type of integrity that Fawkes admires and tries to instill in his management practices. He lists integrity of communication-not having hidden agendas, and integrity of intent as essential ingredients of a successful team, because they drive trust.

A Firm Foundation
Growing up in a small Iowa town, Fawkes lived in the same house for the first 21 years of his life. He took his first airplane trip at 23. He characterizes this period as giving him "an appetite for the world."

This wanderlust has been held in check by the many parts of the world that he has had the opportunity to visit and live in, thanks to HP. Leaving behind his life as a Midwest CPA, Fawkes started as an internal auditor for HP in Palo Alto, CA in 1979. He counts Palo Alto, Roseville, Corvallis, Puerto Rico, Barcelona, and most recently, San Diego as places he has called home.

Global Challenges
Managing a worldwide team can be challenging at times, especially since the most feasible time for his disbursed group of team members from Europe, Asia, and the U.S. to meet is usually around 6:00 a.m. in his time zone.

But early mornings aren't nearly as formidable as the other work-related challenges that Fawkes takes in stride. Uppermost is "gluing together the multitude of external manufacturing partners and tying together the go-to-market teams in each region with the R&D and business units."

Looking Ahead
What excites Mike about HP's future?

"If you would have asked me that question in, say 1984, there is no way I would have said, 'HP is going to have the biggest printer business in the world. We weren't even in the printer business.'

But now HP is by far the biggest printer company in the world. So, it's difficult to accurately predict what the future holds.

"We continually reinvent ourselves, and adapt to the technological and business situations. This ability to adapt and create has always been a fun part about working with this company, and this industry."