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Chief Knowledge Officer

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Business Management and Administration cluster General Management pathway.

Insider Info

Additional Information

CKOs are expected to be highly trained and very knowledgeable about everything. It helps just to be an all-round sharp person.

"Pursuing a career in knowledge management is just generally something that everybody does, regardless of what career aspirations they have," says CKO Nick Bontis. "You don't necessarily have to be a business school grad or a human resources person or a philosophy person."

An undergraduate degree in economics, business administration, management or information systems is your best bet. A healthy curiosity and critical understanding of what's going on in the world is also an essential asset.

Knowledge manager Jo-Anne Raynes, who has a degree in economics as well as an MBA, suggests students learn all about computer systems and programs, math and science, as well as liberal arts.

"But the key to all of this," says Raynes, "is you can have all this training, but you really need to understand people. It's one thing to say you can sit down in front of a computer and know all about that, but there's more to it. You need to know it all: people training, leadership and culture -- you can't be narrowly focused."

CKO Yogesh Malhotra, who has a doctorate in information systems and knowledge management, agrees. "Online learning is very important, but it's more about people and communication.

"You can't predict what is going to happen next in the world, so you have to stay one step ahead of it all and be prepared to pass the information down the line of employees when it comes to you."

So there is no conventional way for a CKO to start off their training. Some take courses in management. Others take courses in information and technology. But most people in the business agree that a willingness to understand new technology as it happens and being able to adapt to changes is very important.

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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