HEALTHCARE
CIO // MAYO CLINIC CRIS ROSS
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY? It used to be a tie: Seattle where my older daughter lives, and Paris where my younger daughter lived. My younger daughter is now back in the Twin Cities, so it’s Seattle, hands down. WITH WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN YOUR CAREER AND/OR LIFE ARE YOU MOST PLEASED? I’ve tried to help people by providing appropriate challenges and opportunities. It’s a good thing to make a small difference in someone’s life.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT MANAGING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN IT AND THE REST OF THE BUSINESS? Listen. Be prepared. Be humble. Be responsive. Think ahead. And follow the first rule of improvisation, “yes, and…” WHAT TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY DO YOU EXPECT WILL SHAPE YOUR INDUSTRY AND WHY? Healthcare is the last major industry to automate, and we’re just getting prepared to digitize. So, adopting what is commonplace elsewhere will dominate our agendas. Beyond that, I think making data fluid while also keeping it safe and private will create remarkable opportunities, and advanced analytics and artificial intelligence is already making a difference in healthcare.
WHAT PRIMARY GOALS WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
First, to support our clinicians with great technology so they can provide hope and healing. Second, to support our very technology-dependent 2030 strategy that includes a digital focus, creation of the Mayo Clinic Platform, and an international growth strategy.
HUNTER SAKLAD SVP CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER/INTERIM SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS // SLEEP NUMBER CORPORATION
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY? Costa Rica. I lived there for six months working and studying Spanish while I was in my 20s. It is a wonderful and loving culture housed in a beautiful landscape accompanied by stunning biodiversity across it’s unique combination of biomes. The cultural exposure along with all the many beautiful and wonderous things to see and experience there make me continue to love going back. HOW DID YOU END UP IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE? My boss (Shelly Ibach) came into my office one day during the early stages of our ERP/CRM implementation and asked me to take on the role of CIO in leading that transformation. At the time, I was building out our Consumer Insight function and when I observed that Consumer Insight was about as far from IT as possible, she explained that I knew our customer, I knew Sleep Number and I would need to learn IT.
LARGE ENTERPRISE
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT MANAGING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN IT AND THE REST OF THE BUSINESS? Partnership is based on having equal input and a seat at the table. Identifying common objectives and determining each party’s role and responsibilities in achieving goals together with mutual accountability.
WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR?
“Just choose something, do it well and then choose again.” AND “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.”
Twin Cities CIO of the Year Award Winners | 17
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