Against the backdrop of a global economic recession and alarmingly unpredictable markets, enterprise CIOs are juggling short-term tactics with long-term strategy as they look toward 2010 to revitalize their businesses. Some CIOs are even discovering a silver lining in the current downturn in the opportunities to re-prioritize projects that streamline business processes, optimize IT spending or refocus on engaging customers more directly.Companies with strong financial positions are acquiring competitors to grow marketshare, so IT must be agile enough to rapidly integrate new businesses into current operations. Business process redesign (BPR) is emerging as a No. 1 priority at many organizations, and the expanding CIO role is trending strongly toward business leadership skills. CIO magazine’s State of the CIO 2009 research shows more than two-thirds of enterprise IT leaders already have significant responsibilities in business units beyond IT.
From a technology standpoint, 2009 will spark heightened interest and ongoing investments in IT solutions that strengthen companies moving forward — such as business intelligence and data analytics, data center/storage virtualization, videoconferencing, Software as a Service offerings and a host of web-based software and services. Farther out on the horizon, but definitely catching CIO attention, are cloud computing models that promise even greater control over variable IT costs.Through interactive workshops, detailed case studies and presentations by peer CIOs, this CIO Leadership Event will deliver actionable, immediately useful ideas to help senior IT/business executives keep their companies running, drive sales, boost customer engagement, manage risk and drive greater process efficiencies across the board.
CIO magazine and the CIO Executive Council’s fifth annual Ones to Watch award identifies the rising stars in IT. To be honored, these future CIOs must have demonstrated leadership, driven innovation and delivered value to their business; in short, they will soon be able to head up their own IT organization.
Register here
WSTA “Connections” Networking Event
NewsStay Connected with WSTA Members, Affiliates and IT Industry Professionals!
Register Online here
Tickets are $50 ($60 at the door)
Ticket price includes one drink, lite snacks. Reasonably priced cash bar.
Executive Compensation Conference
NewsEverything Directors and Senior Executives Need to Know About Effective Pay Strategies for a Changing World
The recession has put a spotlight on executive compensation. With the exposure of the shortcomings of pay programs at now distressed companies have come numerous questions, legislative and regulatory initiatives and demands for program redesign, including changes in pay mix. Many experts predict that several of the regimens imposed on companies receiving federal aid will migrate into what is considered best practices for all companies.
This Conference offers a highly significant and timely source of practical guidance and opportunity to network and brainstorm with your peers as they re–examine how to design fair, reasonable and effective executive compensation packages that provide the right rewards to the right people.
Download the agenda for full conference details.
Click here to register.
ABI Women of Vision Award honorees provide glimpse into the future of technology
Pipeline, What's OnInnovation, collaboration, and the future of technology was the theme of this year’s Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology’s Women of Vision Awards.
The fourth annual awards event brought out 650 attendees April 30 to applaud innovative honorees Yuqing Gao, Jan Cuny, and Mitchell Baker and to focus on the future.
“You are all a precious resource to us,” Elizabeth Wilems, vice president of IT and chief information officer of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, told an estimated 136 young college women invited by sponsors to attend the event.“It should be encouraging to you that these opportunities are out there for you,” continues Wilems, telling the young women that there are programs to help them develop their careers and be successful. “Add your voice and watch your career take off.”
Read more
Advanced Mergers and Acquisitions
NewsLeading Players – Innovative Strategies
With the disappearance of easily accessed capital, the marketplace and courts are redefining acceptable sale terms and conditions.
Join your peers to acquire first-hand expertise from talented strategists who are developing a wide array of bold tactics for navigating in this new economic environment.
Register here
Doing Good During Downtime
Managing ChangeImagine you’re graduating from law school and have a job lined up with a well-respected law firm. You’re one of the lucky ones, right? Not necessarily. According to the AM Law Daily, several law firms have delayed the start for their first-year associates. Some are bringing a percentage of the new hires on in 2010 instead of 2009, and some are delaying a percentage of the hires, but not all. Given the current economic climate, firms have to adjust plans in order to weather the situation.
Goodwin Procter is one of the firms delaying starts from fall 2009 to fall 2010. However, the deferred associates have an interesting option for how to spend their year of delayed employment. The firm has partnered with NewProfit and CommonGood Careers, to place first-year associates in non-profit jobs for the year. CommonGood Careers is working closely with the non-profits to develop specific job descriptions that are applicable and attractive to the future attorneys. Goodwin Procter will pay the associates a stipend for the year of work.
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Women on Boards: Dallas
NewsCurrently, women represent only 15.2% of Fortune 500 company board membership and we are out to change that!The event will educate and prepare women for board service. Our panelists are top-level executives with extensive board experience and a desire to share their knowledge and necessary tools for serving as a director.Topics include: being an effective board member; how to position yourself to get on a board; how to transition from serving on non-profit boards to for profit boards.
Register here
Movers and Shakers: Magda Yrizarry, Verizon’s Vice President for Workplace Culture, Diversity, and Compliance
Movers and ShakersGetting out of a bad neighborhood is a hard thing to do. It is so hard, in fact, that often young people use their immediate surroundings as an excuse as to why they haven’t done more with their lives or for their community. The opposite was true for Magda Yrizarry, Verizon’s Vice President for Workplace Culture, Diversity, and Compliance, who turned her upbringing in a housing tenement in a less-than-ideal Brooklyn neighborhood into an opportunity to give back to the community she once called home. Yrizarry’s father died when she was three, which left her mother to raise three young children alone.
“My personal motto, which I’ve had all my life, comes from my mother,” Yrizarry said. “When we were kids she drilled this into our heads: ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ We didn’t have material wealth, but we were blessed and fortunate and had every opportunity presented to us and with that, came the obligation to pass it on.” Read more
In Case You Missed It: News Round-up
NewsIn case you were too busy to have kept up with all the news, contributor Martin Mitchell has gathered some important market events from last week to help you start this week well informed:
Mergers and Acquisitions
The aircraft leasing unit of troubled insurer AIG is about to be sold. Three bids have been submitted for International Lease Finance Corp for just short of $5bn. Two of the consortia are thought to be Thomas H Lee and the Carlyle Group, and Onex and the Greenbriar Equity Group.
Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is the clear favourite to acquire Oriental Brewery from Anheuser-Busch InBev for around $1.9bn. The Korean beermaker is being sold to help Anheuser-Busch InBev pay down debt.
The US Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has abandoned its attempt to take over Europe’s largest independent clearer LCH.Clearnet. The two boards were unable to agree a basis for consummating the deal. The abandonment will provide a boost to the consortium of 11 banks and interdealer broker Icap that are working towards a bid.
Read more
The CIO Leadership Event
NewsAgainst the backdrop of a global economic recession and alarmingly unpredictable markets, enterprise CIOs are juggling short-term tactics with long-term strategy as they look toward 2010 to revitalize their businesses. Some CIOs are even discovering a silver lining in the current downturn in the opportunities to re-prioritize projects that streamline business processes, optimize IT spending or refocus on engaging customers more directly.Companies with strong financial positions are acquiring competitors to grow marketshare, so IT must be agile enough to rapidly integrate new businesses into current operations. Business process redesign (BPR) is emerging as a No. 1 priority at many organizations, and the expanding CIO role is trending strongly toward business leadership skills. CIO magazine’s State of the CIO 2009 research shows more than two-thirds of enterprise IT leaders already have significant responsibilities in business units beyond IT.
From a technology standpoint, 2009 will spark heightened interest and ongoing investments in IT solutions that strengthen companies moving forward — such as business intelligence and data analytics, data center/storage virtualization, videoconferencing, Software as a Service offerings and a host of web-based software and services. Farther out on the horizon, but definitely catching CIO attention, are cloud computing models that promise even greater control over variable IT costs.Through interactive workshops, detailed case studies and presentations by peer CIOs, this CIO Leadership Event will deliver actionable, immediately useful ideas to help senior IT/business executives keep their companies running, drive sales, boost customer engagement, manage risk and drive greater process efficiencies across the board.
CIO magazine and the CIO Executive Council’s fifth annual Ones to Watch award identifies the rising stars in IT. To be honored, these future CIOs must have demonstrated leadership, driven innovation and delivered value to their business; in short, they will soon be able to head up their own IT organization.
Register here
Simmons School of Management Leadership Conference
NewsA forum where women can learn from the wisdom and experience of others and gain inspiration to achieve their own personal and professional goals. This year’s 30th anniversary will feature Diane Keaton, Maxine Clark, Dr. Antonia Novello and Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
There will be a business ethics panel featuring Lynn Brewer, Cynthia Cooper and Cindy Olson on what has changed and what has not after the Enron and Worldcom collapses.
Please go to here for a full agenda and registration information.