Strategic PartnershipsProfiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity and experience.
This week’s profile is the Teena Piccione, the Secretary & State Chief Information Officer for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology.
My public career highlights and education:
This is my first role in the public sector after many years in private sector IT. Governor Josh Stein appointed me to his Cabinet, and I assumed this role in January and was confirmed by our State Senate this spring. I’m so excited to be here and to be part of our mission to build a safer, stronger North Carolina alongside an outstanding team at the N.C. Department of Information Technology. We’ve hit the ground running and we’re moving at the speed of business, not government, to do things differently and make them faster and better.
I’m a proud graduate of Georgia State University, I have a master’s degree from The George Washington University, and I’ve continued to pursue nanodegrees along the way because I love learning new things and developing new skillsets.
What I like best about public service:
I am often asked why I chose to make the leap from the private sector to the public sector and the answer is simple: impact. As I tell almost every audience I speak to, we’re all given 86,400 seconds in every day, and I’m determined to make the most of every single one of them. You can certainly make an impact wherever you are, but public service provides a unique opportunity to make a direct and tangible difference for people, businesses and communities.
Here in North Carolina, we are using technology to drive change and innovation, increase efficiency, secure our state’s systems and data, connect people to opportunities and one another, and build an overall brighter future. We are moving as quickly as we can and are seeking new ways to make a tremendous impact for all of North Carolina.
The best advice you’ve ever received:
My dad taught me I had to be a curious learner my entire life. He also said as a female I would always need to be a second faster, a second smarter and more resilient. He taught me to swing the bat or I would never get on base, and that there are no shortcuts, only hard work.
My advice to others: always apply for a position where you have 20 percent of the skills and you can learn the remaining 80 percent. It may be counterintuitive, but it is an amazing opportunity to learn and show what you can do.
Something I wish more people knew about my division of government:
I wish people knew just how hard our department works and how important our efforts are to every single aspect of North Carolina. Technology underpins everything we do, and we have an incredible responsibility to keep things running smoothly in the present while also anticipating the challenges of the future. Our landscape is ever-evolving, especially with the rapid advancement of generative AI and other technologies, and we’ve got to stay one step ahead and foster trust in everything we’re doing to benefit North Carolina.
Current project or initiative you’re working on:
One initiative that is near and dear to my heart is our efforts to invest in the next generation of our workforce and build a robust pipeline of future IT talent for North Carolina. I am the first generation in my family to graduate from not only college, but also high school, and I recognize firsthand the importance of education and training and the role they play in future success.
I am especially excited about a new cybersecurity internship program we just announced that will give college students the opportunity to work in cybersecurity roles at our department and gain real-world experience while meeting a critical workforce gap for our state.
We are creating pathways for students to begin with us as interns, move onto apprenticeships and then continue to stay on with the state and put their skill and expertise to work for North Carolina. We plan on announcing additional partnerships with colleges and universities to ensure we have a pipeline of extraordinary talent in North Carolina working for the state.
One thing people may not know about me:
I live my life by 5 F’s – Faith, Family, Friends, Financial (Work) and Fun, all underpinned by an attitude of gratitude.
I am passionate about giving back and spending time mentoring college students to ensure that they have a successful path. I also have a love of music, and you will find me the happiest when I am hiking in the mountains and listening to my favorite tunes.
