The transformations underway across corporate America are also spurring more boards to seek directors with tech backgrounds, giving information chiefs more exposure to leadership and putting them on the track to be considered for the top spot.
Wassenaar 's trajectory serves as one of the few examples out there for information chiefs interested in pursuing a similar career path. Prior to Puppet — which works with companies like Staples and the New York Stock Exchange to automate IT tasks like data security and cloud management — she was the CEO of drone operator Airware. Wassenaar also sits on the board of directors of research firm Forrester.
Wassenaar also earned an MBA from the University of California, though it's not a path she would necessarily recommend for up-and-coming CIOs today. While the programs provide great networking opportunities, exposure to a breadth of different areas of expertise, and the time to refine critical analytical and executive skills, those benefits can now be gained elsewhere.
"There is an increasing interest at the board level to have more technology-savvy, data-savvy, cybersecurity-savvy people sitting in the boardroom," she said. The next step is shifting your mindset from being in an operating role to a strategic advisor. "That, interestingly enough, is probably one of the hardest shifts," she added.
One common mistake among CIOs, however, is failing to expand your network beyond other tech leaders. It was a "key differentiator" for Wassenaar .
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