RYAN WALKER
Chief Information Officer at Net3 Technology
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
What path have you taken to your current position?
I've been into computers my whole life, since long before it was common for people to have PCs in their houses, thanks 100% to my dad. As it became time to start working, I naturally gravitated towards computer-related jobs from retail sales, through support, then onto server support, some light development roles, and from there into a much larger data center and infrastructure architecture positions, and finally into management.
One of the memorable milestones in my career was when I sat in my chair at my desk in my office for the first time as Enterprise Architect of a banking services company that I'd worked at for a number of years. I realized then that the grind up until that point was starting to pay off, I'd achieved everything I'd looked forward to up until that point in my career, and the direction I would go from here was completely unknown and completely up to me. The 13 years that have passed since then have been less grind and more fun.
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?
It had not always been my goal to become a CIO. I had the blessing (or that's how I see it now) of working for some truly awful narcissists earlier in my career. I never wanted to grow into upper management or achieve that if it meant that's who I'd become.
What I was able to take away from those experiences though shaped me and the way I interact with my staff now. I serve. I listen. I promote. I help educate and grow. I care.
Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey? (If you feel comfortable, please share their name and how they helped you)
Without a doubt, the number one influence on me personally and in my career has been my parents.
Through the beginning, and through hard times, as I grew, I always followed their examples of being the best I can be, understanding what it takes to stand out among my peers, and providing real value for my employer.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
I have to stay grounded. I have to keep my company grounded. It's really easy to get sucked into the shiny new thing, marketing buzzwords, and what others are doing.
That's not to say that all new things are bad, but they have to be weighed cautiously against processes and technologies that work and have brought you this far.
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
It's no different than what leaders today need. Solid-based experience to draw from, an understanding that it's now the next generation's time to learn and grow, and the ability to pass the torch when it's time.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
Grind. Earn it. Experience doesn't come cheap, but will pay dividends.
"Experience doesn't come cheap, but will pay dividends."
What has been your most significant achievement or proudest moment as a technology leader?
I'm most proud of my career and what I've built every time someone says they'll come to work with me again.
A big thank you to Ryan Walker from Net3 Technology 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.
