With decades of administrative experience to her credit, Linda G. Sye’s penchant for business became apparent during her secondary education. Following her departure from high school, she completed coursework at the Harvard Business School and the Patricia Stevens Career College and Finishing School in Chicago. Despite her limited formal education, Ms. Sye garnered a laudable reputation for her work ethic, which has propelled her through the upper echelons of the United States government for more than three decades.
Throughout the course of her career, Ms. Sye excelled as the director of the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission until 1991. She subsequently served as the director of administration for the U.S. Department of Energy. In this capacity, Ms. Sye managed the daily operations of multiple offices, collaborated with the managing directors of other departments and oversaw the correspondences of over 1,000 personnel. Likewise, she maintained involvement with the U.S. Federal Executive Institute, the U.S. Senior Executive Service and the U.S. Federal Managers Association throughout her tenure.
Ms. Sye always had an opportunity wherever she was. When she was in one organization, someone heard about her and called her over to the U.S. Department of Energy. People heard about her and about the different things she did, and that is how she moved up in the federal government. When they wanted someone to run the organization, and clean it up and get people to work together, they would call her. When Ms. Sye was in high school, she took business classes, as she was always interested. She started as a secretary and moved up to an administrative position, and stayed there the rest of her career.
Ms. Sye has been decorated with several accolades for her indelible efforts, including a $10,000 Senior Executive Service Award, a Diversity Management Award and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1996. She has also consistently and diligently volunteered for her local church. She attributes her success to God; everything has been by the grace of God, including her marriage, her children and her jobs. Ms. Sye has since entered into a well-deserved retirement.
Ms. Sye is a trustworthy person and enjoys her life to the fullest. She would like be remembered as someone who was respectful, knowledgeable and someone who did not have to pretend to have a big heart. What motivates her is working with people. Ms. Sye’s advice to others looking to pursue a similar field is that they have the ability to do what they want, so strive to be the best; push forward, have stamina and will power, and you can do it.
