Danielle Wolowitz
Vice President, Corporate Marketing Group, KYOCERA Document Solutions America
Looking back, it’s probably safe to say that Danielle Wolowitz did not have concrete career plans while attending a Catholic university in northern New Jersey. She didn’t know what she wanted to do, but in a sense, she knew what she wanted to be…happy and successful. Her family and friends underscored the philosophy that there was nothing Wolowitz couldn’t do, and that anything was in reach as long as she kept pushing for what she believed in.
Wolowitz wasn’t satisfied with pursuing a traditional path. A career as a teacher or nurse may make for a fine vocation, but she wanted to see what else was out there. In the end, she found her calling in perhaps the most unlikely of places: the world of imaging technologies.
“I’ve made the perfect world for me,” said Wolowitz, the vice president of corporate marketing for KYOCERA and a 2018 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “I’m passionate about what I do, I love what I do and excited about working with tremendous people. The support I received from my family while growing up helped to mold that.
“You may not follow the most traditional path in the world, and it may not be what you thought you would do when you were younger. But there is nothing that is out of reach.”
Mock Meets Reality
Fate played something of a role for Wolowitz’s journey to the industry. While in college, she was asked by a professor to lend a hand with career day by participating in a mock interview—in front of the student body—to portray all of the elements of a good interview. She was interviewed by a recruiting director for Ricoh, who was duly impressed by her performance…so much so, in fact, that the woman who interviewed her asked if Wolowitz had a resume or was looking to do an internship.
“The professor practically leaped over the chair, handing my resume to the Ricoh recruiter,” Wolowitz laughed.
Wolowitz began her career with Ricoh in 2001, writing speeches and creating PowerPoint presentations. She worked on a product called Document Mall, an offsite document storage solution, and literally had to learn about the technology on the fly. Four years later, she applied to KYOCERA for a position as a trainer in the Northeast region, but the company felt she was better suited as a product manager—the genesis of what has grown to a 13-year career with the organization.
What Wolowitz finds most rewarding is the opportunity to be a part of the many changes taking place in the industry. “I love watching the evolution of the dealers, the sales organizations, even the companies themselves,” she said. “When I started, I knew nothing about the devices. I learned about hardware through the software side. Software has always had a special place in my heart. Even today, with the movement toward ECM and document BPO, I gravitate toward that side of the business because the transformations that we can have and the things we can do on that aspect are going to help drive the rest of the business. It’s exciting to be a part of that change.”
On the Move
Wolowitz relishes being a part of the industry transformation. She enjoys challenging the status quo and looking for ways to be more creative, innovative and efficient. To her, it’s all about pushing the limits.
“I’m not one to sit still,” she said. “That’s not who I am.”
She is also thankful for the many mentors she’s encountered along the way. Her first boss at Ricoh, Shogo Hyakutake, took a flier on the inexperienced Wolowitz and provided immeasurable guidance. Similarly, she has enjoyed a give-and-take relationship with Nori Ina, KYOCERA’S global president, who has challenged her to think differently and challenge the status quo.
The 2017 campaign proved an exciting one for Wolowitz and KYOCERA, especially in light of the company’s acquisition of DataBank IMX, which she found both thrilling and engaging, given its potential to transform KYOCERA. It has extended into 2018, as Wolowitz’s team is working to support the dealer community with their ECM and document BPO initiatives. And with the arrival of KYOCERA’s inkjet product slated for 2019, the ceiling for success is unlimited.
Creative Outlets
Danielle and Christopher Wolowitz have been married 11 years next month; the couple met while working at Ricoh (her brother-in-law is also in the industry). They have 6-year-old twin boys, Ethan and Aidan. As they live about one mile from the shore, the Wolowitzes enjoy hitting the beach year-round (weather permitting) and enjoy fishing off the surf with the children.
“It’s our happy place,” she added.
Her family also owns a donut shop in Point Pleasant Beach, and Wolowitz (who helps out on weekends) is always an office favorite at KYOCERA when she comes in bearing the tasty treats. One of the house specialties is a Bruce Springsteen donut—vanilla glaze with red, white and blue sprinkles.
“Everything at the shop is custom made, and they all have fun names and different combinations of toppings,” she said. “It allows me to tap into a different side of creativity.”
