Sharon Mandell, chief information officer of Juniper Networks, has held various CIO and CTO roles over the past 25 years, each building upon her previous experience and matching her current life phase. In her current role, Mandell is in charge of IT strategy and implementation for an enterprise that offers high-performance networking and cybersecurity products to service providers, businesses, and public sector organizations.
In a recent email interview, Mandell discussed the options available for CIOs looking to further advance their careers.
What should be the next logical career step for a current CIO?
That really depends on the individual CIO, their time in the role, the scope of their responsibilities, the scale of the companies they’ve worked for, and most importantly, their personal interests and aspirations.
The next step could be another CIO role at a larger company in the same industry, or a shift to a different industry — smaller, same-sized, or even larger — if the challenge is compelling. It could be a smaller organization with a mission or opportunity that you’ve always wanted to take on.
Some CIOs take on adjacent or additional functions — customer support, engineering, marketing, HR. I haven’t yet seen a CIO move into CFO or chief counsel, but with the right background, it’s not out of the question.
You could step into a COO or even CEO role. Some [CIOs] move into venture capital or advisory roles. There’s no single “right” next step — it’s about what makes sense for your unique path and purpose.
When is the best time to make a career move?
When you feel like you’re no longer having a significant impact or adding meaningful value in your current role. I’ve often felt taking on new roles can feel like being thrown into the deep end of the pool — completely overwhelmed at first, but eventually you develop a vision and begin driving change. When those changes start to feel incremental instead of transformative, it may be time to move on.
Sometimes, opportunities show up when you’re not actively looking — something that fills a gap in your background, stretches you in a big way, or offers a challenge you’ve always wanted to take on. Even if you’re happy where you are — not that the CIO role is ever truly comfortable — you’ve got to be open to those moments.
When is the best time to stay in place?
I don’t like leaving a role when I’ve taken a risk on a project, a technology, or a transformation and haven’t yet seen it through to a solid or stable outcome.
I also don’t want to leave a leadership team holding the bag, especially if I’ve been pushing them outside their comfort zones. I want my peers to understand why I’ve made certain decisions, and that usually means staying long enough to deliver real results.
That said, sometimes opportunities won’t wait. You’ll have to weigh whether staying to finish something or making a move offers more long-term value. At the end of the day, I want the people I leave behind to want to work with me again should the right opportunity arise.
What’s the biggest mistake CIOs make when planning a career move?
Chasing title, prestige, or compensation as the sole driver of the decision, or assuming that “bigger” is always better.
At the end of the day, what matters most is the people you surround yourself with, the impact you’re able to make, and what you learn along the way. The right role should stretch you, challenge you, and allow you to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s success. That’s what makes a career move truly worth it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’ve never been someone who obsessively mapped out a career trajectory. I’ve made decisions based on what felt right for my life at the time. There were points when I took smaller roles because they gave me the balance I needed as a single mom. I passed on big opportunities because I didn’t want to relocate. I’ve moved back and forth between CIO and CTO roles more than once.
The common thread has been this: I look for roles that challenge me, expand my perspective, and give me big new experiences to grow from — even if I know they won’t be easy or fun. Those are the ones that build grit, resilience, and passion.
The money, title, and scope tend to follow if you execute well. I may not end up with the biggest job or the highest salary, but I’ve had one heck of a ride, and that’s what makes it all worth it.