IT Leader profile: Frank Modruson

What does your job entail?
I oversee the delivery of all business applications and the IT infrastructure that enables Accenture’s workforce of 178,000 people across 49 countries to work anytime, anywhere. I focus on running IT like a business and making it invisible to the user. My IT team consists of 3,500 people overall.

What was your first job?
Newspaper boy.

What was your first role in IT?
I worked for a small consulting firm before going to university. It was an excellent experience because I got to wear many hats, from sales, to programming, to taking out the garbage.

Did you always want to work in IT?
I have always been fascinated by technology and the role it plays in changing how we live and work. My uncle was a big influence on me. He worked for a television channel in New York and part of his job involved computer graphics. He encouraged me to study computing.

How often do you check your BlackBerry?
Too often. That said, I am moving to the smartphone as my primary device, and phasing out my laptop.

What keeps you awake at night?
I’m pleased to say, nothing. I have a terrific team and know everything is under control.

Is now a good time to enter the profession?
Absolutely. Today, IT is more embedded in the fabric of organisations than ever before. Next-generation collaboration technologies are taking hold and are changing the way businesses operate internally and with partners and customers. It’s an exciting time. Add to that, fewer and fewer people are entering the profession, which means the industry is short on IT skills in a number of countries. This means opportunities for those who pursue the field.