Part II

The multifaceted aspects of being a CSO

As you might have deduced by now, a CSO has to juggle a number of different yet very important tasks. However, and this point cannot be stressed enough, regardless of how capable a CSO is, success is possible only through teamwork, coordination, and collaboration. So, here is what makes a successful CSO!

An amazingly diverse skill-set - learning from the past, comprehending the present, and foreseeing the future

A CSO has to have multiple skills under their belt. First on this list includes strong communications skills, as the person has to communicate on both fronts: clients and the company departments and leaders. Another important skill is multitasking, as the CSO has to work on multiple projects at a time. There is also a need for technical skills, strong leadership skills, and people management.

A CSO also works closely with the company executives regarding the changing market dynamics and how the company can adapt. On the other hand, he collaborates with other departments to reduce costs and resources without compromising quality.

At accessiBe, major disruptions are coming our way due to technological advancements and increasing legislative requirements. Notably, the web accessibility gap is becoming wider, leaving millions of our differently-abled fellows behind. That means we have to ramp up our efforts to educate companies that becoming accessible is the right thing to do and it ensures that we are taking everyone aboard on our journey. Moreover, going accessible also helps in growing the market reach by catering to the currently unfulfilled needs of people with disabilities.

One of our prime goals, thus, is to stay on top of the technical and legislative requirements, which are evolving persistently, and simultaneously guide our clients on both aspects while helping them stay compliant with all the legislative requirements.

As accessiBe guides its customers on their way to becoming inclusive and helps them comply with the local legislation and policies on internet accessibility, it particularly requires its CSO to have a unique blend of legal and IT exposure as well as people, leadership, and negotiation skills along with an extensive understanding of market dynamics. (And I feel humbled to be providing that to help actualize my company’s vision.)

A CSO does not just work with a team, but he has to build one and foster a healthy team sentiment. This is what I love the most about my job and what I do for the company. Being a people person through and through, I enjoy interacting with my team more than anything. For me, the most stimulating aspect of being a CSO is to have a bunch of people to mentor and learn from while collaborating on helping the company achieve its goals. I have immensely enjoyed mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and training in my past role as a CEO, and I am looking forward to being able to do the same in my current role as well.

Factors that render the role of a CSO more important than ever, especially for a tech business

With a persistently evolving corporate landscape due to digital transformation, a CSO’s role has become even more important for tech businesses to respond through novel solutions. Amid the evolving IT realm, the technological needs regarding web accessibility are changing too. Sometimes, the clients are not aware of these changes and need to be guided through.

These persistent changes require the product cycles to be swift, especially in a tech-based company like accessiBe. I have observed constant collaboration in the organization and sharing the big picture with everyone internally to encourage motivation and productivity.

The once-in-a-century challenge, COVID-19, has created a global disruption that will have long-term implications. It has presented the internet as a fundamental need and highlighted the importance of its universal accessibility. Businesses have to be made more aware of the need for a universal web and how to respond to these needs.

While a CSO holds a strategic position in the company, he is not alone in this journey. The success of a CSO’s initiatives and tasks relies heavily on his team. The entire team puts its heart and soul into the job, and only then a project becomes a success. I and my team at accessiBe look forward to making an inclusive world-wide-web a reality. I believe that the company is moving on an impressive trajectory. Transparency and effective communication with stakeholders is key to success and can create better outcomes in the long run.

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