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"Believe in and demonstrate IT as a business enabler and don't avoid risks."
InformationWeek, May 5 2008, 1000 hrs
Career Track
How long at current company: 14 years
Career accomplishment I'm most proud of: Working with a team that has transformed the IT application and operations structures at Global Crossing from a cost-containment shop to a business strategic enabler. More rewarding, we accomplished this while having a direct impact on the success of the business transforming itself from Chapter 13 to a growth company.
Most important career influencer: My father taught me to lead by example, find the best in people, and focus them on how to have an impact. He was a Detroit city firefighter who moved up to chief, managing the busiest areas, and he turned "trouble" personnel into some of the most decorated.
Decision I wish I could do over: I guess--no, I know--I've made many mistakes over the years. However, I typically don't dwell on whether a wrong decision can be done over, but instead attempt to learn and look forward.
Vision
The next big thing for my business will be ... automation of IP services, as part of which customers will have control and, when needed, real-time access to consultative expertise via unified communications tools.
Best advice for future CIOs: Believe in and demonstrate IT as a business enabler and don't avoid risks. Think broadly, taking on the business challenges that help drive the vision and mission success, demonstrating new ways of doing things that directly influence other leaders within the business.
On The Job
IT budget: $60 million
Size of IT team: 310
Top three initiatives:
- Deliver system initiatives that support the corporation's 15 program priorities
- Auto-activation of business IP services
- Improve reliability of our infrastructure from four nines to five nines
How I measure IT effectiveness: We measure contribution to business development priorities in terms of new products, productivity improvements, and efficiency, and we use a scorecard of key IT measurements, including labor contribution to service revenue, system availability, various cost-per-unit areas, and internal customer-support satisfaction.
Tech partners: HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sun
Personal
College/degree: From Wayne State University, a BS in electrical engineering
Favorite sport: College football.
Leisure activities: I enjoy golf as well as dabbling with electronics.
Last vacation: Dakota national parks
If I weren't a CIO, I'd be ... doing product development or R&D.
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