In today’s society, IT and technology careers are very much in vogue. For example, David Cameron and Boris Johnson have both championed Silicon Roundabout in East London as one way to boost our flagging economy. The future, it seems, is tech-shaped.
Linked to this potential rise in IT careers is a myth that I’d like to shatter. It’s simply not the case that you must know programming and hold a computing degree to succeed. Yes, of course, the aforementioned skill is required, but technical programming skills are only one part of what IT can offer as a career choice.
IT is no longer about sitting in a basement working alone. It’s about collaboration, solving problems and how you market and manage your start up or enterprise. The tech community comprising creators, designers and sales people all play their part in changing the business and consumer world.
The most amazing thing about technology is that we have no idea what revolutionary things it will enable us to do over the next few years. What we do know is that all of these innovations – present and future – will need thousands of people who understand how technology and business work, if they are to be successful.
Understanding this technology and more importantly how your staff and customers tick, can offer tech staff a path to the boardroom. In fact, if you’re a CIO reading this right now, I bet you could be CEO if you’re prepare to put in the time and commitment to your enterprise.
A great example of this type of career rise is the story of Philip Clarke, Tesco’s current CEO. Philip started at the company as a humble part-time assistant, aged 14. He worked his way up, thanks to management training, to hold the Head of IT role.
Today, Tesco has promoted Philip to CEO and promoted current IT director Mike McNamara to the post of CIO. Clarke’s rise to the top has been seen as vindication of the importance of IT in businesses such as Tesco.
The story of Tesco highlights that such a transition from the tech to the sales target world is possible. Key to making this career leap is having transferable skills. For example, project management is deemed the most in demand in business, according to a recent CompTIA skills report. You may have this under your belt even if you’re not from an IT background.
So if you’re a programmer currently sipping a skinny latte near Silicon Roundabout dreaming of a management role, please believe that it can be achieved. On a positive note, you’re probably in small start-up, where your influence will take you up the ladder faster than the Tesco story.
Alternatively, if you’re a strong leader, have good business skills but you’re not from an IT background, believe you too can succeed. It just takes motivation, perseverance and the ability to manage and predict how technology will develop in the future. See you near the Roundabout soon. I’ll have an Espresso.