We are pleased to share the first in a new series of interviews with Chief Information Officers and other senior technology executives exploring how technology is reshaping the global economy.
In our first installment, we are honored to host Rhonda Gass, Chief Information Officer of Stanley Black & Decker, for a conversation on the significant impact technology is having on the manufacturing industry. Advancements in computing power, robotics and new technologies such as 3-D printing are renewing an industry that was once seen as stagnant.
At Greenspring Associates, we believe in bringing significant human capital with our financial capital to our partnerships with venture fund managers and their portfolio companies. Combined, these elements forge enterprise capital, the special output we are able to provide when we match all of our human capital – expertise, networks, contacts, experience – with our financial capital. As venture capitalists, we are situated at the center of high-density, extended networks that include resources for fundraising and capital management, operational and strategic mentorship and the evaluation of product-market fit and talent.
These networks include Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers and other senior technologists who have been elevated to hold significant influence over their organizations’ digital strategies – and by extension, their success – as software pervades every aspect of the modern enterprise. We are delighted to share access to our enterprise capital through perspectives of senior technologists from large corporations, each of whom bring unique insights, experience and forward-looking observations for consideration.
In this interview you will learn:
1. Why Rhonda believes every employee should spend time in an Information Technology (IT) department
2. How "VUCA" training became crucial to helping Stanley Black & Decker navigate the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Consumerization of IT and how it has been incorporated into the company's broader business strategy
4. "Industry 4.0" and the importance of that within Stanley Black & Decker
5. How the company is working to be more competitive within e-commerce and to better understand their customer's end to end user experience
About Rhonda Gass
Rhonda is Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Stanley Black & Decker. She was appointed to this position in September 2012. As CIO, Rhonda drives a strategic agenda that equips the company’s businesses with the digital, data and collaboration capabilities required to win in the global marketplace. Concurrently, she is leading a cultural transformation focused on managing the information technology function as a business and delivering greater economic value. Rhonda also leads the Functional Transformation initiative for the company, which is focused on leveraging advanced technologies and innovation to bring greater effectiveness and efficiency to general and administrative operations.
Prior to Stanley Black & Decker, Rhonda was a Vice President at Dell where she served for 12 years in positions of increasing scope and responsibility. Rhonda’s experience includes positions as a General Manager for a product line as well as positions leading multiple areas in the IT function, such as the IT systems supporting Dell’s world-class supply chain operations. Prior to Dell, Rhonda worked for NCR Corporation, where she began as a software developer and rapidly progressed to executive leadership roles in the Columbia, South Carolina facility.
Rhonda is on the Board of Directors for Flowers Foods, one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States. She also serves on the Technology Business Management (TBM) Council board, a nonprofit organization which strives to advance the discipline of IT. Additionally, Rhonda was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut Science Center which is dedicated to inspiring lifelong learning through science and endeavoring to create a workforce equipped for jobs in the science-related fields.
Rhonda holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
About Stanley Black & Decker
Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems and more.
