Spotlight on Scott Nowling

Scott Nowling is the VP, IT & CIO at Great Dane. He is a transformational IT executive with experience leading teams across global organizations, partnering with business executives to identify and implement digital solutions that drive operational efficiency, customer engagement and employee satisfaction.  A fun fact about Scott, he races in obstacle course races (e.g. Spartan, Savage Race, Tough Mudder, etc.).

Learn more about the Atlanta CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

I have been leading IT, business transformation and digital transformation at various organizations and companies over the last 17 years. I spent 29 years at Cummins Inc., leading IT and Business Transformation for the last 11. I took this knowledge to Hillenbrand Inc. to lead the same for several different operating companies under their ownership and then joined Great Dane as VP of IT (CIO) to lead the IT organization and digital transformation.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

IT must add value and enable the business(es) – with whom we work – to achieve their strategic objectives. 
 

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Gaining cross-functional alignment across our business to determine how we will achieve our strategic objectives, and investing the time and resources needed to achieve these objectives.  I am working with the top-level leaders of the company to gain this alignment and lead the organization through this significant transformation.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

Collaboration and communication with your peers.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

Setting lofty improvement goals for the organization and delivering on these goals.
 

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.