Marc Wood (he/him) CIO, Berkshire Hathaway at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Just in time for February’s Career and Technical Education Month, we coordinated a visit from Marc Wood, Chief Information Officer at Berkshire Hathaway, to Karisha Taboh’s class at English High School.
The class’ conversation with Marc touched upon his upbringing in a small town in New Hampshire, his passion for sports, and the power of having a “growth mindset” to achieve one’s goals. Marc offered real-time, relevant insight into the students’ curriculum, while expanding their knowledge to include a more holistic discussion on the attributes of a successful professional across any industry.
Marc highlighted the value of moving towards a mindset of growth: visualizing a goal and charting a plan to achieve it. Some real-world examples that Marc shared were turning negative comments into motivation to improve, or putting in the work to enhance skills one finds intrinsically challenging. These strategies contribute to character-building skills, which are highly valued in the workforce. When Berkshire Hathaway is hiring staff, Marc shared that they place more value on applicants’ character than capability.
“You need to be a team-player and receive criticism with an open mind,” shared one student. Marc agreed, adding that having collaborative skills and chemistry with the team can both be more valuable than proficiency. The conversation shifted to IT-specific topics, including cybersecurity, data analytics, malware, phishing, and hacking. Marc highly recommended a career in technology for anyone with a propensity for it, as it’s in-demand and provides an essential service to consumers.
Marc wrapped up his visit by sharing that the support and mentorship of his teachers, family members, and colleagues was a positive source of support throughout his personal and professional career. He encouraged students to seek out a network of people who believe in them, while also working hard towards their professional aspirations. Having access to career exploration programs like Pathfinders – along with mentorship opportunities – can help students cultivate those important networks.
