Some people know their career inclinations early on. Not Bryan Smith. When he joined Pall (a Danaher business) in 1996, he admits he was still figuring out what he wanted to be when he “grew up.” Today, 29 years later, Bryan channels his diverse experiences gained over three decades into his current role as Pall’s Chief Information Officer.
Here are some of his valuable learnings:
1. Career paths aren’t always a straight line.
Bryan started working for Pall in an unassuming role—production control at Pall’s Portsmouth (UK) manufacturing plant. Over time, his interest in IT slowly grew.
“I’ve always had an appreciation for solving problems and attention to detail, and through my early career roles, my interest in IT-related topics slowly developed. That, coupled with the explosion in IT, e-commerce and the internet, encouraged my interest in continually learning and developing in this field.”
Setting his sights on a career in IT, Bryan decided to go to college and gain formal IT qualifications. He moved into his first IT role in 2003, working for Pall’s Business Systems team. From there, Bryan worked in a variety of IT functions over the years supporting project management, digital transformation, HR systems and enterprise architecture. He also worked on some major projects, such as Pall’s global SAP rollout.
“When Pall joined the Danaher family in 2015, I had a number of opportunities to support other Danaher operating companies—all of which have been great stepping-stones for my career growth,” he said.
All of Bryan’s experience and leadership roles culminated in his promotion to Chief Innovation Officer in November 2023.
2. Danaher’s multi-business structure provides diverse career opportunities.
In Bryan’s experience, Danaher’s global footprint and common culture provide a unique opportunity to have a varied career with relatively low risk, as opposed to changing companies and the unknowns that can bring.
One of Bryan’s most memorable experiences was supporting the acquisition of Cytiva (a Danaher business) from GE in 2020, a highly complex and strategic transition.
“My role involved ensuring a seamless IT separation and integration, while maintaining business continuity—something I likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if not for the unique way Danaher operates,” he said. “Danaher’s multi-business structure, cross-functional collaboration, and unique Danaher Business System (DBS) tools enabled me to navigate the challenges of integrating a multi-billion-dollar business, while working with teams across different Danaher operating companies to deliver a successful outcome. That experience reinforced the immense value of strategic IT leadership in large-scale transformations and the impact of Danaher’s unique business model in making such initiatives possible.”
3. With DBS, everyone can accelerate innovation to make measurable improvements.
Danaher’s culture of continuous improvement means never settling for the status quo. At Pall, Bryan leverages DBS to challenge inefficiencies, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. This mindset ensures that every project—whether optimizing IT service management or modernizing our SAP landscape—is approached with a focus on long-term sustainability and measurable impact.
“A great example of a way in which we used DBS tools to solve a real challenge was in improving our employee onboarding process, which was performing poorly and sometimes led to new hires waiting up to seven days to receive their IT equipment,” explained Bryan. “This delay negatively impacted their productivity and first impressions of the company.”
“Using DBS tools, we analyzed every step of the onboarding workflow to pinpoint the root causes of delays,” he said. “From there, we streamlined approvals, improved coordination between teams, and eliminated bottlenecks. As a result, we reduced lead times and now ensure 100% of new hires receive their IT equipment on day one, significantly enhancing their onboarding experience and early engagement.”
4. Even functions like IT contribute to meaningful global impact.
Danaher provides a unique environment where IT isn’t just a support function—it’s a strategic enabler of business success. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement through DBS ensures that innovation, efficiency, and problem-solving are deeply embedded in everyday work.
According to Bryan, “IT professionals looking for impactful careers will find that Danaher’s multi-business structure offers diverse opportunities for growth, cross-functional collaboration, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.”
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Read other stories about life at Danaher:
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4 Things I’ve Learned on My Journey to CIO – Bryan Smith Shares Some Perks of the Danaher Culture
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Four Companies in 10 Years: Marcy Engelstein’s Dynamic Career Journey with Danaher
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Tam Emerson on Cultural Change and Pushing Pall Forward
