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By Lisa Yoon
CIOZone: How has the recession affected IT at iRobot?
Jay Leader: We've been fortunate in that business has been fairly strong. That said, we're very sensitive to IT spending. We look for areas where investment will bring the highest return.
CIOZone: As CIO, how do you assert the case for IT spending when, at a lot of companies, IT is an easy place to cut back?
Leader: I express the case in terms of the user's benefit: we're investing not it IT; it's an investment in the business. I think of IT as Switzerland: we're neutral. We don't serve IT's interests. We serve the interests of every part of the business. IT is a pure service organization.
CIOZone: What is your leadership philosophy?
Leader: My job is to enable capable people to do their jobs well. That means giving them freedom [to innovate and be creative] and knocking down barriers to success.
CIOZone: What's your approach to hiring?
Leader: I favor drive and talent over pedigree. I look for people who want and take responsibility. I look for intellectual curiosity. I often hire people who are brighter than I am.
[In addition,] it is so important to find the right person. I have always regretted a "panic hire," when I did them earlier in my career. Every single person makes a gigantic difference. At one company, I left a position open for five months and did the job myself [in addition to his CIO duties] until I found the right person.
CIOZone: Do you encourage professional development for your staff?
Leader: Every person in IT has a training plan and completes. It's built into the budget, whether it's leadership training for the managers or courses at the Boston Society for Information Management.
CIOZone: What about your own professional development?
Leader: I've had some executive coaching. At the C-level you need different kinds of skills and qualities to hone, such as emotional intelligence and leadership. So I find one-on-one coaching to be most effective. I also learn from other CIOs; I belong to a Boston-based CIO group. And I sometimes attend seminars, and I also work with my suppliers [to stay current].
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