James Tramel

Chief Information Officer at TESCO

Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself

Lancaster, PA, Chief Information Officer of TESCO.

What has your journey to your position been like? What path have you taken?

I've been in technology for most of my career. I did web design and web work in the .com era, while pursuing a PhD and doing 180 credits in college, before I decided to leave academia and do what I was good at - software.  After a few years consulting, learning networking, CRM and databases, I joined Campbell's Soup in the merging technologies division.  From there, I went to Microsoft for almost a decade working on the Visual Studio, GitHub, Azure, AI and co-pilot teams.  

Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?

I've always wanted to own strategy, lifecycle, and really an entire part of a business, end-to-end.  Growth and building has always been a passion of mine, and doing that end-to-end was important to me.

Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?

When I was thinking of leaving Microsoft, I joined NYU's Stern School of Business for my MBA.  The people, mentors, and professors there were all outstanding and helped propel me to this new role.

How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?

Technology is always changing and evolving.  I see staying power in AI, which I look at as applied statistics with software and endless data.  I see robotics, IOT, blockchain, self-driving cars, and automation all being around for years to come.  

What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?

Understanding that customers and users don't need a newer and better drill, what they really need is a hole.  Results. 

How do you keep current with new skills, technologies and personal development?

Venture capital, private equity, corporate governance, board positions and ownership are next on my horizon - either in the startup or publicly traded world.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career so far, and how did you overcome it?

Turnaround businesses are not only the most exciting, but the most challenging.  I've been in the driver's seat more than once, and I've found that getting fundamentals right, back to basics, is critical with a keen eye on what's next.

"Encourage a growth mindset and always learning."

What has been your most significant achievement or proudest moment as a technology leader?

10x growth.  I've done it time and time again, in almost every role I've ever had.

How do you ensure that you and your team stay updated with the latest technology trends and industry best practices?

Encouraging a growth mindset and always learning.  I'm more worried about a team that doesn't learn and stays than a valuable asset that learns and leaves.  I want everyone around me to be their best selves and strive for excellence.

A big thank you to James Tramel from TESCO for sharing his journey to date.

If you would like to gain more perspective from Tech Leaders and CIOs you can read some of our other interviews here.