Harold Shannon
VP, Technology & CIO
CoreCivic
Harold Shannon is the vice president of technology and chief information officer and has over 20 years with CoreCivic. Previously, he served as managing director of program management at CoreCivic.
Harold joined CoreCivic in 2003 as a project manager in technology. Before joining CoreCivic, Shannon was a team lead and developer at Accenture. Harold has a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and a master's in business administration.
A fun fact about Harold is that although he is a six-foot-two, 300-pound guy, he loves poetry. His favorite poets are Langston Hughes and Edgar Allen Poe.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I have always been intrigued by business process automation and efficiency. Technology was the avenue I chose to create meaningful change. Based on this curiosity, I started building computers in college and then moved to programming.
I programmed for seven years and then moved into management to improve SDLC processes and make life easier for developers. In 2016, I became more committed to leadership and completed an executive leadership program. Leadership is critical to my outlook on life and developing team members.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Passion and perseverance are the cornerstones to success. Leadership is the result of your hard work and vision.
What is the greatest challenge your particular C-level role is facing today, and how are you addressing it?
The greatest challenge today is the changing attitude of team members who are more entitled and less resistant to top-down leadership.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?
The key for new C-level leaders is to not lose yourself in the position by keeping your mind on the strategy and goal. Additionally, they must rely on their team and understand they cannot be everything to everyone.
How do you measure success as a leader?
I measure leadership in a company's and business unit's overall success, and our ability to improve efficiency. Technology should enable the organization by improving automation and efficiency.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
The value is meeting peers who are facing the same challenges and hearing their different perspectives. Additionally, these meetings spark innovative ideas.
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