NATHAN KIMPEL
Global CIO for MOCAP
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
I’m currently based just south of St. Louis, heading up technology for a worldwide plastics manufacturer as their Global CIO.
What path have you taken to your current position?
Starting out studying physics in college, I wanted to become a high school teacher but my dad bought us kids a Commodore 64 and I fell in love with how computers worked.
I started taking care of the computer labs at the college dorms and then worked my way up, starting as a PC tech, Network Engineer and on and on…until Global CIO. Moved to 3 states, had 3 children and moved around so many industries, that I lost count.
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?
Yes, when I was young, I was an avid reader and I used to get this magazine called Lan Times. It had all sorts of articles and I recall one of them being about a “CIO” and ever since then, that is what I wanted to be. I was probably 20 at the time.
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)
Wow, so many mentors along the way. Tim Rost taught me not to chase money but rather to focus on customer satisfaction. There was Keith H. who taught me to do good things for the right reasons…to always be kind. There was Meredythe who taught me “clear is kind”.
I have had the privilege of having an amazing string of bosses, all of them mentors and able to be reached if I ever need anything. I don’t take this lightly.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
I think over the next 5 years, the function of collaborator and facilitator will morph into the top-level spots. The leaders of tomorrow will need to know “who” to get things done with, rather than “how” to get things done.
As things become more automated, the thinking-in-systems crowd will swing back into focus and the CIOs will have to keep up.
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
Soft skills. This has been on the top of my list for quite some time, even when it wasn’t valued by a lot of companies. Being able to communicate effectively, understand other people’s motivations and really see their viewpoints is crucial to being a good CIO.
Empathy, customer service, and everything outside of just the technical aspects of the job will get you the most bang for your buck as you traverse the corporate ladder.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
From a career perspective, I would love to be on a few boards, and I have aspirations of training a few young technologists so they can grow their careers.
I want to write more, and meet more people…for me, I think learning new things will always be at the top of my list.
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
Do good things for the right reasons. Have your hierarchy of delivery in your head for any situation. If it’s, like a lot of people, God-Family-Work, then make your decisions based on that hierarchy.
For example, if your company is fine with stealing, but you put God at the top, then you shouldn’t do that. If your boss wants you to work a lot of overtime but your family ranks higher on the list…then go home. Having a simple hierarchy helps with sound prioritization.
"Do good things for the right reasons."
What role do you see emerging technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning, blockchain) playing in your industry, and how are you preparing for them?
From a manufacturing standpoint, I would say that all emerging technologies are going to play a huge part. Robot automation, AI…everything will propel the manufacturing space forward.
To be up to speed on this requires a constant IV drip of information. Conferences, books, and technology magazines. Leaders are Readers.
How do you measure and communicate the value and impact of technology initiatives to other business leaders and stakeholders?
I would say constant and consistent communication. You can’t underestimate the boost you get from stakeholders if they are told something, even if that something has nothing to do with them. I find it rare that people complain about over-communication.
You also want to establish a regular cadence and setting for communication, such as a steering committee meeting.
What has been your most significant achievement or proudest moment as a technology leader?
One of my proudest moments was when my team built a mobile application for one of my previous companies.
After I presented it, fully functional, I laughed, cried, and probably looked like Jesse in the final episode of Breaking Bad.
A big thank you to Nathan Kimpel from MOCAP 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.
