'The harder I work, the luckier I get'

Raj Khemani started his career immediately after graduating from college, giving himself 3 years to acquire practical knowledge. Relevant knowledge and experience came with his association with Ranbaxy, Microsoft, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and now Clariant Chemicals (India).

"Tasting success was not easy and with time I have realized that every bit of hard work was worth it. I feel that formal education helps a person get his/her first job only, post that, it's the knowledge, experience, passion, and attitude that helps one in climbing the corporate ladder," says Khemani.

Being a young CIO has its share of merits and demerits. It also depends on how an individual handles the situation and turns a disadvantage into an advantage. But young CIOs tend to be more adventurous and are open to new ideas, and are ready to take calculated risks. "Challenges which one might face may be because of the cultural philosophy of an organization; definitely not age," Khemani adds.

He also feels that a CFO heading the IT function and having a team of IT managers to execute projects, as is prevalent in a lot of Indian companies today, might not be the right arrangement. A CIO reporting to a CFO could be sanctioned but he believes that the CIO is integral to a company. Especially the younger breed of CIOs will help in managing the function more efficiently and effectively.

As a popular adage goes, 'Change is the only constant', adapting oneself to change is a must for any function head. Luckily, it is this change that drives technologies and makes it challenging for proficient CIOs. Expectations from CIOs have increased indicating a higher responsibility and more trust from the CEO.