Michael B. Eason, 2012 Honoree

- Title
- Managing vice president of enterprise data services
- Employer
- Capital One Financial Corp.
- Location
- Richmond, Va.
- What characteristic is most important to you in an IT hire?
- I really look for critical thinking skills. Understanding how someone would approach a business problem is more important than their degree or tenure in a specific role.
- How do you make sure your most talented workers stay put?
- I strive to create a team that feels connected to the business strategy and embodies a culture of partnership and delivery. Keeping my best people is about keeping them challenged with a new project or a new role, and giving them autonomy to influence the strategy and lead the solution.
- Career highlight:
- I never imagined that my master's degree in healthcare administration would one day translate into my role today leading the enterprise data strategy for one of the country's top banks.