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].
Comments (1)
1. 06-20-2009 11:37
Mr. Leader has very savvy hiring and training practices. In a company such as iRobot where technology is the product being sold, it would be interesting to learn if the CIO role is considered more central to the success of the business than it might enjoy in other industries.
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