The Role of a CIO

In this months newsletter we're talking all about the role of a CIO.

We cover how to become a CIO; how you know if the role is right for you; how the role has changed; and who you work with in this position.

How do you become a CIO?

Earlier this year we held an event called ‘How to become a CIO’, where we had three brilliant speakers share their career journey, advice to those progressing through the ranks, and current challenges, trends and tips for peers.

A common thread across the panel was reaching a c-suite level position wasn’t something they particularly strived for, it was a result of their personal and professional motivators. These included:

Gain experience & wider business knowledge

Start by gaining experience in roles related to technology and management. This could include positions such as IT specialist, systems analyst, project manager, or IT manager. Building a solid foundation of technical skills combined with leadership and management experience is crucial.

Seek mentors

Building a strong professional network within the IT industry and beyond is essential for career advancement. Attend industry events, conferences, and seminars, join professional organizations, and actively engage with peers and mentors. Learn from leaders at your organisation, and externally, to expand your knowledge and reach.

Strive to be the best you can be

By continually striving to be better, to learn and develop, your career will naturally progress. Look for opportunities to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership within your organization or through external opportunities – take on challenges you know will stretch your skills. This could include leading cross-functional teams, spearheading IT transformation projects, or taking on roles with broader scope and impact.

Continual learning

The tech landscape is changing at pace, the need to stay updated on the latest technologies, trends, and best practices in IT and management is crucial. Obtaining relevant certifications can also enhance your credentials and demonstrate expertise in specific areas.

How do you know the CIO role is right for you?

In our Diary of a CIO podcast, we ask all speakers ‘when did you know you wanted to become a CIO?’ and not one person (so far) has said they set out their career aspiring for this role, similar to our expert panel... there appears to be a common theme.

Jock Carruthers, CIO at Ooni said “I don’t think I ever wanted to be a CIO if I’m being brutally honest, I fell into technology. I started in business and worked in banking. I worked my way through the ranks from branch, to selling mortgages, through to financial advice. At that point, a graduate scheme popped up for technology or retail banking, and I asked what the difference is, and ultimately it came down to about ￡7k – so technology was chosen!”

Antony Hausdoerfer, CIO at The AA said: “Does anyone ever come out of education and think ‘that is my aspirational job’? I wouldn’t say it was one I intended on. My background was more in marketing, but immediately as part of that came how can you use technology to support marketing? How can you use the internet to support marketing? To support sales? To support business? The thing that really attracted me to the role was how technology can really enable businesses; enable customers to engage with businesses and enable colleagues to work better. It’s (technology) right at the heart of business efficiently and capability, and is what I found really interesting. I always thought of myself as not particularly technical – obviously this was not the truth? - it was just a perception I had of myself. Actually I realized I am quite technical and able to bridge the technology to business conversation which isn’t always an easy skill.”

Ultimately, deciphering if the role is right for you comes with experience, understanding what interests and excites you, and where your skills excel.

How has the role changed over recent years?

Strategic business partner

This has been a common premise across the Diary of a CIO podcast and our ‘How to Become a CIO/CTO’ event earlier this year. CIOs are talking about how the role has become more strategic, which comes with a whole new plethora of skills to successfully take that commercial seat at the table. It’s about understanding the business goals and challenges, getting into the detail of each individual team's business plan, and presenting technological solutions to drive the business forwards.

Proactive approach

The role of a CIO is no longer siloed with the IT team. It has become vital to work with the wider business and understand how each team operate, how they use technology, and the pain points.

It is critical to find and dedicate time to spend time with internal teams and end-users. Really get under the skin of every corner of the business so you can present and articulate strategies that will add real value, using language they will understand.

Cyber rising in priority

Again, referring back to our Diary of a CIO podcast, all speakers have said cyber security is what keeps them up at night. For example, Sharon Prior, CIO at Heathrow said “Cyber security has got the whole boardroom, not just jittery, but really concerned”.

As cyber threats evolve in sophistication, it is imperative for CIOs to place emphasis on fortified cybersecurity strategies. This entails the adoption of thorough security frameworks, frequent security evaluations, and ongoing employee education to counteract risks effectively. Additionally, allocating resources towards innovative technologies such as AI-powered security systems is essential. If the business is big enough, hiring a CISO to dedicate full resource might be required.

Doing more with less

Doing more with less is not about cutting corners or sacrificing quality. It's about optimizing and streamlining processes, leveraging available resources, outsourcing wisely, and finding innovative ways to achieve your goals efficiently.

It’s no secret that businesses have had to cut back budgets and, as listed above, the role of a CIO is only expanding. This, joint with the need to invest and implement new technologies such as AI, has delivered a real challenge. This is where strategic skills are required to understand business goals and prioritize to meet expectations. This may include moving work offshore, hiring contractors to gain flexibility and niche skills, further utilization of data, and future planning investment gains such as cloud and AI.

Who do you work with?

Overall, the CIO plays a critical role in bridging the gap between technology and business goals, and they must work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure the effective use of IT resources and the achievement of strategic objectives.

1.????? Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors - The CIO works closely with other members of the executive leadership team, such as the CEO, CFO (Chief Financial Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), and other C-suite executives, to align IT strategies with overall business strategies and provide regular updates on IT strategy, investments, risks, and performance.

2.????? IT Department - The CIO often manages and oversees the IT department and works with IT managers, technicians, developers, and other IT professionals to ensure that IT systems are running smoothly, projects are on track, and resources are effectively allocated.

3.????? Business Unit Leads - As CIO, you need to collaborate with all departments to understand IT needs and requirements, challenges and objectives, to implement IT solutions that improve efficiency and support business processes.

4.????? Vendors and Partners - Interacting with external vendors, suppliers and tech partners to procure IT products and services, negotiate contracts, and manage vendor relationships.

5.????? Regulatory Bodies - The CIO may liaise with regulatory bodies and compliance officers to ensure that IT systems and practices comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, particularly in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and telecommunications.

6.????? End-users - The CIO may engage with customers and end users to gather feedback, understand their needs and preferences, and ensure that IT solutions are user-friendly and meet their expectations.

7.??????? Security and Risk Management teams - Given the increasing importance of cybersecurity, the CIO collaborates with security and risk management teams to assess and mitigate IT risks, implement security measures, and respond to security incidents.