Y O U R L i F e & C A r e e r PA T H
Cut Out for Consulting? BY KIM S. NASH
thrive
Consulting can provide a lucrative alternative career. But it's not the right fit for all CIOs.
C A r e e r Perhaps you've seen the writing on the wall; you can’t remain a CIO forever. Maybe you're tired of corporate life and want to ditch ‘The Man’ and become your own boss. But if you are considering becoming a consultant, listen up: Some CIOs aren't cut out for the job. If you have power-hungry tendencies, for example, you may want to keep your day job. Consulting differs from being a career CIO in that a consultant doesn't rule an IT department. He or she can offer advice, but not issue directives, says James Sutter, senior partner at IT management firm The Peer Consulting Group, and former CIO of Xerox and Rockwell. In the absence of hierarchical authority, influence and persuasion are now important parts of the job, says Sutter. You need to get things done, much like a CIO does, but you may have to emphasize different skills than you've used in the past. And if you ask those who've done it, they'll tell you that the transition won't necessarily be easy.
IllUST RATIoN BY M M SHANIT H
Market Yourself Consulting involves marketing that may not come naturally to everyone, especially when the product you're selling is yourself, says Jesus Arriaga, president and CIO of CIO Strategic Solutions, a consulting firm he started three years ago after CIO stints at Keystone Automotive
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