Page 6 - Campus Technology, November/December 2017

IT MANAGEMENT rhea kelly 10 Tips for Up-and-Coming CIOs
Higher ed IT leaders share their advice for aspiring chief information officers, from finding a mentor to developing communication skills and more.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN to be a higher education chief information officer? For those aspiring to the position, it can be a daunting combination of technical know- how and business savvy, diplomacy and communication, management skills and more. We asked IT leaders at colleges and universities across the country what advice they would give someone looking to become a CIO — what they have learned from serving in the role, what newbies should watch out for, what is most important to know. Here’s what they said.
Mark Askren
Vice President for Information Technology, University of Nebraska
“Aspiring CIOs should invest time learning the entire realm of being a CIO and where their personal preferences fit. Pay attention to reporting lines. Is there an ideal reporting line for your particular career goals? What teams do you believe should report to the CIO? Are there organizational structures, either reporting up or in the IT organization, that you think are deal-breakers for your career? Or will you accept anything and work for changes that you believe are important? How willing are you to move to find the right position?
“Develop your public speaking and communication skills. During the course of a week, as a CIO, I may be presenting to the board, giving a presentation for a local group or to a student organization, leading a cross-functional team around a table, or writing a news release. Early in my career, I underestimated how much time I would
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CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY | November/December 2017
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