Get comfortable with failure
As part of the Hays DNA of a CIO report, Sheila Becker asked me to answer some core questions about my career challenges and the lessons I would pass on to the next generation. I hope this is helpful for other IT professionals, no matter where you are in your career.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of this job is the constant challenges I face on a day-to-day basis. I love learning new things every day. I still look at myself as the underdog in this business since I’m only 23, but the great thing about technology is that it really is a leveler – if you have a good idea that is well executed you can compete against bigger companies and people with more experience.
What is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced along your career path? How did you overcome this?
Most people gradually come into leadership, but I started this company and was thrown into that role without a lot of support or experience. Not having that career path to leadership I had to be proactive about learning those skills and finding resources. My main approach was to find great mentors and pick their brains so I learn from others’ experience instead of having to learn everything from my own trial and error.
One mistake people make when approaching a mentor is not knowing what they want or need to learn. You only get as much from a relationship as you ask for, so know what someone has to offer you and ask them to teach you about that.
How important is it to be exposed to all areas of the business?
It’s key to be aware of and understand the different business needs and functions because that’s going to inform technological decisions and vice versa. I always speak up early on when I don’t understand something. If you don’t ask out of pride or embarrassment you’re only delaying the inevitable, and potentially missing important insights that will inform business decisions.
How important is networking and what role has it played in your career?
Networking is very important. I would say that almost all my success and my company’s success has at least partly been thanks to networking. Business development at its core is a relationship between two people; every contract, negotiation, project – it all comes down to individual people. So when we talk about networking it’s about understanding that web of relationships and knowing how to connect with the people in yours.
How important is social media for networking?
At this point for most individuals and companies social media is non-negotiable. If you’re not on social media in at least some way then you’re missing a lot of opportunities and connections. As a growing company, social media is also a great way to build and maintain interest because people can watch your growth, they invest in your successes and you’re top of mind for any future projects or opportunities to work together.
What advice would you give to the next generation of professionals aspiring to become a IT leader?
Get comfortable with failure. Fear of failure is what holds people back, especially early in your career. Not every idea is going to be a winner. As long as you’re learning from those failures and you do better next time then that failure has contributed to your long-term success. Part of this is recognizing failure and knowing when to move on. Pay attention to the data and analytics and know how you’re measuring success, and learn when you should invest more resources and when you need to walk away.
The DNA of a CIO report is available now. You can request a copy, or visit the website to read all the interviews with IT leaders.