Charles Harris
VP, IT
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Charles brings with him over 24 years of information technology and strategic leadership experience; spanning applications, data, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, which are vital parts of nearly every aspect of the organization.
Charles holds a master’s degree in technology from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in modeling & simulation from the University of Central Florida.In addition, he is also a certified chief information security officer and contributes to the annual authorship of creating the testing questions for that certification.
Charles is married to Lori Pampilo Harris, and they are proud parents to their three children Dr. Charles III, Cameron and Zoe.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I knew by high school that my career would be in technology when I took my first programing class in Basic. Midway through college, I got started in support and infrastructure, and quickly moved into a supervisory role. I started using my development skills within the organization and soon found myself as a developer, leading development teams.
Rather than focusing on the highly technical side of things, I focused on my leadership skills, understanding the business side of things, and learning how to implement effective technology solutions. This acumen is what began to elevate me into director and executive-level positions.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Partnership is my guiding principle. I put people first in leading. I want to know what motivates those I work with and ways I can help them accomplish their goals while we accomplish the group goals. I want people to work with me, not for me.
What is the greatest challenge your particular C-level role is facing today, and how are you addressing it?
The biggest challenge I see is the lack of understanding some organizations have when it comes to the IT department’s importance to the business. We are not a cost center but a revenue generator and revenue enabler. Our efforts benefit the entire organization.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out in your C-level role?
Learn to build relationships in and out of your organization. Skills are important, but you will never be able to know as much as a room full of trusted partners.
How do you measure success as a leader?
My success is measured by how I impact the environment around me. Are the people around me better for having me in leadership? Am I improving my environment? I want to leave any place that I have been better than when I arrived.
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