To build a satisfying career in the 2020s enterprise, technology managers and professionals not only need to be proficient with tools and platforms, but also at understanding the final results the customers are seeing. It doesn't matter how complex your organization is -- even the world's largest aerospace company requires a holistic view of the business. "In IT we have a unique view of company operations that impacts every aspect of the business," says Susan Doniz[1], chief information officer and senior vice president for information technology and data analytics with The Boeing Company.
In this Q&A, Doniz urges technology professionals to be insatiably curious about their businesses, keep thinking about ways to continuously improve things, and, very importantly, keep refining and refreshing their own skills and outlooks:
Q: What types of skills should today's IT professionals be working to develop?
Doniz: Of course cloud, analytics and programming languages, as well as learning the next programming language is important. But I consider the most important thing for an IT professional, or any professional, is that you are a continuous learner. This means continuously improving your coding skills, staying on the edge of whatever your specialty is and being well-rounded.
The other key thing is to understand the business that you support. If you're a consumer or retailer, understanding how people buy is a critical skill set. Or if, like me, your work supports aviation and all the amazing components that keep the biggest exporter in the US running smoothly, it is critical to know how to make the pilot's jobs easier and how to improve factory flow and manufacturing processes.
We have to care about why sustainability and the supply chain and innovation matter so