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As chief information officer-in-residence at Georgia Tech’s
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Sandra Hofmann
helps member companies understand the complex and often conflicting
issues facing corporate CIOs.
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Sandra Hofmann |
For member companies selling technology solutions to larger
and more established firms, that understanding can make the
different between truly adding value to a potential customer’s
bottom line – or not getting past square one.
“Because of the challenge of starting a business, a lot of
early-stage companies need to be egocentric,” Hofmann says.
“It’s important to help them know how to take a different
perspective and channel the innovativeness of their solution
to match the ability of a CIO to take risk. Their solution
must really be solving a problem for that CIO.”
For Hofmann, understanding the role of a chief information
officer is no challenge. She served as CIO and chief people
officer for Alpharetta-based MAPICS, where she was responsible
for global enterprise business systems, information technology,
facilities, telecommunications, product manufacturing and
distribution, human resources and corporate purchasing.
With those broad responsibilities, she was often on the other
side of sales presentations from smaller technology companies.
With that perspective, she’s been able to give ATDC companies
the benefit of what she’s learned.
One of the strong recommendations she offers companies is
to get involved in giving back to the community as early as
possible. Beyond the importance of establishing a philanthropic
and ethical company culture, giving time to meet community
needs can build relationships with others that are based on
shared service.
“Take advantage of the time CIOs may be giving to the community
to get to know them, and in getting to know them, gain a better
appreciation for what their challenges might be,” she advises.
“People are touched by another’s passion, and the passion
of an entrepreneur is often reflected by the passion of giving.”
In working with ATDC companies, Hofmann has a passion of
her own for helping others develop meaningful relationships
and create a vision of their company’s culture.
“My time with ATDC member companies has been focused on helping
them build relationships, with the technology community and
with other CIOs, that is based on respect and reference ability,”
she explains. “Part of my role is helping them understand
the value of ‘relationship currency.'”
Beyond building long-term relationships, philanthropic engagements
help create visibility and a positive image for the company
– benefits that may be difficult to quantify but are critical
to success, she notes.
“Even early-stage companies need to establish and communicate
their values and serve as corporate citizens in their communities,”
she explains. “I urge developing companies to consider how
they promote ethical behavior, maintain the vitality of their
staff and involve themselves in the non-profit sector of their
community.”
As the role of technology in business has been growing, Hofmann
believes CIOs are becoming more important to corporate management.
“CIOs are increasingly taking a leadership role in enterprise
strategic planning and routinely invest in technology solutions
and services which can support their needs,” she says. “CIOs
are naturally positioned to serve a critical role in facilitating
the selection and realization of technology within an enterprise.”
During her time as CIO-in-residence, Hofmann has met with
a number of ATDC companies and made a “Lunch and Learn” presentation
to a group of them. She says ATDC companies have also given
back to her.
“The passion of an entrepreneur is a very special emotion,
so it is exciting for me to be around it,” she says. “The
ATDC is all about the nurturing of a vision. It takes money,
great ideas and support from people who have been there and
done it – and are willing to give back.”
Hofmann has been involved in corporate leadership for more
than 25 years, 14 of those at IBM. She has a strong interest
in boosting Atlanta’s technology community, serving as vice-chairman
of the AeA’s Southeast Council, and as a member of the board
of directors for Techbridge and the Atlanta chapter of the
Society for Human Resource Management. Hofmann is also chair
of TechLINKS Buyer Advisory Forum and on the Information Management
Forum’s CIO Advisory Council.
While at MAPICS, she established the company’s infrastructure
model for the “virtual office” and teleworking, which provided
improvements in enterprise efficiency and expense management.
This unique experience contributes to her role serving on
the Georgia Telework Task Force created by Georgia Governor
Sonny Perdue. The task force is charged with proposing strategies,
policies and legislation that would advance economic, transportation,
community and environmental progress by encouraging teleworking
among Georgia’s public and private sector enterprises.
Recently Hofmann joined the Turknett Leadership Group as
executive vice president and chief operating officer. Turknett
is one of the oldest firms in the Southeast experienced in
character-based leadership and organization development. With
a staff of licensed psychologists, organization development
consultants and business leaders, Turknett helps companies
improve business performance through the selection, development,
retention, and engagement of executives and emerging leaders.
Hofmann holds a bachelor's degree in education from Georgia
State University, and is a graduate of an intensive program
for executive management at Stanford University.
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