Innovation in a Reinvented World: 10 Essential Elements to Succeed in the New World of Business

EMC: Heather Healy, VP and Business Unit CIO

Heather Healy has a history of getting the job done.

“All my roles at the company touched lightly or exclusively on innovation, with eight of those years delivering to a number of corporate strategic initiatives and for the CTO Office,” says Healy.

She seems to have found a good fit with EMC—a company that values the art of execution—something she considers a smart move even after 11 years.

Taking on different roles and observing and working alongside other leaders, Healy's experience has been the hallmark of her success at the company—in the trenches experience that continues to open up interesting career opportunities for her.

“I've taken some risks to test myself against new challenges, and I've taken on new tasks and delivered to those tasks, which helped me build my credibility across the organization,” says Healy.

“Engaging actively in the innovation process has provided a natural opportunity for me to expand my network, interact with amazing talent within our company/partners/customers, and learn more about challenges we face in our company and challenges faced by our customers and partners.

“The more chances that you have to serve in different roles and different leadership roles, the more likely it is that you'll develop the skills to lead more effectively projects of diverse complexity. You'll likely learn the important lessons that only come from real failures, as well as successes,” she adds.

Acquisitions: Making the Pie ...