Straight to the Top

Praise for the second edition of Straight to the Top There was a time when getting to the CIO seat took a lot of hard work, a little bit of career risk, the ability to connect with people around you, surrounding yourself with the most talented people who are passionate about the same things you are, the ability to deliver the solutions that matter, and the grace of God. Gregory has added another tool and a fresh perspective on the role of the CIO. The climb to CIO is still not easy, but there is good practical advice and guidance for those making the climb and those who want to stay there. -Ed Anderson, Global CIO, World Vision International Whether you aspire to be a CIO, are already a CIO, or possibly another type of business leader who just wants to leverage the power of information to give your company a competitive advantage, this is a great read. Gregory's insights will help keep your innovative juices flowing. -Earl Monsour, Director, Strategic Information Technologies, Maricopa Community College District The CIO role is one of the most challenging executive positions, and it is only getting tougher. With data moving closer to the revenue stream of nearly every industry, CIOs are responsible for innovation, operations, cost containment, security, and product development-a heady brew! In the second edition to his excellent book, Gregory Smith addresses the evolution of the CIO role and, in an engaging writing style, provides guidance to IT leaders who aspire to CIO greatness. -Martha Heller, President, Heller Search Associates, LLC; author of The CIO Paradox: Battling the Contradictions of IT Leadership Straight to the Top is a visionary's look at what aspiring and current CIOs must do to succeed in the new mobile, social, and cloud-based world. Smith's book is not just for future and current IT leaders, but a must-read for all CEOs before they hire their next CIO. -Anne C. Topp, Vice President and CIO, World Wildlife Fund This book offers a rare combination of advice to both CIOs and aspiring CIOs alike, advice on how to develop and hone their skills as well as how to deal with some of the thornier issues afflicting IT organizations today. [Smith's] advice is sound, straightforward, practical, and based on his personal experience and successful tenure as a CIO at leading organizations. -Josh Jewett, CIO, Family Dollar, Inc.