Helane Stein on innovation process

About Helane Stein

Helane Stein, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Brixmor Property Group, was recognized as an HMG Midcap CIO of the Year in September 2024. In an interview about the award, Stein discussed her approach to leadership and technology strategy. She stated that a visionary leader must understand the business and align technology with organizational goals, and that she reports quarterly to the audit committee on the company's cyber roadmap. Stein described Brixmor's approach to generative AI as using small cross-functional teams to develop proofs of concept, iterating on them, and moving quickly to larger rollouts or abandoning initiatives that fail. Stein emphasized the importance of partner relationships, noting that the SEC's cyber regulations have increased scrutiny on vendor management. She said Brixmor uses a robust vetting process to ensure contractual alignment and incident notification, and views partners as an extension of the team. On talent, Stein said she focuses on building a team culture with diversity in background and thought, which she stated fosters innovation and drives business success. She described leading with empathy as a sign of strength that creates a safe environment of trust, and said incorporating diverse voices into decision-making has led to increased creativity, better problem solving, and enhanced employee engagement.

Profile compiled from Helane Stein's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →