Alternative Careers for CIOs
Profiles of three IT executives who have paved new career paths outside of IT.
CIO — It wasn’t so long ago when the only opportunity facing CIOs seized by the desire to tackle new challenges was to move to a larger firm. Today, IT executives have more opportunities than ever to expand their careers. As the CIO role has grown more business oriented, strategic and recognizable, the skills required to perform the job successfully, such as the ability to sell ideas, build consensus, attract and retain talented staff, and manage a budget, are not unlike the skills necessary to carry out any other executive role. Consequently, more and more CIOs are moving into operations, becoming CEOs, and joining technology vendors in business development roles, to name just a few of their potential paths.
“There are some things you develop as a CIO, certain transferable skills like getting alignment between IT and senior management, developing leaders and strategic planning that there’s a need for [regardless of what you do],” says Carl Dill, the former CIO of Time Warner and McDonald’s who’s now chairman of Technology Solutions Co.
Sometimes, pursuing a new career isn’t something you intended. Whether you were laid off or forced to resign from your position, you’re suddenly out of a job and need to find something new. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a CIO. Take stock of your career, assess your skills and think creatively about other professions where you can use those skills. This is a valuable exercise even if you’re currently employed since having a back-up plan in the event you do lose your job is always worthwhile, says Sheleen Quish, the former CIO of a manufacturing company who’s now a consultant.
Sandra Hofmann, the former CIO and chief people officer of Mapics who’s now COO of the Turknett Leadership Group, agrees: “Anybody who finds themselves at that time for a career change—or who has one thrust on them—needs to reflect on their exceptional skills that they could transfer to other industries or positions and that are skills which they want to continue to use.”
What follows are profiles of three former CIOs who’ve moved into new roles and the skills that enabled them to get there.
Carl Dill: Taking Control
Current Role: Chairman, Technology Solutions Co.
How He Got There: The AOL and Time Warner merger announced in 2001 eliminated most of the corporate IT function, and with it Carl Dill’s position as CIO of Time Warner. Although he was offered a job running a start-up infrastructure services business within the combined company, Dill, then 56, decided it was time to do something different.
