About Nicholas Donofrio: Nicholas "Nick" Donofrio is a distinguished American scientist and engineer with a career spanning 44 years at IBM. Joining the company in 1967, he ascended to the role of Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology until his retirement in 2008, leaving an indelible mark on the technological landscape. Recognized for his transformative contributions, he was honored as an honorary IBM Fellow, the company's highest technical accolade. Nick's influence extends beyond IBM; he is a member of esteemed boards, including the National Commission on the Future of Higher Education and the National Association of Corporate Directors, and serves as a Director at Liberty Mutual Group. In addition to his professional achievements, Nick is an author, co-writing the memoir "If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes" with Michael DeMarco, offering insights gleaned from a lifetime of innovation and leadership.

In this episode, Art and Nicholas Donofrio discuss:

• The art of embracing change and leading innovation in Nick's 60-year career
• Transitioning from a task-oriented manager to an enabler
• Transformative leadership in times of crisis
• The pivotal role of ownership in leadership

Key Takeaways:

• Success is in the hands of those who choose to deal with change; the better you deal with change, the better things go, emphasizing the power of embracing change and using free will to lead and drive positive outcomes.
• Nick's leadership evolution, marked by a pivotal moment in addressing a poor performance review early in his career, underscores the importance of becoming an "enabler" as a leader, emphasizing the shift from micromanagement to empowering others to reach their full potential.
• IBM's story of overcoming crisis underscores the importance of embracing change, taking calculated risks, and having the courage to challenge conventional wisdom.
• Effective leadership entails owning both successes and failures, acknowledging the loneliness that comes with difficult decisions, and prioritizing resilience, innovation, and inclusivity in shaping a better future.

"If you're not the enabler-in-chief, my suspicion is you're probably not going to be anything for very much longer." — Nicholas Donofrio

Connect with Nicholas Donofrio:  

Book: https://www.nickdonofriobook.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-donofrio-7588609/

Connect with Art:

Website: http://www.alanger.com/

Email: art.langer@columbia.edu

Book: Developing a Path to Data Dominance: Strategies for Digital Data-Centric Enterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthur.m.langer/

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