CIO Straight Talk - Issue 8 - 30

recommendations to client executives. I enjoyed the

China for a 15-month consulting engagement. The

dynamics of the job-dealing with technology,

request came out of nowhere and was certainly

with vendors, with clients. So my first job became

not on my career roadmap! At the time, I was

my entry into the world of IT.

managing a global IT team of 350 people and

After a year, my career got a big boost when I

we were making tremendous progress as an

began working in managerial positions at larger

organization. Then here came this request to

global companies. My start in management was at

move to China, leave my team - and become an

a consumer goods manufacturing company, where

individual contributor, no less! I took what may

I quickly moved up the management ladder. I did

have seemed like a risky career detour and was

this by assuming more responsibility, going out of

exposed to an entirely new culture, learning and

my way to tackle new challenges, and taking risks

experiencing things I never would have otherwise.

by speaking up when I had solutions to problems.

It opened my eyes to a whole different market,

Within ten years, I had worked my way to a

helped me build relationships with individuals

director's position.

on the other side of the world, and made me a

From this experience, I learned I could have a
seat at the CIO table by earning my way there.

stronger leader. It was one of the best moves I
ever made.

One of the biggest messages I have for women
in IT is to take charge of your career and don't
wait for someone else to do it for you. In fact,
regardless of gender, the key to a satisfying
career is to identify what your aspirations are and
what you need to do to reach your goals. When I

Realize the Source of
Your Success
I've learned some of my biggest leadership
lessons from the mistakes I've made. At first, they

came up against a glass ceiling or felt I could not
advance the way I wanted to, I took action. That
might mean learning something new, assuming
stretch responsibilities in the organization, or even
I strongly encourage women in IT to own their
careers. Look out three to five years, set targets
for yourself each year, and go get the experience
you need to reach your next objective. Once you
do that, you have a career road map, and that
becomes your guide. Maybe you want to manage
a team of 50 associates by the time you're 35.
Perhaps you want to be a director in five years.
Or you might be interested in becoming proficient
at a particular technology. Figure out where
your passion lies and determine a way to get
there. But at the same time, don't close the
door on unexpected opportunities that
present themselves.
I vividly recall the CIO at a global financial
company I worked for encouraging me to go to

30

"

Think big and think
holistically. Be bold
with pursuing your
dreams; the worst that
can happen is finding
out that the timing isn't
right. If you don't try,
you'll never know.

"

moving to a different company altogether.
CIO Straight Talk - Issue 8

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CIO Straight Talk - Issue 8
