Robert Field https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmfield/
Guests:
Karen Higgins-Carter https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-higgins-carter/
Dr. Janet Sherlock https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-sherlock/
Michael Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwshome/
This episode focused on the personal journeys of leaders as they embraced board positions, portfolio careers, and new forms of impact, all while addressing the emotional and practical realities of leaving a C-level executive seat.
[00:00] Intro
[00:33] Tech Day in Pink: Mission, Growth, and Impact
[05:34] Event Details and Community Engagement
[07:23] Panelist Introductions and Career Overviews
[10:10] Life After CIO: Career Transitions and New Ventures
[14:39] Preparing for the Next Professional Chapter
[18:43] Evolving Identity: Branding Beyond the CIO Role
[22:44] Broadening Business Value and Board Readiness
[28:57] From Operations to Portfolio Careers: New Challenges
[35:07] Finding Purpose and Joy in Post-CIO Careers
[40:17] Overcoming Hurdles to Board Positions
[46:39] Planning Your Transition: Advice for Current CIOs
[50:04] Final Reflections: Emotional Aspects of Transition and Staying Connected
[53:30] Connecting with the Panelists & Closing Remarks
Michael Smith shared the inspiring origin and growth of Tech Day of Pinkโa global initiative he founded to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. With participation now over 2 million people and 100 companies globally, the event combines social engagement, education, and philanthropy.
https://www.techdayofpink.org/
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐
๐ฏ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ๐: Stepping away from the CIO role requires intentionally redefining your identity and being comfortable letting go of the weight the title carries. Leaders emphasized that adaptability and authenticity are essential as you move into new professional chapters.
๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ: Cultivating a diverse, robust network is crucial when planning a transition to board or portfolio roles. It was stressed that successful networking should reach beyond other technology executives to include CEOs, leadership peers, and vendor partners.
๐งญ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ: Defining your sources of joy, fulfillment, and purpose is foundational. Having clarity about personal and professional goals guides decision-making and provides direction in career transitions.
โ ๐๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Moving from operational leadership to portfolio work brings emotional adjustments, including missing daily team interaction and navigating new forms of professional fulfillment. Leaders highlighted the need for purposeful energy management and staying connected to former teams.
๐ ๐๐๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐: ๐บ
๐ Michael Smith, who spent decades as a CIO at companies like Nike and Estรฉe Lauder, now owns a professional football club in Northern Ireland, the Carrick Rangers. Running the club involves everything from fan apparel to educationโalmost everything except tech!
๐ก๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ
๐ฏ Michael Smith emphasized that the hardest part about leaving the CIO role was missing the daily interaction and camaraderie with colleagues, noting the importance of being proactive in maintaining those relationships after transitioning. He also encouraged everyone to remember that while the nature of connections changes, finding fulfillment and impact in new contexts remains essential.
๐ Karen Higgins-Carter pointed out that a portfolio career involved spending more time alone, likening it to the life transition after college, and advised listeners to find new ways to restore their energy and stay connected. She also recommended deliberately managing time and being selective about commitments to ensure ongoing fulfillment and effectiveness.
๐ Dr. Janet Sherlock cautioned about the emotional aspects of career transition, acknowledging the sense of loss from leaving daily team dynamics and company affiliation, but highlighted the newfound freedom and agency that came with portfolio work. She suggested that proper planning across mental, emotional, and financial areas could make the transition enjoyable, while reinforcing the importance of readiness for such a major change.
๐ค Robert Field reiterated his appreciation for the guests and the value of their collective wisdom, stressing that professionals contemplating transition should consider the advice shared in the event.
๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐!
You will gain actionable strategies for executive career pivots, hear unfiltered stories of navigating identity shifts and board transitions, and learn how to prepare yourself for leadership beyond the CIO.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐:
https://www.youtube.com/@InstituteDigitalTransformation/?sub_confirmation=1
๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
https://www.institutefordigitaltransformation.org/