MEGAN NORRIS
Chief Information Officer at National Bank of Middlebury
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
I am from Salisbury, Vermont where I live with my husband and two-year-old daughter. I’ve been in my current role as Chief Information Officer at the National Bank of Middlebury for the past 14 months.
Prior to this title change, I was the Technology Department Manager and have been at the bank for four years. I have a small, multi-faceted team that oversees our information security, applications, core banking, digital banking, and technological infrastructure.
Our organization is a small financial institution, serving our local communities since 1831.
What path have you taken to your current position?
I have had a number of jobs over the years that have each shaped me into the person I am today. However, the most fundamental position to me as an individual over that time was working at my family’s dairy farm from a young age. On a dairy farm, you work from sunup to sundown until the work is done. Let’s be honest, not unlike technology on some days! I learned how to make hard decisions, responsibility, and developed a strong work ethic from an early age.
I held a number of jobs over the following years while attending college full-time for my Bachelors in Business Management. Yet, I struggled to find a path that truly called to me. It was ultimately a chance circumstance that I happened upon a position at the local hospital as a Help Desk Coordinator & Administrative Assistant to our CIO & IT Director. When I first began in technology, I was instantly hooked. The variation that each day had the potential to bring, the research, the feeling when you finally solve that issue that has been plaguing your users. I saw a potential future in this field almost immediately and began my journey for my Masters in Cybersecurity. I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing group of people at this organization and they helped me to hone my technological skills as I progressed my career.
When I began at the National Bank of Middlebury, I began as a Network Manager before moving to Technology Department Manager and ultimately Chief Information Officer. Being a smaller organization, I have been able to bring pieces of each position with me to ultimately craft a multi-faceted CIO role that allows me the flexibility to continue doing the things that I love. I relish the challenge that technology and executive leadership bring and enjoy the opportunity to think strategically about our organization’s future.
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?
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)
I have had the pleasure of working with a number of talented people over my career. However, the most influential to my growth was Jeff Noel. Jeff was the IT Director at the University of Vermont Health Network and interviewed me for my first technology position.
Over the next five years, I worked with Jeff and continued to progress positions. He took the time to explain advanced technology and entertain my theories while troubleshooting issues. Throughout our work together, he never became frustrated with my lack of knowledge or understanding.
He was a force to be reckoned with if he felt his team was being mistreated and he was never afraid to voice his opinions or concerns to protect our team or our organization’s security. Jeff Noel took a chance on a young woman who showed an interest in the field and helped ignite a spark in me that I have been chasing ever since.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need 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?
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
The financial industry is rife with fintech’s promising process efficiency improvements and new technology. In many ways, our industry has struggled with legacy core banking platforms inability to integrate for a number of years.
With cores opening up APIs, I anticipate the future state of banking will allow us to integrate with new systems relatively seamlessly. Ultimately automating the more manual processes while gaining better insight into our data and customer relationship.
AI is certainly the ‘talk of the town’, and I believe it will offer a number of benefits to the financial industry. I look forward to the day AI can be put to use to effectively reduce fraud for our customers.
"Take the time to actively listen and foster the growth of the team around you."
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career so far, and how did you overcome it?
I would advise a future leader to lead with integrity. Those around you will recognize your integrity through your actions and you will ultimately gain their trust and respect.
Emotional intelligence is also a critical aspect of your journey and I would recommend delving deeper in order to understand and manage your own emotions as well as those around you.
Take the time to actively listen and foster the growth of the team around you as well. Find that spark in someone and help them to achieve their dreams.
What role do you see emerging technologies playing in your industry, and how are you preparing for them?
A big thank you to Megan Norris from National Bank of Middlebury for sharing her 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.
