Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »

CIO Executive Council

A Peer-Advisory Service and Professional Association for CIOs

Webcast: In the Google Apps Cloud: How to Achieve Your Business Objectives

Dec 3rd, '09, 1 - 2 pm US/Eastern (GMT-5)

Join Council member Brent Hoag, Director, Global IT, at JohnsonDiversey, as he discusses the adoption of Google Apps which has helped meet four corporate goals; sustainability, simplification, increased employee productivity and global collaboration.

Webcast: Collaboration Initiatives: Benchmarks & Best Practices

Dec 15th, '09, 4 - 5 pm US/Eastern (GMT-5)

Join Council members Ruth Thorpe, VP & CIO at the U.S. Pharmaceutical Operations of Sanofi-Aventis, and Gary Kuyper, CIO at Bethany Christian Services, as they speak about their collaboration initiatives and experiences in how and why they chose the social networking and collaboration tools they are using and their business goals for collaboration, and facing culture change challenges.

Data Overview: Collaboration Initiatives Field Guide: Benchmarks & Best Practices

This appendix to the Council Field Guide provides an analysis which discusses benchmarks for collaboration IT implementation costs, adoption rates and payoffs. The overview identifies top IT and business goals and satisfaction rates for collaboration initiatives as well as best practices and lessons learned for implementing collaboration IT.

More / Register »

Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »

RESOURCE CENTER

buy a link »

Career Strategist

Why Even CIOs Need Smart Friends

Regardless of how senior you are, there's someone that knows more than you do. We asked CIOs at Parexel, USG and elsewhere for their best relationship-building techniques.

Leave a comment

By Martha Heller

October 28, 2009 — CIO —

When my editor called to ask why my column was late, I said, "Column? What column?" With limited time to produce a draft, I rushed to my CIO network in search of help. Within 48 hours, I was the grateful recipient of a wealth of information from successful CIOs about their approach to relationship building.

1. Build a strong professional network. "When it comes to professional organizations, don't just show up for social events," advises Jo Hoppe, CIO of Parexel International and president of the Boston Chapter of the Society for Information Management. "Make a genuine contribution and the rest will follow. Before long, you'll be asked to speak at conferences, serve on boards and build more expansive networks."

2. Meet the investor community. "If you are adopting a new technology, reach out to investment firms that are funding it and ask how to get involved with their portfolio companies," suggests Rahul Merchant, Partner at Exigen Capital and former CIO of Fannie Mae and Merrill Lynch. "They will appreciate your market perspective and may invite you to join an advisory board. You'll gain an increased appreciation for the business of IT and a valuable new professional network."

To read more on this topic see: How to Be a Successful Mentor and How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People.

3. Volunteer externally. "Nonprofits need your help," says Jennifer Scanlon, CIO of USG. "Seek out one that fits your personal or professional passion and determine how it can benefit from your skills." Sheleen Quish, CIO of Ameristar Casinos, agrees. "Early in my career, I was doing a lot of community work on behalf of my company, like running city walks for the American Heart Association and serving on multiple nonprofit boards," she says. "When I became a CIO, I was able to bring some of the communications experience I developed through those outreach roles to work effectively across the business."

4. Volunteer internally. "Identify internal projects that could use your talents, work with your management team to get involved and demonstrate your value beyond your traditional role," says Scanlon (who raised her hand for corporate strategic planning, a function she now runs). Linda Jojo, CIO of Energy Future Holdings, calls it "getting out of the pile." "Volunteering for special projects may give you the internal visibility to have a shot at new roles."

5. Find a mentor. "Early on in my career when I was at Procter & Gamble, I had a mentor in the IT group and one in R&D," says Manjit Singh, CIO of Chiquita Brands. "Working with these executives gave me a valuable perspective on what I was trying to do in IT." Regardless of how senior you are now, there is always someone who knows more than you do. Your job is to find them and learn from them.