Elizabeth Hackinson, CIO at Schneider Electric, embodies a career built on pivots, curiosity, and unwavering determination. Growing up in a traditional Italian family near New York, she never imagined a corporate path, yet, started coding at 19 while working full-time and pursuing education at night. Her 30+ year career defies the linear climb: lateral moves across companies, transitions from technical expert to leadership, and continuous learning became her competitive advantage.

Elizabeth’s story reveals hard truths about ambition and motherhood. She outsourced relentlessly, prioritized work over perfection, and leaned on a supportive partner to navigate director-level roles and executive responsibilities. She faced skepticism as a woman in male-dominated tech, yet gained strength from male mentors, thick skin, and an unshakeable belief that she belonged.

Her leadership philosophy centers on patience, listening, people and lessons learned through managing teams and parenting a teenage son. She speaks candidly about feedback, the “prove them wrong” mindset, and the shift from doer to visionary. Today, Elizabeth champions continuous learning, embraces AI’s transformative potential, and advocates for workplace flexibility that supports working parents of all genders. Her message is simple: success isn’t about the perfect plan—it’s about showing up authentically, learning relentlessly, and moving sideways when growth demands it.