2017 Hot List Recipient
2020 Hot List Recipient
2021 CEO of the Year
Accolades
Media
Milestones
1995
2001
2005
2008
2011
2016
Vale is appointed to his first international role at 3M's Caserta site in Italy
1995
Returns to Austin, where he becomes a Wave 1 Six Sigma Master Black Belt
2001
Appointed to the role of managing director, 3M Spain, where he spends three years accelerating growth in that country
2005
Returns to the US to take up the role of vice president and general manager of Aearo Technologies, LLC, acquired by 3M that year
2008
Moves to 3M’s corporate headquarters in Minnesota as executive vice president, Consumer Business Group
2011
Appointed executive vice president, Health Care Business Group, where he spends three years focusing on growth opportunities
2016
On the cutting edge of safety
Michael Vale, PhD, will mark 30 years at 3M this September, an important milestone in a career spent entirely at the company, steadily rising through the ranks to lead its largest business today.
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, in the US, Vale’s interest in science began in high school when he first became fascinated by chemistry and the chemical processes that weave through the fabric of everyday life. He graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earned his PhD in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“I was a graduate student in chemistry at MIT, working in a research group there on chemical catalysts,” says Vale.
It was common after graduating, he says, for individuals to either continue into academia or join one of the large chemical companies. Vale, however, wanted to take a different path. “I was looking for something that could open up a broad range of options for where I could take my career."
And after spending a few years in New England, Vale was keen to return to his roots – and warmer climes – in Texas.
He came across 3M at an MIT job fair, and it seemed to tick all the boxes for what he wanted in an employer, including market diversity, a reputation for innovation, and the opportunity for international experience. Vale was eventually hired to work at the company’s facility in Austin, TX.
That very first job at 3M in 1992 was as a senior chemist assigned to the product development team working on thin film coatings for transparency films.
After spending three decades at 3M, Vale now serves as president of the company’s Safety & Industrial Business Group. He was appointed to the role in 2019 after leading two of 3M’s other business groups, Consumer and Health Care. He has also held international roles in Italy, Spain and Brazil.
“I’ve devoted my professional career to this company, so I’ve seen 3M from many different angles,” says Vale. “This multidimensional, almost insider-outsider view has been so valuable, especially now as we work to reimagine what’s possible for the company.”
“The pandemic accelerated the global trends we had been seeing, and part of that is the expectation that business is done the responsible way, especially when it comes to protecting people,” says Vale. “We believe strongly that we can use science, our unparalleled expertise, and a culture of collaboration to drive performance, safety and reliability for our customers.”
Throughout his years at the company, Vale has been a trailblazer. He is the highest-ranking Latino executive in 3M history, a source of great personal pride and a catalyst for positive action.
From 2019 to 2021, he served as the executive sponsor of the Latino Resource Network, an employee resource network that focuses on increasing the Latino/Hispanic sense of community and representation at 3M in the US.
“It was such an energizing opportunity to represent Latinos and Hispanics at 3M, and my commitment to advocating for diverse communities and the issues that are important to us will only continue both at 3M and in the world beyond,” says Vale.
The key to building such a strong and lengthy career is understanding what makes a good leader – and as one of the biggest leaders in safety, Vale knows a thing or two about strong leadership and the qualities one should have.
Leaders need to be good listeners, says Vale, and be able to give constructive feedback – but must also take feedback with the same willingness. He highlights the follower-leader mindset, saying that “it’s back to that idea that you’re only as great as your team.”
“We’re a company of tremendously innovative products; we also have these inherent strengths within the business.” When customers think of 3M, says Vale, they think of things like quality and trust. “All of that is built on the strength of our people. The most respected quality of a leader at 3M is the ability to develop a team.”
Authenticity is also key to good communication, says Vale, who emphasizes connecting in an authentic, transparent way with the teams that report to you and asking questions like “What’s their path?” and “What’s their greatest value?” so that they can understand, move forward and feel appreciated for their contributions.
The follower-leader model is key to driving business success because, at a certain point, he says, you reach your maximum capabilities. “Eventually, it doesn’t matter how good you are, it’s just not enough,” says Vale. “What then really matters is how great you can make your team.”
“It’s being able to develop a team in a way that makes your workforce even stronger than the leaders themselves are on their own,” he says. “Management is not necessarily about having all the answers, it’s about making sure we’re focused on the right questions. The team ideally leads me to the answer, and my job is to make sure that they’re thinking about the questions in the right way.”
If Michael Vale’s past is any indication, the answers for 3M’s Safety & Industrial Business Group are in capable hands.
Spotlight
He adds that working for a single company has never gotten old. “I feel like I’ve kept learning all along the way thanks to the diversity of opportunities at 3M, but also because we take on big, tough challenges in the world.”
Vale runs the company's largest business group, which generates about $13 billion a year in revenue and is responsible for all aspects of the business and how it interacts with 3M’s clients, employees and stakeholders.
Vale says 3M views its global promise as “solving the world’s greatest challenges together, helping transform businesses and improve lives.”
For the Safety & Industrial Business Group, that means transforming how work
gets done.
3M is a company built on scientific, technical and marketing innovations. Founded over 100 years ago, its products are now an integral part of most homes and businesses around the globe. 3M’s areas of expertise include healthcare, consumer goods, transportation and electronics, and worker safety. In 2014, the company issued its 100,000th patent (around 3,000 are granted to 3M each year). Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 3M generates billions of dollars each year in sales and is a constant fixture in the Fortune 500 list. Since the start of the pandemic, the company has played a critical role in leading the fight against COVID-19. In 2020, 3M made two billion respirators globally.
Company Profile
1902
YEAR FOUNDED
70
Countries with
3M operations
60,000
Products sold globally
200
Countries where
3M products sold
96,000
Employees worldwide
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
years in the industry
29
Tenure at current position
2017 - Present
Fast Facts
Started career at 3M after graduating from MIT
Highest-ranking Latino executive in 3M history
Held international roles in Spain, Brazil and Italy
Was a state-level water polo
player in college and graduate school
Michael Vale
Group president, Safety & Industrial Business at 3M
Michael Vale, PhD, has spent the better part of his career focusing on innovation. His unique and trailblazing career puts him in an excellent position to help shape the future of 3M
Read on
“I’ve devoted my professional career to this company, so I’ve seen 3M from many different angles. This multidimensional, almost insider-outsider view has been very valuable, especially now as we try to reimagine what’s possible for the company”
Michael Vale, PhD,
3M
“Eventually, it doesn’t matter how good you are, it’s just not enough. What then really matters is how great you can make your team”
Michael Vale, PhD,
3M
LEADER PROFILe
Top
Insight Leaders
Overview
General Stats
Insights
Share
2017 Hot List Recipient
2020 Hot List Recipient
2021 CEO of the Year
Accolades
Media
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2016
2019
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2011
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2016
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2019
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
On the cutting edge
of safety
Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
And after spending a few years in New England, Vale was keen to return to his roots – and warmer climes – in Texas.
He came across 3M at an MIT job fair, and it seemed to tick all the boxes for what he wanted in an employer, including market diversity, a reputation for innovation, and the opportunity for international experience. Vale was eventually hired to work at the company’s facility in Austin, TX.
That very first job at 3M in 1992 was as a senior chemist assigned to the product development team working on thin film coatings for transparency films.
After spending three decades at 3M, Vale now serves as president of the company’s Safety & Industrial Business Group. He was appointed to the role in 2019 after leading two of 3M’s other business groups, Consumer and Health Care. He has also held international roles in Italy, Spain and Brazil.
“I’ve devoted my professional career to this company, so I’ve seen 3M from many different angles,” says Vale. “This multidimensional, almost insider-outsider view has been so valuable, especially now as we work to reimagine what’s possible for the company.”
He adds that working for a single company has never gotten old. “I feel like I’ve kept learning all along the way thanks to the diversity of opportunities at 3M, but also because we take on big, tough challenges in the world.”
Vale runs the company's largest business group, which generates about $13 billion a year in revenue and is responsible for all aspects of the business and how it interacts with 3M’s clients, employees and stakeholders.
Vale says 3M views its global promise as “solving the world’s greatest challenges together, helping transform businesses and improve lives.”
For the Safety & Industrial Business Group, that means transforming how work gets done.
From those forums, a common theme arose that has plagued the industry for years: the amount of paper required in transactions.
“We have a motto to ‘axe the fax,’ and we saw this opportunity where members didn’t want their staff going into the office, but there are still physical cheques going back and forth,” Adams explains. “We put in place, in just six months, Ad-Hoc Money Movement [A$M]. We responded to the industry and are in the process of replacing cheques, which I think is awesome. We launched in January and have seen so much volume. We think ultimately we are keeping people healthier by not having to travel into the office.”
While she’s proud of the strides Fundserv made in 2020, Adams acknowledges that it was a challenging time as a leader. Not only did she have to ensure Fundserv kept running efficiently as her team transitioned to working from home, but she was also filled with concern for her team members.
“I just worried about our employees, their mental health and if they would be OK,” Adams says. “I like to see people, so I set up one-on-ones just to connect with them.
Moving forward, Adams says Fundserv’s goals remain aligned with those of its members, and her team will continue listening and understanding what members need so the organization can evolve accordingly. She adds that she wants Fundserv to be so good at providing a secure and reliable service that members forget it’s there – and she wants the company to continue to inspire change in the industry.
“It is sad that it took a pandemic to recog-nize the cheque issue and solve it,” Adams says. “What we will do in the future is root out those things in the industry and not wait for a pandemic to ignite change. There is no reason we can’t change. Change, like auto-mation, will accelerate from now, and we’ll do our part to keep it going.”
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
years in the industry
29
Fast Facts
Started career at 3M after graduating from MIT
Highest-ranking Latino executive in 3M history
Held international roles in Spain, Brazil and Italy
Was a state-level water polo
player in college and graduate school
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Career highlight
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
Share
LEADER PROFILe
Top
Insight Leaders
Overview
General Stats
Insights
Share
2017 Hot List Recipient
2020 Hot List Recipient
2021 CEO of the Year
Accolades
Media
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2016
2019
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2011
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2016
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2019
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
On the cutting edge
of safety
Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
And after spending a few years in New England, Vale was keen to return to his roots – and warmer climes – in Texas.
He came across 3M at an MIT job fair, and it seemed to tick all the boxes for what he wanted in an employer, including market diversity, a reputation for innovation, and the opportunity for international experience. Vale was eventually hired to work at the company’s facility in Austin, TX.
That very first job at 3M in 1992 was as a senior chemist assigned to the product development team working on thin film coatings for transparency films.
After spending three decades at 3M, Vale now serves as president of the company’s Safety & Industrial Business Group. He was appointed to the role in 2019 after leading two of 3M’s other business groups, Consumer and Health Care. He has also held international roles in Italy, Spain and Brazil.
“I’ve devoted my professional career to this company, so I’ve seen 3M from many different angles,” says Vale. “This multidimensional, almost insider-outsider view has been so valuable, especially now as we work to reimagine what’s possible for the company.”
He adds that working for a single company has never gotten old. “I feel like I’ve kept learning all along the way thanks to the diversity of opportunities at 3M, but also because we take on big, tough challenges in the world.”
Vale runs the company's largest business group, which generates about $13 billion a year in revenue and is responsible for all aspects of the business and how it interacts with 3M’s clients, employees and stakeholders.
Vale says 3M views its global promise as “solving the world’s greatest challenges together, helping transform businesses and improve lives.”
For the Safety & Industrial Business Group, that means transforming how work gets done.
From those forums, a common theme arose that has plagued the industry for years: the amount of paper required in transactions.
“We have a motto to ‘axe the fax,’ and we saw this opportunity where members didn’t want their staff going into the office, but there are still physical cheques going back and forth,” Adams explains. “We put in place, in just six months, Ad-Hoc Money Movement [A$M]. We responded to the industry and are in the process of replacing cheques, which I think is awesome. We launched in January and have seen so much volume. We think ultimately we are keeping people healthier by not having to travel into the office.”
While she’s proud of the strides Fundserv made in 2020, Adams acknowledges that it was a challenging time as a leader. Not only did she have to ensure Fundserv kept running efficiently as her team transitioned to working from home, but she was also filled with concern for her team members.
“I just worried about our employees, their mental health and if they would be OK,” Adams says. “I like to see people, so I set up one-on-ones just to connect with them.
Moving forward, Adams says Fundserv’s goals remain aligned with those of its members, and her team will continue listening and understanding what members need so the organization can evolve accordingly. She adds that she wants Fundserv to be so good at providing a secure and reliable service that members forget it’s there – and she wants the company to continue to inspire change in the industry.
“It is sad that it took a pandemic to recog-nize the cheque issue and solve it,” Adams says. “What we will do in the future is root out those things in the industry and not wait for a pandemic to ignite change. There is no reason we can’t change. Change, like auto-mation, will accelerate from now, and we’ll do our part to keep it going.”
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
Years of Experience
29
Tenure at current position
2017 - Present
BAsed In
Toronto, Ont.
Fast Facts
Started career at 3M after graduating from MIT
Highest-ranking Latino executive in 3M history
Held international roles in Spain, Brazil and Italy
Was a state-level water polo
player in college and graduate school
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Career highlight
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
LEADER PROFILe
Top
Insight Leaders
Overview
General Stats
Insights
IN Partnership with
News
Topics
Resources
Events
Best In Safety
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Key Media
Advertise
About us
Contact us
Privacy
Terms of Use
RSS
Newsletter
Digital editions
Authors
External contributors
News
Topics
Resources
Events
Best In Safety
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Key Media
Advertise
About us
Contact us
Privacy
Terms of Use
RSS
Newsletter
Digital editions
Authors
External contributors
News
Topics
Resources
Events
Best In Safety
Subscribe
“I’ve devoted my professional career to this company, so I’ve seen 3M from many different angles. This multidimensional, almost insider-outsider view has been very valuable, especially now as we try to reimagine what’s possible for the company”
Michael Vale, PhD,
3M
“Eventually, it doesn’t matter how good you are, it’s just not enough. What then really matters is how great you can make your team”
Michael Vale, PhD,
3M
63,514,128
NUMBER OF ORDERS PROCESSED IN 2019
1983
YEAR FOUNDED
70
Countries with
3M operations
60,000
PROPORTION OF WOMEN AMONG FUNDSERV EMPLOYEES
200
PROPORTION OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Copyright © 2022 Key Media
Advertise
About us
Contact us
Privacy
Terms of Use
RSS
Newsletter
Digital editions
Authors
External contributors