DXC Technology Chief Information Officer, Kristie Grinnell, discussed her journey into IT with IDG Connect, as well as the importance of encouraging women into STEM, and why building culture starts with living our values every day.
Kristie is responsible for leading business transformation including defining IT strategy for new digital capabilities, streamlining current operations and improving overall efficiencies and performance of DXC Technology's IT environment — all with the goal of enabling DXC to provide excellence and innovation to its customers worldwide.
She is a strong supporter of academic STEM programs for young women, is a recipient of the 2018 Women in Technology STEM Leadership award, Washington Business Journal's 2020 Women Who Mean Business Award, a 2020 Capital CIO of the Year ORBIE Award Winner and a 2021 National CIO of the Year ORBIE Award Winner and most recently Top 100 Women in Tech and Top 100 Leaders 2022 from Technology Magazine.
A true business leader
Kristie highlights the responsibilities of a CIO: "As we saw through COVID and many of the supply chain issues we had worldwide, every company is a technology company and every process needs technology to enable or accelerate it. The CIO role is more and more seen as a true business leader helping to drive and enable business strategy while innovating for competitive advantage. This will continue to mature and morph as business and industry changes demand."
Problem solving through teamwork
Discussing DXC's company culture, Kristie says: "Our culture starts with our corporate values, and it’s driving it down through not just words but actions. For example, we have activities and event to bring our DXC Technology IT community together, such as DXC IT’s Got Talent, Parent Panels, a Holiday Showcase, Gaming with Grinnell - that type of thing. We also have conversations and solve problems together with our values at the forefront. My entire team has a goal “to live our values everyday."
Always be curious and a continual learner
And her advice for aspiring IT leaders?
"I would say ‘Just do it and always be curious.’ The best way to prove you’re the right one for the role, is to just do it. And if you’re curious and continually learning, you can always find that next thing."
Kristie says her biggest accomplishments at all the roles she's taken is putting the right team of talented people around her, so that they can be successful overall. "I see my career achievements as everything my team has accomplished."
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.