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Raied Stanley, Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Southwest Gas Corporation Raied Stanley is the Vice President/Information Services and Chief Information Officer of Southwest Gas Corporation, where he oversees core applications, network, computing, server, storage, and infrastructure solutions. He began his career at ConAgra Foods as Senior Director of Applications and was responsible for program management, infrastructure engineering and operations, application development, portfolio management, and process reengineering. In 2009, I joined the Metropolitan Utilities District in Omaha, Nebraska and initially managed computing application systems for various business units. On January 20, 2020, I became the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Southwest Gas Corporation, taking on my current role.
Professional Experiences Contributing to the Success
My prior professional experiences have been foundational to the success of Southwest Gas' IT strategy. They have also provided me with the technical expertise, strategic vision, operational know-how, financial acumen, leadership skills, and adaptability needed for effective leadership. These experiences have enabled me to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and align technology investments with our business objectives.
For instance, my experience in various IT leadership roles has helped me develop a clear vision for our technology direction and align the IT strategy with business goals. Leading technology transformations, implementing new systems and managing large-scale projects enhanced my change management skills and ensured successful adoption of new technologies.
My experience in optimizing IT operations and processes has helped me lead more efficient and cost-effective technology management. The ability to manage relationships with technology vendors and negotiate contracts ensures that Southwest Gas gets the best value from its technology investments.
The challenges: Implementing Cost-Effectiveness and Secure Technology Solutions
Implementing new technology solutions comes with several challenges, particularly in ensuring cost-effectiveness and security. For me and my team, cybersecurity threats are top concerns, as protecting sensitive company and customer data is critical. This, along with the fact that we are a regulated utility and must comply with data protection regulations, adds another layer of complexity.
We have adopted a "zero trust" security model to address these issues. The model involves proactive security measures, regular audits, and staying updated with cybersecurity trends. We have also enhanced our incident response plan.
Budget constraints and cost management are another challenge. Balancing new technology investments with budget limitations and demonstrating ROI for IT projects is crucial. We manage this by prioritizing IT investments based on strategic business needs and conducting thorough cost-benefit analyses.
"Individuals should develop skills and connections by focusing on clear and persuasive communication with different audiences. This will help them build a strong professional network and connect with mentors, peers, and industry leaders to share ideas."
Strategic Planning: Methods of Managing Business Growth with Emerging Technologies
At Southwest Gas we strategically plan and manage growth with emerging technologies through a systematic method. It involves aligning technology initiatives with business goals, building a culture of innovation and continuously optimizing performance.
The method also assesses the current business and technology space by understanding both the short and long-term goals. We also evaluate the existing technology infrastructure and identify the areas of strength, weakness and improvement.
Our method is all about developing a comprehensive technology roadmap that aligns with the business strategy by identifying a clear vision and specific objectives. All this is done along with a detailed timeline with milestones and a plan to allocate resources for budget, personnel and technology infrastructure.
Another method that we have resorted to is investing in training programs to upskill our employees and establishing innovation labs and centers of excellence to encourage experimentation and innovation within the organization.
Collaborating with Top Leadership to Align the Company’s Strategy with Its Overall Vision
We employ a multifaceted approach to align Southwest Gas's technology strategy with its overall vision and long-term goals. This includes defining clear objectives, establishing strong communication channels, and building a cross-functional team with representation from all critical areas. We also conduct assessments of the current technology landscape to develop a unified vision, prioritize initiatives, create detailed roadmaps, and foster a culture of collaboration.
We ensure success by engaging key stakeholders throughout the process and using data and analytics to inform them of strategic decisions. Implementing effective change management is another way we ensure smooth transitions.
These are ways by which Southwest Gas's leaders work together to guarantee that the company's technology strategy is aligned with its overall business goals, improving efficiency and competitive advantage.
Plans to ensure successful implementation of large-scale technology projects
At Southwest Gas, a structured approach is required to ensure the successful initiation, execution, and completion of large-scale technology projects. We employ standard policies for project governance and leadership while also using our Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) to provide guidelines and ensure consistent practices.
The roles and responsibilities are clearly defined for sponsors, managers, and team members. We also secure executive sponsorship that provides the necessary resources and support.
Our teams regularly update the risk management plan and conduct risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks. We have established communication plans detailing how to share information with stakeholders and team members and use collaborative tools for seamless communication.
We also established a formal change control process to manage scope changes and ensure they are evaluated and approved before implementation. This process also includes effectively communicating changes to all stakeholders and adjusting plans as necessary.
Finally, a formal project closure process includes delivering documentation, stakeholder sign-off, and a post-implementation review to evaluate outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
Advice to Leaders
Aspiring professionals should focus on personal development, strategic thinking, practical skills, and networking to be successful in a leadership role. I would suggest being self-aware and identifying strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations by using tools like Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and personality assessments.
Individuals should reflect upon the past experience to understand what personally energizes and drains them. They should stay updated on industry trends and work on self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. Developing strong communication skills, thinking strategically, and balancing innovative ideas with practical implementation are also critical.
I suggest building a robust professional network within and outside the organization and engaging with mentors, industry peers, and technology leaders from other industries to exchange ideas and gain insights. This will help aspiring leaders develop the skills, mindset, and connections necessary for effective and successful leadership.
