Director of Technology?

[An Artist]

I am wondering what it takes to become a Director of Technology for a school or company. I know a lot about technology but I don't show it. I'm wondering the steps I would need to take get get a coveted position such as this. My main skills today are artistic. But I know a lot more about how things work.

[hanratty21]

Be more artistic.

[creativeinsomnia]

Usually, at an agency...you'd have to climb the ranks. Intern - Associate Developer - Developer - Senior Developer - Associate Director - Director

And usually, the prerequisites have nothing to do with "knowing how things work".

At that level, you're making the calls, and you're responsible.

Good luck with that.

[lefteyewilly]

i believe for corporate environments it's a VERY strong knowledge of the entire company's technological infrastructure.

Including but not limited to:
-Networks (usually the #1 prerequisite)
-Databases
-Intranets
-email systems
-Security
-websites
-legal issues

However, it's not just the knowledge of the above, it's MANAGING every little aspect of each and every bit of it.

But at even more at a director level, you should also have a very strong working knowledge of accounting/finance, budgeting, purchasing, aquisitions, and hiring.

From my short personal experience in large corporate environments, if you're not a former networking/programming engineer, you're not really cut out to be a director of technology.