Globalization Symposium Helps IT Executives Compete

Batavia, IL (PRWEB) January 23, 2009 -- Unprecedented changes in communications and computer technologies make globalization the new frontier today, sweeping away the old business order and redefining career success. As award-winning American journalist, columnist and author Thomas L. Friedman predicts, the pace of this "flattening of the globe" is quickening and will continue to have a growing impact on business organization and practice . As an IT executive, are you ready? Do you know what it takes to compete in today's global economy?

"Globalization from a Business, Economic, Technical and Cultural Perspective" - a must-attend symposium on February 12-14, 2009 for IT executives, co-sponsored by the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) and the Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC) - will answer these questions and more. ITSMF is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to fostering senior-level executive talent among African-American IT professionals; HITEC was founded by senior Hispanic IT executives who have built outstanding careers in information technology.

The Symposium, held at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. IT executives who are interested in attending should contact the ITSMF office at info@itsmfonline.org. Topics include:

    -How to remain competitive during economic turmoil in a global marketplace;

    -The trends, unprecedented challenges and opportunities globalization creates;

    -How your role in IT is changing and what you can do to adapt your skills;

    -Learn how the international nature of business will shape IT.

"The ITSMF/HITEC globalization symposium is the perfect opportunity for IT executives at the C-level, or striving for a C-level position, to learn, share and network with other Fortune 500 IT executives in an atmosphere of trust, camaraderie and openness," explained Viola Thompson, Executive Director of ITSMF. "Our lineup of speakers will help IT executives grasp the importance of globalization, and help them move this issue to the forefront within their organizations."

Stellar speakers help IT execs move to the next level in today's global world

Do you know what CEOs really want from CIOs? When was the last time you were absolutely sure about the correct way to behave in a foreign country? How about where the future of the global economy will be in two years? Or how to move from a CIO to a CEO? These and other questions will be answered over the three-day symposium. Speakers include:

•Leo Abruzzese, Editorial Director in North America for The Economist Intelligence Unit (www.eiu.com). What began as a slump in the US housing market has become a synchronized global downturn, with the world economy headed for its worst year in more than a quarter century. Governments have committed more than $3trn to rescuing banks and protecting depositors, but the fall-out continues to spread. Leo Abruzzese, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Editorial Director in North America, offers a global forecast for the next two years for an economic crisis that has spread from Iceland to Indonesia and may have much further to run. Abruzzese writes regularly on the US economy and leads the EIU's financial services coverage, which provides analysis of conditions in 60 markets.

•Mark Polansky, Senior Client Partner & Managing Director, Information Technology Officers Practice, of Korn/Ferry, the executive recruitment industry's leader and innovator. Polansky's session, "What CEOs Want from CIOs," will look at how senior management's expectations of the Chief Information Officer position have evolved towards a leadership role as a catalyst for change, transformation, innovation and value creation. This is an especially important message for both current and aspiring CIOs in these very challenging and uncertain times. The very substantial strategic differences between the present economic climate and the technology downturn of 2000-2001 will also be examined. With more than 25 years of executive search experience, all in technology, Polansky has extensively recruited chief information officers, chief technology officers and other senior IT leaders across a wide range of vertical industry sectors.

•Terri Morrison, Co-Author of Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than Sixty Countries. International business is challenging. Companies may be investing in global travel and entertainment, advertisements, relocations, and gift-giving - now's the time to protect that investment. Cross-cultural expert Morrison will speak about local customs and proper business etiquette throughout the world, with highlights from the revised and expanded version of her highly acclaimed book, Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than Sixty Countries, which now contains new countries like Ireland, Austria, South Africa and Vietnam, and new data on security, top business tips, negotiating techniques, protocol, and business practices. For more information, visit www.getcustoms.com.

•Clarence Nixon, founder and Managing Partner of CNC Group, a management consulting firm specializing in "business transformation" or turnaround management. Dr. Nixon's soon-to-be released book, CIO to CEO: "Passport to a New Paradigm," articulates a concise business case for a career development path moving from the CIO to the CEO position. It provides insight into a new paradigm for CIOs and CEOs. Participants will gain insight into numerous topics, including the evolution of the CIO position and its impact on industry and the economy; a new CIO Model; a new CEO Model (especially IT competence); suggested strategies for moving from CIO to CEO; and expected new benefits and impact on industry and the economy.

Awards Ceremony honors minority IT leaders and features first-ever online "executive auction"

On the second evening of the ITSMF symposium, the "Who's Who" of IT leaders from the public and private sector will gather to honor five leading organizations and their executives for their extraordinary contributions to the advancement of information technology, while continuously demonstrating proactive leadership in advancing diversity, at the 5th Annual Awards Ceremony on February 13, 2009, at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. Additionally, UBS will be honored as the ITSMF Corporate Sponsor of the Year. The executives to be honored are:

•Monte Ford, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for American Airlines;

•Dr. Randal D. Pinkett, Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners;

•Dr. Elva Jones, Chairman of the Computer Science Department at Winston Salem State University;

•Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, Chairman Middle East & Africa for Microsoft Corporation;

•James D. Cook, VP Data Center Transformation at Hewlett-Packard.

The Awards Ceremony, which attracts approximately 500 corporate, government and association executives and guests, is open to the public and will feature a keynote address from honoree Dr. Randal D. Pinkett, an established entrepreneur, speaker, author and community servant, and winner of NBC's top-rated show The Apprentice. Pinkett is the founder, President and CEO of BCT Partners, a technology and policy consulting firm based in Newark, New Jersey.

New this year, attendees will be able to benefit from one-on-one networking with some of the nation's most sought after executives from America's top global organizations. In an unprecedented move, 14 CIOs and executives have donated their time and expertise to ITSMF's first-ever Executive Online Auction. The online bidding is open to the public until 9:00 pm EST on February 13, 2009. For a list of the executives, visit https://www.regonline.com/custImages/249880/Executive%20Auction%20info.pdf; and to place a bid, go to www.itsmfonline.cmarket.com.

The ITSMF Awards Ceremony sponsors are American Airlines, Bank of America, Blackwell Consulting, Chubb, Cisco, the Coca Cola Company, Comerica Bank, Cox Enterprises, CrestPoint, Cummins, Deloitte, Delta, EDS an HP Company, EMBARQ, Estee Lauder, Global Lead, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Korn/Ferry International, Liberty Mutual, Lockheed Martin, Macquarium Intelligent Communications, Marriott, Medtronic, Microsoft, Oracle, PepsiCo, Pitney Bowes, Procter & Gamble, UBS, VisionIT, Wachovia/Wells Fargo, Whirlpool and WSF Associates. Additional personal contributions were made by Larry Quinlan and Michael Robinson.

For more information about the "Globalization from a Business, Economic and Cultural Perspective" Symposium and Awards Ceremony, visit ITSMF's website at www.regonline.com/itsmf.

About the Information Technology Senior Management Forum:

The Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to fostering senior-level executive talent among African-American IT professionals. ITSMF provides a supportive network for enhancing the leadership skills of the IT executives that make up the membership; and its formal mentoring program assists dedicated mid-level managers to grow into executive level positions. ITSMF draws its strength from two major sources: senior IT executives from corporations, governmental bodies, universities or owners of well established technology businesses, who share the knowledge and skills that have enabled them to arrive and thrive in key management roles; and the funding and expertise provided by our corporate partners interested in fostering and recruiting diverse executive talent. For more information about ITSMF, visit www.itsmfonline.org.

About the Hispanic Executive IT Council:

Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC) was founded by senior Hispanic IT executives who have built outstanding careers in information technology but realized that there were far too few Hispanics in the IT leadership role. With a strong desire and passion to make an impact within the Hispanic IT community by helping others reach the highest levels, HITEC was formed in late 2006. These national leaders include executives leading Fortune 500 corporations on both U.S. and global initiatives while others lead some of the largest Hispanic owned IT firms in the United States. The mission of HITEC is to be the premier professional organization for Hispanic IT Executives and to significantly increase the global representation of Hispanics in IT leadership.

For more information about the HITEC organization, visit www.hitecglobal.org.

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