Brian Shield, CIO, Safe-Guard Products International
Brian Shield
“Maybe in the past CIOs could be successful by being pretty good at what they do, but now they have to be thought leaders. So you want to be able to have connections to other CIOs and industry leaders so you can learn from them,” Shield says.
He also believes in the value of having mentors — more than one, he stresses. “These are people who I can turn to to understand the current state of tech and where it’s going, people who can help with leadership skills and who can help with my team,” he says.
8. Create a community
Creating a community for oneself is another common strategy these CIOs have employed throughout their careers.
Shield landed in Boston in 2013 to become SVP and CTO at the Boston Red Sox, following a stint as CEO of Shield Consulting Group, EVP and CIO at the Weather Channel, and other executive positions.
