Over the past month, I had two conversations that stayed with me. One was with a new CIO stepping into his first big leadership role. The other was with an experienced CIO preparing for a final interview for his dream job. In both talks, I shared ideas I’ve explored in my essays: the importance of trust, listening, building scale, managing vendors. And, watching for signals that reveal whether a CIO can truly succeed. These conversations led me to reflect on my own journey. I was fortunate to work under leaders who understood that the CIO role is about stewardship and guidance. They gave me wide discretion to lead. They offered perspective when I needed it. They tightened the guardrails when I needed help. I am who I am today because of the chances they took on me, the freedom and accountability they offered. And, the experience I gained in shaping my own philosophy of an ideal CIO. In today’s dispatch, we share those lessons, in honor of the trust my colleagues placed in me during those recent conversations and in deep gratitude for the profound impact my mentors had on my path.

Episodes

Lessons in CIO Leadership: Trust, Stewardship, and Growth