Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
Your Career
How to Be a Super Tech Leader
7/1/2008
Secret #3: Be an Insider
After her promotion, instead of going out and looking for funding to tackle various projects, Gorney-Moreno was in a position to help facilitate others' projects, a role she relished. "I thought I had the best job on campus," she says. After a national search for the permanent post, five finalists were in the running, including Gorney-Moreno. That's when she used her "insider" advantage.
"Because I had been a faculty member on this campus for about 20 years, I was able to speak effectively to areas that needed change," she recalls. "One benefit of being an inside candidate: You can quickly develop this kind of needs assessment." That included the ability to identify available funds to address those needs-- a skill she picked up from her time in the academic senate. What's more, Gorney- Moreno had already proved her ability to deliver, plus she had insider ties to the campus segment most resistant to tech innovation. In its offer letter, the hiring committee cited the fact that she'd completed several innovation projects already, and was somebody who would be quickly accepted by the campus, particularly the faculty.
Secret #4: Once Inside, Get Outside
In order to succeed in her new position, Gorney-Moreno needed to expand her understanding of technology. That's when she recalled advice from her predecessor: "Be off campus once a week." In Silicon Valley, teeming with technology conferences, seminars, and workshops, this wasn't hard to do.
She also joined three organizations: 1) the Directors of Academic Technology, which represents the administrative staff at California State University campuses responsible for integrating IT into the learning and teaching environment; 2) Exceptional Women Executives, an SJSU alumni association; and 3) an IT advisory committee, which also operated across the CSU system. She became active in industry associations and began visiting corporate and academic IT organizations in the region. In short, she expanded her technology education and her understanding of best practices, and enhanced her professional network.
"Because I had been a faculty member on this campus for 20 years, I was able to speak effectively to areas that needed change. One benefit of being an inside candidate: You can quickly develop this kind of needs assessment."
Secret #5: Head to Boot Camp
The new tech VP's education really took off during an intensive two weeks at Emory University's (GA) annual Frye Leadership Institute. The program draws IT professionals, librarians, and administrators who want to help define and transform academic information services within their schools.
Recommended Reading
- Get Users on Board
- Greening IT
- It's a Zinch
- Meeting up Virtually
- Online Tutorials to the Rescue
Now's the time to use online tutorials to streamline professional development and help desk management.
- Retention Rx
