In a July 2023 CIO.com article, Diane Schwarz, chief information officer at Johnson Controls, shared her insights on the importance of professional ecosystems in climbing the corporate ladder. Schwarz, an experienced leader in the information technology (IT) field, emphasized the need for IT leaders to foster multidimensional networks and build authentic personal brands.

According to Schwarz, success in the C-suite cannot be achieved alone. It takes a village of colleagues, clients and partners to navigate the often-nonlinear path to the top.

"When you're comfortable being vulnerable, you can see your blind spots. Then, you can build an ecosystem to address them," Schwarz said. She highlighted the importance of relying on others and building strong relationships to overcome challenges and achieve success.

While she shed light on the power of professional ecosystems in the IT field, her advice could be applied across the corporate landscape.

Schwarz’s insights include building multidimensional networks, understanding their company's currency, investing in peer relationships and being authentic to their personal brand as ways IT leaders can navigate their way to the C-suite.

To read the full article on CIO.com, click here.