Subsequent CIO UK recognises and celebrates the rising stars within the UK IT sector. Subsequent CIO will assist aspiring digital, information and expertise leaders develop their careers, construct their skilled networks and enhance their skillsets. This can be carried out by editorial content material, an in-person awards ceremony in London and mentoring from Subsequent CIO UK judges and former CIO 100 winners alike.
Judges Nadine Thomson, Dave Roberts and Dom Howson sat down with CIO UK editor Doug Drinkwater to debate how the brand new Subsequent CIO programme might help aspiring leaders to realize recognition and enhance their profession prospects. The trio additionally reveal what they’re hoping to see in award submissions.
Register right here to sign-up for Subsequent CIO UK by 21st March.
The ability of communities like Subsequent CIO and CIO 100
The inaugural Subsequent CIO goals to carry collectively future expertise leaders collectively from all walks of life, and it’s this sense of neighborhood that Dave Roberts, international IT director at Stantec, says could be invaluable as your profession progresses.
“I feel creating this Subsequent CIO neighborhood is actually going to offer that improbable help that may assist folks to essentially flourish and develop of their roles,” he says.
Dom Howson, CIO at Viridor, has seen this first-hand, having been a frequent member of the CIO UK 100.
“I’ve benefited an terrible lot from the CIO 100 neighborhood and throughout it,” he says. “I’ve realized heaps in my profession. Extra from my friends and folks that I take heed to, and their experiences, fairly than any glossies that you just may get from a vendor. I feel that’s massively highly effective – the ability of this neighborhood.”
Nonetheless, Howson acknowledges that few communities exist for aspiring digital, information or expertise leaders to community and study. It’s right here that Subsequent CIO UK will play an lively position, bringing profitable cohort members collectively on the awards ceremony, and providing complementary mentoring and workshop alternatives all year long.
Mediacom’s international CTO Nadine Thomson believes such communities could be the place to bounce concepts off friends, improve your profession prospects and make buddies within the course of.
“What I’ve acquired from the CIO 100 neighborhood is connections, networks and help — and that’s so vital in your profession.
“Plenty of the CIO 100 change into buddies; we exit for a espresso or a glass of wine and, and only a actual help community that perceive a number of the challenges you’re going through on a day-to-day foundation.”
Subsequent CIO seeks numerous future IT leaders
With Subsequent CIO UK concentrating on digital, information and expertise professionals with aspirations of being in a senior government position inside 5 years, it represents a possibility to recognise creating skills whereas addressing the IT business’s greatest flaw – range.
Highlighting that solely 17% of ladies work in expertise and the shortage of ethnic illustration (Editor’s word: within the CIO 100 UK 2021, solely 21% had been ladies, and 15% had been from black or Asian backgrounds), Thomson says Subsequent CIO represents a possibility to rejoice a extra numerous group of future leaders.
“I like to see extra feminine leaders and I do know that we as a judging group would like to see extra numerous leaders in all areas, throughout the board.
“For me, it is a approach of serving to us attain the next-generation of expertise leaders, to encourage and showcase a range of expertise leaders, and present you can come from any form of profession path to get into that CIO or CTO spot.”
Howson and Roberts say that aspiring leaders will want a large breadth of expertise and expertise to graduate to the highest desk when the time comes, and this stresses the significance of CIOs creating detailed succession plans. Thomson, in the meantime, believes the evolution of senior expertise roles means there isn’t any ‘one-size-fits-all’ in terms of the CIO or CTO place.
“Totally different corporations want totally different experiences,” she says, revealing how one start-up might require deep technical experience, whereas a FTSE 100 firm might have a frontrunner who provides actual management expertise.
Alternatives for mentors and mentees
Profitable 2022 Subsequent CIO UK cohort members can be eligible to obtain one-on-one mentoring from Subsequent CIO UK judges and CIO 100 members. Roberts sees a transparent profit for each events.
“I feel it’s extremely vital to have the ability to have folks in your journey that can provide you an unbiased view of what you’re going by on the time,” he says.
“Ranging from the mentee perspective, it’s actually vital you set out that you just’ve acquired a transparent agenda on what you need to obtain,” he provides, persevering with that the mentor in flip, should present ‘lively listening’ and non-prescriptive steerage.
Howson, who like Thomson and Roberts who can be one of many mentors on the Subsequent CIO programme, additionally sees benefits for mentors in studying from mentees.
“As a mentor, you get one thing out of it as effectively. Most likely coping with a circumstance, a query or a bit of recommendation that we haven’t needed to cope with earlier than. You’re employed it out between you.”
To register your curiosity in changing into a mentor, please electronic mail Doug Drinkwater.
Methods to apply for Subsequent CIO? What to incorporate in your submission?
Purposes for Subsequent CIO UK are actually open till twenty first March 2022. Award submissions could be made instantly by the nominee, or on their behalf by a line supervisor or senior government.
All entries can be reviewed by the skilled judging panel and the winners can be introduced on the dwell awards ceremony in London on 16th June 2022.
“Have the arrogance and apply,” says Thomson. “For those who’re on the [webinar], then you definately’re adequate put an software in. That may be my name to arms.”
Different prime suggestions from the judges from the on-demand webinar:
- Be genuine, passionate and mirror in your achievements from the final 12 months.
- Present a degree of element in your achievements…however be concise and to the purpose.
- Present information and proof the place attainable, in addition to help from senior leaders.
- Present the place you’ve had clear enterprise affect.
- Illustrate the way you’ve taken new approaches to fixing issues.
- Present a willingness to pursue skilled growth.
- Perceive that not everyone seems to be a storyteller – however write the submission in your individual phrases
- Recognize that nobody is the completed article – everyone seems to be studying.
- Ask a colleague to evaluate your software earlier than submission
Register right here to sign-up for Subsequent CIO by 21st March.
