‘Boomerang’ CIOs: IT leaders level up by coming back

His time away made Miller better suited for the CTO role because it gave him “exposure to other diverse situations,” he says, and different customers, which led him to develop “creative approaches” to problem-solving.

Familiar culture and people

While at the Federal Reserve Bank, Postulka learned a lot about cybersecurity and infrastructure, which he says complemented skills he had in app development and software engineering.

Moving into the C-suite, especially during the pandemic, Postulka discovered what it took to be an executive and lead a remote team through videoconferencing. That meant having to effectively communicate and influence people all around the country, he says.

When the CIO role opened up at Arbella, Postulka’s interest was piqued. To fulfill his career goals at a company he was familiar with was an intriguing idea, but “honestly, what brought me back was the culture and people,” he says. “Arbella is a great place to work, and I had stayed in touch with so many of folks I had worked with over the years at a company I was very proud to work at.”

Postulka credits both organizations with teaching him the importance of building connections and relationships by being patient and listening to what people have to say. When you have an idea that you want support on, you might get pushback, he says, but that’s where negotiation comes in.

Becoming a successful CIO requires learning “where to stand your ground and when to be less selfish and more selfless. … It helps get you support at the executive level,” Postulka says. “It also doesn’t hurt to have allies on the executive board and you have to realize you can’t do that all alone.”

The most important leadership principles he has learned from his journey leaving and returning to Arbella? The importance of surrounding yourself with the right team and how vital it is to retain talent. “Everyone says that,” Postulka notes, “but it’s so critical to your success and the organization’s success.”

How best to boomerang

Both Postulka and Miller say that if you’re considering returning to a higher-level IT position at a former company, first consider what you’re trying to achieve in your career.

Situations at former organizations change, and several years can go by, “but if you’re still familiar with the culture and there are consistent threads, and if that appealed to you in the past, strongly consider whether it will be an enabler for you going forward,” Postulka says.

For some, returning to a previous employee may feel like going backward, even when leveling up. But for Postulka that has not been the case. Instead, it’s been an opportunity to shape and build something for himself and for an organization he continues to care for.  

“I gained a ton of experience for two years [at the Federal Reserve Bank] and have a broader perspective on how things can be done, and I’m applying that to an organization I’m familiar with,” Postulka says.

Miller agrees, saying he felt he had unfinished work to do at IFS. “It has felt like home since I’ve come back … I feel like I am where I belong.”

He adds, “You have to do it on your terms and how it fits in with your personal growth and the career story of what you want to accomplish.”