For nearly three decades, Ted Ellefson, principal program manager in Normandale, Minnesota, has helped develop recording head technology at Seagate. Ask him what he is most proud of though, and he will not point to a technical milestone. He will tell you about helping others grow.
“The most rewarding thing I’ve experienced is seeing the people that I support, mentor or manage get promoted or move into new positions.”
Ted Ellefson
Principal Program Manager, Minnesota, USA
“The most rewarding thing I’ve experienced is seeing the people that I support, mentor or manage get promoted or move into new positions,” Ted says. “To think I might have played some small role in helping their development, that’s been the most rewarding part.”
For Ted, meaningful work has always been about more than the technology itself. It’s also about the people who turn ideas into something real.
Solving problems together
Ted has spent his career helping innovation take shape, one step at a time.
“Every day we’re taking ideas off the whiteboard,” he says. “They turn into designs, then experiments, more problem-solving, and eventually a technology becomes part of a product.”
Making that happen requires people with different skills and perspectives. Throughout his career, Ted has worked with colleagues in Thailand, Northern Ireland and across the United States.
“It’s really interesting to work in a place where you hear so many languages and know people across the world,” he says.
Those global connections have given Ted opportunities to solve challenging problems, learn from others and see what teams can accomplish together.
Relationships that shape a career
After serving as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, Ted joined Seagate through a friend’s referral in 1996.
As Ted’s work evolved, supporting others became an increasingly important part of his career. Today, colleagues turn to him for advice, encouragement or a different perspective when they are working through a challenge.
“If you don’t know something, that’s okay,” he says. “There are a lot of people here willing to work with you to help figure it out and solve problems.”
That commitment to others extends beyond Ted’s day-to-day role. He helped establish Seagate’s Military & Veterans employee resource group and was one of the original members of the Minnesota Women’s Leadership Network. These communities gave him new ways to support colleagues, share experiences and build a stronger sense of belonging.
Curiosity beyond work
Ted’s curiosity doesn’t end when he leaves work. He restores vintage Cushman scooters, helps care for cattle on his family’s farm and tends beehives with his wife. These days, one of his favorite projects is introducing his granddaughters to scooter restoration.
“I’ve put wrenches in my two granddaughters’ hands,” he says with a laugh. “Every time they come over, we go out to the garage.”
Whether he’s developing technology, mentoring a colleague or sharing a new skill with his granddaughters, Ted believes progress begins with people who are willing to learn and help one another. For him, that’s what makes the work meaningful.
Looking for challenging work and people to help you grow? Explore careers at Seagate.
