The clean slate of the New Year offers a natural time to set new goals and build new habits.
We caught up with CIOs who recently won the2020 Bay AreaCIO of the Year ORBIE Awardsto find out see what habits they believe will be important in the year ahead. The awards were presented by theBay Area CIO Leadership Association, a professional community that annually recognizes CIOs for their excellence in technology leadership.
Common themes from their suggestions include being change ready and more deeply supportive of the people you lead.
[ Get exercises and approaches that make disparate teams stronger. Read the digital transformation ebook:Transformation Takes Practice. ]
Read on to learn the key habitsthese CIOsbelieve IT executives should cultivate to adapt to our newnormal.
Jacob Sorensen, EVP & CIO, Bank of the West: In the year ahead, it is extremely important that CIOs are intentional about checking in on the wellbeing of our teams and individuals. The pandemic has challenged everyone in many different ways, and IT leaders must be proactive about checking in our team members regardless of how theyve been impacted. Many of our team members are working long hours in an always on mode. Other team members may be living alone, while others may be feeling isolated from the rest of the team.
As leaders, we must ensure our team members are getting the required downtime to recover from the long hours working from home. Make it a habit to encourage your teams to set aside time for their healthy habits of choice, whether thats exercising, doing a hobby, or spending time with loved ones preferably away from a screen. Frankly, this is something I am still trying to improve myself.
Ultimately this downtime makes for a more productive and effective person. It helps avoid burnout and fosters more creative and innovative outcomes. By being consistently deliberate with these well-being check-ins, CIOs will build a more stable, supportive IT culture that will better serve everyone in the future.
Todd Wilson, Senior Vice President of IT, Clif: As Heraclitus said, the only thing constant is change. This has never been more true than in 2020. As CIOs and technology leaders, change is a given, but generally far out of the comfort zone of most. To adapt to the new normal we are adjusting to a state of constant change. As technology leaders it is essential for us to keep a people-centric focus as we digitally transform. We can promote an attitude of adopting this new norm of constant change, even championing it to disrupt our organizations and industries for the better, while keeping people top of mind.
Clif Bar is a values-based company intentionally focused on sustaining our people, community, planet, business, and brand. It begins with our people. For IT leaders, driving change and adding value across the organization must revolve around our people and their needs. This includes asking some key questions, such as: How will our people respond? Will they adapt? How do we create quick wins to provide a beacon for adoption? We must be intentional in our empathy while evangelizing the tremendous value we are unlocking. To be an effective technology leader in this new era, we must put our people at the center of our strategies while promoting, championing, and embracing a world of constant change."
Kirsten Wolberg, Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Docusign: Habits are our behaviors. For me, how I behave and show up in the world is tied to my values. In 2021, I believe CIOs and IT executives will be well served to get really clear on their values and what is truly important to them and to their companies. Importantly, DocuSign has company values that are consistent with my personal values trusted, loved and responsible. These values were essential to guide me and my team to do the right thing for our fellow employees and our customers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was challenging to move everyone to remote work, and for many CIOs it will be even more difficult to navigate bringing employees back to the office. There will be hundreds of decisions to make, and thousands of lives will be impacted. Staying focused on ensuring the company values guide the way will simplify the move back to the office and help tackle every new obstacle that 2021 brings.
Sally Gilligan, CIO & Head of Corporate Strategy, Gap Inc.: As technology continues to accelerate the pace of change across industries, it is important for CIOs and IT executives to stay connected outside of your organization. This habit helps to foster an agile learning organization that is aware and can respond to change. By having that external orientation, it also allows the organization to have awareness of any emerging innovation that may shape industries and shift underlying economics. Additionally, this helps leaders understand where to invest. As a leader, this understanding informs where you need flexibility, where your strategy needs to evolve, and the talent you need to grow and deliver.
The pace will continue to accelerate. CIOs and IT executives will need to be integrated into a broader ecosystem of innovation to participate in the broader conversation. By cultivating the habit of seeking outside opinions, it allows you to understand what you should be considering and how best to navigate the emerging landscape. Talent will continue to be one of the most critical aspects of your ability to deliver the business needs. When you understand what is possible and what is emerging, you can also develop and invest in your teams today to be able to deliver tomorrow.
Adhir Mattu, VP & CIO, Marvell: CIOs are leading a world where a multitude of changes are happening around us from emerging technologies, such as 5G, artificial intelligence and edge computing, to industry model changes like autonomous vehicles, online retail, and Industry 4.0. Were also leading in a time when there are ever-increasing cyber security challenges, as well as changing environmental and geo-political situations. As business models continue to adjust amid these myriad changes, it will become increasingly imperative for CIOs to reimagine and rescale IT accordingly, enabling profitable growth for their firms.
In the year ahead, CIOs must develop the habit of constantly looking out for change patterns and make quick adjustments accordingly. While every industry faces its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, as CIOs, we all find ourselves in a position where we must focus on innovative ways of supporting the business in the most scalable and cost-efficient manner, all while still offering high-performance IT services with excellent user-experience. CIOs who remain adaptable amid all of this change will add more value to their organizations in the years ahead.
Rob Lloyd, CIO, City of San Jose: 2020 proved the importance of people and trust. For CIOs, we saw our organizations (and communities) turn to us in a true moment of need. How powerful it was that we solved keeping people collaborating and working remotely in days/weeks, that they openly invited us to help redesign business processes for an instantly digital work. How meaningful it is that we are tending to new, transformational challenges facing us together and with more empathy than ever before.
That ability of CIOs to think operationally, tactically, and strategically at the same time has translated well. We've helped our organizations address how to pivot today's work, how to organize tomorrow's work, and how to prepare for what's important on the horizon. I've never seen so many leaders from across organizational disciplines take the time to appreciate how the IT team has kept things running, kept people connected, anticipated change, and listened deeply to work with peers/partners to solve big, new challenges in novel ways. This will continue to be useful in the year ahead as we face even more economic uncertainty, deep challenges to people's lives and livelihoods, and bonds of community.
One area where I need to improve my abilities is in how I help our people take care of themselves. Making time to reinforce interpersonal bonds. Protecting our people from falling into over-working and over-meeting. Providing time, space, tools, and guidance for people to take care of their minds, bodies, and families. Leading by example in setting new norms for work-life integration. Finding recognition and team building rituals that work in hybrid work environments. I'm convinced the best of us in the CIO and IT executive community will be the ones who can lead in terms of that mental, physical, and family well-being."
[ How can automation free up more staff time for innovation? Get the free eBook: Managing IT with Automation. ]
See more here:
- Intentional Community and Capitalism - Shareable - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- How alternative communities have evolved from pacifist communes to a solution to the ageing population - The Conversation - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Georgia Power Announced T. Dallas Smith named to Georgia ... - All On Georgia - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- CSRWire - Thought Leaders Gather for Critical Community ... - CSRwire.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- EPA centers diversity with first-ever environmental youth advisory council - Yahoo News - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Rigor, Relevance, & Reality: Education Collaboratory at Yale ... - Yale School of Medicine - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Gaza: UN experts call on international community to prevent ... - ReliefWeb - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Fathering Together Announces Acquisition of City Dads Group - PR Web - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Company to pay over $50 million in largest environmental lawsuit settlement in D.C. history: Health risks to the public - Yahoo News - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Student death is now part of the routine at Middlebury - The Middlebury Campus - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- We welcomed an abandoned dog into our family. But dog dumping ... - Kansas Reflector - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- The National Climate Assessment Goes Woke - Dallasweekly - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- A Conversation about History, Race and the Meaning of True ... - Philanthropy Roundtable - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- The color of community | WORLD - WORLD News Group - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Kindness has good benefits | News, Sports, Jobs - The Review - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Georgia Power Foundation awards grant for BIG Edge ... - Georgia Southern University Newsroom - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- "Chilling": Maryland lawmakers threaten to cut aid to immigrants ... - Salon - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Three water options come with high cost | News, Sports, Jobs - Evening Observer - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Welcome to the Team, Kintan! | Office of Immigrant Affairs - Philadelphia Water Department - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Fannie Mae Recognized for Its DEI Efforts - DSNews.com - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Fannie Mae Named 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion' and ... - Fannie Mae - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Focused on progress - Weekly Challenger - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Good Ancestors and Messengers of Hope - Digital Journal - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- 'Make it intentional': 3-N-1 Trinity Services helps young ... - Longview News-Journal - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- 'Latinistas' is the World's First All-Latina Fashion Doll Line - hiplatina.com - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- CSU Releases Findings of Three-Year Research Study on NAVA'S ... - InvestorsObserver - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Press Ganey's Physician of the Year on a cardiology 'game changer ... - Becker's Hospital Review - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- City Officials Join Summer Campers and Local Artists to Kick Off ... - Philadelphia Water Department - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Merrill and Linda Hutchinson on Communication for a Summer of ... - Digital Journal - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Feathers installed as Rotary District Governor | News, Sports, Jobs - The Inter-Mountain - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Theatre at St. Luke's: All Shook Up to The Little Mermaid - Orlando Sentinel - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Culture wars rage on, forcing marketers to decide whether to ... - Marketing Dive - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Some thoughts on governance of the local variety - Resilience - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- 988 is saving lives, but more awareness and support needed - Alton Telegraph - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- The Limitations of Eco-Anxiety | Atmos - Atmos Magazine - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Welcome Back: How JAPER Becomes Real for the People in Brazil ... - Just Security - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Now Is the Time to Go All In on Heat Pumps - Rocky Mountain Institute - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) celebrates 40th ... - Elizabethton.com - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Discrimination or bureaucracy? A Jewish community in Germany ... - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- AAP Rules And Guidelines For How To Keep Kids Safe From Cars - Fatherly - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Pine County Sheriff's Report and Jail Roster | Communities ... - Pine City Pioneer - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Is a Hanan Ben Ari concert the solution for Jewish divisions? - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- What the LGBT wedding website Supreme Court ruling means for ... - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Out at CHM hosts its first 2023 event - Windy City Times - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- 'The time is now': Longtime friends launch support organization for ... - The Lawrence Times - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- La Vergne Receives Municipal League Award for Excellence in Fire ... - rutherfordsource.com - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- UW System offers status update on its five-year strategic plan (day 1 ... - University of Wisconsin System - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Hawaii Native Krystal Ka'ai Tackles Equity And Anti-Asian Hate For ... - Honolulu Civil Beat - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- News & events / News - Diocese of York - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Businesses that address social or environmental problems often ... - The Conversation - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- EFOC: Is This Happening To Me Because I'm Black? Combating ... - Essence - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Stations Telling Diverse Stories With Sponsored Segments from ... - Next TV - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings ... - The New York Times - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Bungie weighs in on the current argument raging through the ... - PC Gamer - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Myanmar: Dire humanitarian and human rights situation ... - OHCHR - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Invest in our public schools - EdNC - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- N.Y. stands up for LGBTQ equality: Having Pride 12 months a year - New York Daily News - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- NASCAR, Bubba Wallace bring 'Bubba's Block Party' to Chicago - Daytona Times - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Fifth Third's 2022 Sustainability Report Shares Progress on Priorities ... - InvestorsObserver - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Top LGBTQ+ Financial Influencers to Learn from in 2023 - Investopedia - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- 'Retirement is so traditional,' try periodic retirement to figure out ... - Morningstar - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people brings federal ... - New Mexico In Depth - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- The Astounding Power of Intentional Productivity (And How You Can ... - The Good Men Project - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- What SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action means for UL schools - Louisiana Radio Network - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Community managers find the path for developers and players to ... - VentureBeat - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- The EPA was ready to clean up 'Cancer Alley.' Then it backed off. - Grist - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- What Bidenomics Means for Workers and Families - UpNorthNews - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- The vital link between a healthy press and our republic - The Fulcrum - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Death, Drag, and Decadence shows off the queer joy of DnD - Wargamer - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Israeli Expats in the U.S.: 'I Speak English, but I Don't Speak American' - Tablet Magazine - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- NTSB hearings end with talks on tanker conditions, fire's aftermath - Marietta Times - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Can 'Friendship Clubs' Cure the Loneliness Created by Remote Work? - The San Francisco Standard - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- 'Men in Blazers' Podcast Comes to Higher Ground to Talk Vermont ... - Seven Days - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- Mindfulness, breathwork expert preaches value of slow living to Black and brown communities - Yahoo News - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- Idaho's physician shortage is here. Here's what we can do about it. - Idaho Capital Sun - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- Awards Ceremony Shines Spotlight on Caltech's Trailblazers in ... - Caltech - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- The African American Museum of Iowa Announces Juneteenth ... - River Cities Reader - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- US Supreme Court Rules Against Striking Drivers Who Abandoned ... - Engineering News-Record - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- The Future of the Thomaston Green is Green (or should be) - PenBayPilot.com - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]
- The Elephant in the Ethernet Port - City Journal - June 4th, 2023 [June 4th, 2023]