As Indiana’s tech community continues to grow and mature, it’s getting harder and harder to narrow down the winners for our annual Tech 25 Awards program. Clearly, there is a wealth of tech talent in the Hoosier state, and they are making incredible moves. Join us in celebrating the Tech 25 class of 2020 through this profile series and learn a bit more about each winner.

Charlie oversees product management and strategy for the Digital Health organization at Eli Lilly and Company. In this role, he is responsible for leading digital health solutions from ideation through delivery, managing teams to deliver clinically-relevant, high-quality solutions to engage and support the people who need it most. As part of these efforts, Charlie partners with researchers, clinicians, marketers, developers, and external innovators to help find the right digital solution for Lilly’s portfolio.

Charlie’s nominators call his contributions “immeasurable” because he has been at the forefront of driving Lilly’s digital health strategy forward for almost 30 years. His journey at Lilly started when he was an eager college graduate and progressed to being responsible for leading digital health solutions from ideation through delivery. Charlie consistently reinforces the value of a diverse, collaborative environment at Lilly and strives to create an inclusive culture in which colleagues feel  motivated and confident.

What led you to get into tech and this occupation? What was your first job in tech?

I was exposed to tech early in life with a mathematician father and a computer scientist mother. This led me to the Systems Analysis program at Miami University and then to Eli Lilly right out of school. At Lilly, he found his passion for leveraging technology to speed up lifesaving medicines and enable health tech solutions directly to patients.

When you think of a day in your life, what are the main work activities you do or responsibilities you have?

My role today is heavily focused on product strategy, organizational change, and innovation leadership. As such, a typical day includes working with my team, partners, collaborators, and sponsors on prioritizing and shaping our work and driving forward on our initiatives.

Which resources would you recommend to those who want to learn more or advance their skills in this occupation?

As a foundation for understanding my field, I actively read digital health news digests and heavily leverage search engines, wikis, and websites to understand trends and solution options. To expand my understanding of strategy and tech fit, I engage with business and tech leaders in adjacent fields to get their perspectives on business, technology, and strategy. Finally, I find ways to engage with and understand my customer. I look to understand their challenges, needs, and motivators and let those drive and motivate me in my own goals.

Charles Haddad is a Tech 25 winner who is helping to grow and improve the tech landscape of Indiana. He was nominated by his VP, Chief Digital Officer, Rich Carter. To learn more about the Tech 25 Awards, click here.

Visit the Indianapolis Business Journal website to see the full listing and celebration of the 2020 Tech 25 honorees in the joint CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards supplement. You can also watch a video of the livestream from the CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards virtual event.