A colleague recently interviewed for a high-profile CIO role. The opportunity looked promising, but when they interviewed, red flags emerged. The hiring executive had created a shadow IT unit, tasked with using AI to deliver much-desired efficiencies. The leader of this team, like any “star quarterback,” was confident, opinionated, and clearly had the full trust of the executive. But he showed less concern for the IT organization, enterprise architecture, or long-term supportAfter meeting this superstar, my friend called me to talk it through. I said plainly, “It sounds like he’s the real CIO, without the responsibility of being one. No governance, no need to deliver resilient systems. Just build fast and impress the boss.” That was all they needed to hear. They withdrew from the search.In today’s Dispatch, we discuss shadow IT. Not just how it forms, but why it persists and what it reveals about those who enable it. It is a recurring symptom of poor leadership foresight, shallow governance, and executives chasing quick wins at the expense of resilience.

Episodes

The Hidden Risks of Shadow IT