ANDREA INCAMPO
Fractional CIO for BizCom Global
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
I grew up in Italy and spent the first half of my career in Milan. I currently live in Durham, North Carolina, and work for BizCom Global, as a Fractional CIO. I am passionate about endurance sports and personal growth.
What path have you taken to your current position?
For the past two decades, I have worked as a technical leader for multiple companies in the Finance, Healthcare, and Service Provider sectors. I have always been curious and eager to learn new things. I have worked in operations, development, infrastructure, DevOps and automation, practically most areas of IT.
In 2020, I started my own business, a B2C natural wine online store with the mission of connecting small independent producers of natural wine from my home country (Italy) with the US-based community of wine enthusiasts. I consider that my MBA.
Now, by combining my business and wide technical experience, I help small businesses grow by developing technology strategies aligned with business goals and objectives. I also focus on making businesses more proactive, as I strongly believe that is where growth and success lie.
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?
In the early phases of my career, I always aspired to become a CTO, which led me to acquire knowledge in various areas of IT. In 2020, I started my own business and became the CEO of a small company.
While I still enjoy being a tech-focused leader (CTO), I believe my experience allows me to contribute more effectively in a business-focused role (CIO).
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)
Valeriano Bassi the CTO of my first company in Italy, where I worked for almost 13 years and Marcelo Tamassia, the CTO of my last company.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
Three key aspects will shape the future of a technology leader:
1. Rapid Technological Innovation: Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Tech leaders must stay ahead of these changes, continuously learning and adapting to new technologies.
2. Strategic Business Partnership: The role of tech leaders is increasingly becoming that of a strategic business partner. They need to align technology initiatives with business goals, ensuring that IT investments deliver tangible value.
3. Fractional Work: The future of work is leaning towards more flexible and fractional roles. Tech leaders may find themselves working as fractional CTOs or CIOs and so developing other skills such as personal branding and sales.
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
I believe an adaptive mindset is crucial, as both technology and business needs are changing at a very rapid pace.
Business acumen is also very important. Transitioning into a CIO role from a deep business background, such as owning your own business, is highly beneficial because it fosters empathy for business challenges.
A CIO with entrepreneurial experience brings a unique perspective to the table. They understand the intricacies of running a business, which helps in aligning IT strategies with business goals. This experience also enhances their ability to navigate and address the challenges faced by different departments, fostering a more cohesive and efficient organization.
I strongly believe that fractional work is the future. Therefore, tech leaders will need to develop new skills such as personal branding and sales in order to thrive.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
I still have a passion for starting my own company, but I also really enjoy my current role. I think I need a bit more experience in this environment before considering starting a fractional tech leader firm.
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
Two pieces of advice I would give to an aspiring tech leader are:
1. Work within: It’s very important for a tech leader to foster a sense of integrity with their core values.
2. Gain deep business knowledge: An MBA is good, but real business experience is better.
"Work within and Gain deep business knowledge."
How do you measure and communicate the value and impact of technology initiatives to other business leaders and stakeholders?
1. Identify the specific business problem the technology initiative aims to resolve.
2. Define clear objectives for the technology initiative that align with business goals.
3. Identify KPIs to track the progress.
4. Regularly report using non-technical terms.
A big thank you to Andrea Incampo from BizCom Global 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.
