CIO Straight Talk - Issue 7 - 57

supportive and see effective IT as a

are striving to apply technology

many interviews to hire each of my

competitive advantage. They keep

to improve the lives of patients

two direct reports, but they're top

raising the bar and our team keeps

and improve engagement with our

performers. Another two of my direct

delivering. And, more importantly,

customers. It's less about my personal

reports started at the very lowest

I enjoy my team and the people with

career path now and more about

level of the IT organization. One was

whom I work.

making a difference in the business

working on the service desk; he's our

I feel like I've worked for four

while developing IT leaders of the

CTO now. The other was a contract

different companies since I joined

future. I've said you can never be

programmer; today he's the head of

Purdue Pharma. When I first

bored in IT. There's always something

systems development and analytics.

came aboard we were in a period

new. Most recently, we've been

Now I learn from them every day and

of rapid growth. Then we lost a

investing in predictive analytics

they will be CIOs one day - when

very important patent and had to

and machine learning-something

they choose.

restructure, entering a very difficult

we weren't even thinking about five

period of downsizing. After things

years ago. We created an innovative

all the changes, one concept stayed

stabilized, we started growing again

analytics capability that delivers 10x

true and unwavering - when you

and got even larger. Then last year,

performance at 20% of the cost with

combine what's best for the business

we hired our first external CEO

positive business results.

and what's best for an individual's

In all my experiences and through

One of my passions is to help

career, and then add challenging

bringing an exciting, new strategy

others develop and find ways in

assignments to the mix, you can

and culture to the company.

which they can make an impact

really make good things happen.

and grow their careers. I enjoy the

How will you take control of your

embedded in the business, I've had

challenge of finding exceptional

professional destiny today?

the chance to have an even more

talent and developing them into

significant impact in my role. We

leaders. It took more than a year and

(from Merck, coincidentally) who is

As IT gets more and more

The Takeaways
* To succeed in your career, you have to take a DIY - do-it-yourself - approach. You can't rely on a company or a
boss or a mentor to develop your career. You have to take the initiative.
* Reaching your career goals requires taking some calculated risks, both in deciding to make the move to a new
company and in establishing your position within an organization.
* At some point in your career, it becomes less about you and more about the positive difference you can make, in
the lives of customers and the young talent coming up behind you.
* Things change so fast in IT that, more than in many industries, you need to constantly be learning and updating
your skills. And that's what makes this field so exciting.

CIO Straight Talk - Issue 7

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CIO Straight Talk - Issue 7