Lessons in Leadership and Innovation from a Global CIO
Joel Fidalgo
CIO at NextPharma
In today’s fast-evolving tech landscape, the path to leadership often involves resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from diverse experiences. This blog post, drawn from an insightful conversation with Joel Fidalgo, CIO of Next Pharma, offers a deep dive into the journey of a tech leader navigating the complexities of the global pharmaceutical industry. With a career spanning across different continents and cultures, Joel shares valuable lessons on how to lead effectively in the technology space, emphasizing skills that go beyond technical know-how. Here, we explore his perspectives on adapting to new roles, building strong teams, and driving meaningful innovation.
The Journey from Engineering to IT Leadership
Joel’s career began with an apprenticeship in electrical engineering, a path that led him to explore various aspects of technology and eventually brought him to IT. Reflecting on his formative years, he emphasizes that his interest in technology was ignited during the early days of personal computing, where he learned to build and troubleshoot his own machines. This foundation paved the way for his transition into consulting, specifically focusing on SAP and security, and ultimately project management.
In his early career, Joel took a strategic approach to developing his expertise, recognizing that a broader understanding of business processes would enhance his technical skills. Moving from technical roles to consulting and then project management, he steadily built a skill set that prepared him for executive leadership. His journey highlights how technical foundations, when combined with an understanding of business needs, can set the stage for a career in leadership.
Leveraging Consulting Skills for Success in Corporate Roles
Joel emphasizes that his consulting background played a crucial role in shaping his leadership style. Consulting exposed him to diverse companies and industries, allowing him to approach problems from various perspectives. This experience honed his skills in client management, a competency that became invaluable when he transitioned to corporate leadership, where internal departments became his “clients.”
He shares that consulting instilled a discipline to understand and address client needs proactively. As he moved into roles with greater responsibility, he applied the same client-centric approach within his teams, prioritizing communication and solution-oriented thinking. This mindset shift from merely implementing technology to adding measurable value to business processes has been instrumental in his career progression.
Building and Leading a High-Impact IT Team
As a CIO, Joel’s focus is on creating and leading a team that can drive digital transformation. He stresses the importance of team dynamics and the need for leaders to recognize individual strengths and set people in roles where they can succeed. According to him, building a high-performing team is like coaching; it requires understanding each member’s abilities and placing them in positions where they can excel.
Joel encourages his team to actively engage with other departments, understanding their specific needs and challenges. He believes that IT should not operate in isolation but should be visible and present throughout the organization, acting as a strategic partner. By fostering an environment where his team members feel empowered to collaborate and innovate, Joel is able to maintain a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability within Next Pharma’s IT department.
Adapting to Global Work Cultures and Environments
Having worked in diverse international settings, including projects in Saudi Arabia and the US, Joel learned early on to appreciate cultural differences and their impact on business. He notes that working with multicultural teams enriches a leader’s perspective and teaches valuable lessons in adaptability and communication. When asked about his time consulting abroad, Joel recalled the importance of cultural awareness and adaptability in leadership.
In his role as CIO of Next Pharma, Joel applies these lessons by promoting inclusivity and open-mindedness within his team. He believes that leaders who are flexible and culturally aware can create environments where innovation thrives. His global experience has equipped him to navigate the unique challenges and expectations that come with managing a multinational organization.
The Value of Humility and Continuous Learning
One of the standout principles in Joel’s leadership philosophy is humility. He candidly shares that success in leadership requires constant learning and an openness to admit mistakes. Rather than seeing mistakes as setbacks, Joel views them as growth opportunities, encouraging his team to take calculated risks and learn from each experience. He also believes that humility builds credibility with colleagues and allows leaders to foster an environment where team members feel comfortable innovating.
Joel acknowledges that this mindset has been cultivated over time, aided by mentorship and reflection. Early in his career, he had mentors who guided him to value humility, and he now strives to be that kind of mentor for his team. By promoting a culture of transparency and humility, he believes leaders can create a foundation of trust and resilience within their teams.
Conclusion
Joel Fidalgo’s journey in tech leadership underscores the importance of blending technical expertise with a deep understanding of business processes and human dynamics. From his beginnings in electrical engineering to becoming a CIO, Joel exemplifies how curiosity, humility, and a commitment to continuous improvement can pave the way to impactful leadership. His insights remind us that success in technology leadership is not just about mastering tools or systems but about understanding people and processes and fostering a collaborative culture.
In a rapidly changing industry, Joel’s experience serves as a valuable roadmap for aspiring tech leaders. Embracing consulting principles, fostering inclusivity, and leading with humility are key takeaways from his journey. Ultimately, his story encourages all of us to stay open, adaptable, and committed to learning—a mindset that is essential for thriving in the evolving world of technology.
Written by Dhan Ababa
“Always have fun with whatever you do”
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