S2E16: CIO Carissa Rollins on Leadership, Transformation, and Unlocking the Genome

In the latest episode of the 1% Better Podcast, Carissa Rollins, CIO at Illumina, sits down with host Craig Thielen and shares how she navigated career pivots, led major transformations, and champions inclusivity in tech. Her story is one of resilience, bold decisions, and empowering others along the way. Key takeaways include: Embrace Career Evolution and Lifelong LearningCarissa's path to becoming a CIO wasn’t linear. She initially pursued law but shifted to technology after discovering her passion in college. Her willingness to learn new skills, like Visual Basic, and seek out roles that aligned with her interests propelled her career forward. The Importance of Resilience and AccountabilityCarissa highlights the value of owning decisions – even when they don’t go as planned. She shares a story about making a tough call that didn’t pan out but underscores the importance of admitting mistakes and moving forward. Drive Transformation Through People, Not Just ProcessesCarissa emphasizes that successful transformation must start with the people within an organization, not just executive mandates. Leaders need to ensure they have the right people in the right roles – and recognize that not everyone will stay on board, which is part of the process. Mentorship and Opening Doors for OthersReflecting on her career, Carissa highlights how some women in tech closed doors behind them. She took the opposite approach, committing to creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals and mentoring others to succeed. Culture Can Make or Break SuccessCarissa points out that toxic or non-inclusive cultures are deal-breakers for her. She shares how environments with hidden agendas or lack of transparency drive her to leave, reinforcing that a healthy, transparent, and inclusive workplace is critical to personal and organizational success. Connect with Carissa Rollins on LinkedInConnect with Craig Thielen on LinkedIn