Name: Edward Granger-Happ
Title/Employer: CIO/Save the Children
Age: 54
Education: BA, plus graduate work (ABD, liberal arts at Drew University
Tenure In IT industry:30 years
First Tech Job: FORTRAN programmer for a corporate finance department in a Wall Street investment bank.
What's been your best job and why?
My current job. I bring the most of my skills and talents to bear and I'm highly valued for what I do. Also, being CIO for a nonprofit brings together my three strong interests in "giving back", business and technology.
What do you think is the number one non-IT skill IT professionals need today?
Communication skills are number one. Business knowledge is a very close second. But being able to play the role of translator between technology and business is fundamental and presupposes knowledge of both.
What do you credit your career success to?
Hard work, carnivorous reading, being the perpetual student, and being at the right place at the right time.
What are the top three skills a high-level IT manager needs today?
Communication, hard work and the ability to attract the right talent for your team, bring out their strengths, and serve their needs.
What's your favorite IT resource site and why?
Google. When I have a question, I want the shortest distance to the answer.
What is the best career advice you've ever received?
Twenty-five years ago, from a VP of marketing when asked if I should pursue an MBA: "You already know more than an MBA does; what would you learn?"
What's the top advice you'd give to a new IT staffer?
In a few weeks (or less) you will feel overwhelmed by all the things you need to know. That's a good sign; it means you won't be bored in six months.
What would you advise someone looking to find the type of role you currently have?
Look first to your people skills and translation skills, and less to your technical skills.
What is the one career decision you would change if you could?
I would have gotten the MBA. Career choices and options are as much about credentials as skill, opportunity and serendipity. That said, experience provides the fodder for an interesting book my next goal.
If you had the choice to jump into any other job, tech or non-tech, what would it be?
This is the lottery question. If I won the lottery, what would I do? No question: I would teach—probably the MBA students who I "already know more than" as that would be an engaging learning experience.
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