InformationWeek
Defining The Business Value Of Technology
September 1, 1998
I am a 57-year-old IS manager for a large company in the
Northeast. I manage a staff of 50 people who do systems development and support using the
latest technologies. I did programming and systems development early in my career, but have
been in managerial positions for more than 20 years. I would like to retire from my current
position in about five years, move to a warmer climate, and continue working until age 70 in
another capacity, preferably in management consulting or as a CIO for a small company. Is it
realistic to expect to be able to obtain such a position at age 62, or should I instead concentrate
on developing skills in current technology with the hope of getting back into a technical
position?
Yes it is realistic--but it's not without challenges. What is working in your
favor is that for the past three to four years, the market requirements for
senior executives has shifted from a trend of hiring fast-track young executives
to leaning more towards seasoned, well-established execs who have battle scars to show for the
many experiences both wins and losses accomplished on someone else's dime. You'll need to seek
out opportunities for those companies interested in leveraging your experiences. If you're open to
smaller, boutique-type firms, I think you can accomplish this.
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