Situation
Every business needs a leader who can lead innovation, align business and technology and provide stewardship of the company’s technology portfolio. This can only be done by the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Critical Issues
Typically, IT/IS leaders in mid-size business lack business knowledge, key communication skills, financial acumen, project organizing skills, and relationship building skills. This tendency can lead to a negative perception of the IT/IS leader and group among business leaders.
Development of CIO skills has historically been a mystical, individually pursued and developed capability. There is a critical need for practical and actionable guidance for IT/IS leaders to develop their skills.
Solution
Since 2017, the VIE IT Leadership Academy has offered a highly acclaimed leadership training class for Business and Technology executives – “Essential CIO Skills”.
This class typically has 6-10 students including IT Directors, IS and Development Managers, and other business executives. The class meets once a month for half day and includes peer learning and discussions, training on key leadership topics, development-oriented homework assignments, key reading assignments and lectures by C-level executives who share their leadership journey experience.
Results
The class has boosted the knowledge and skills of students who have gone on to make substantial progress in their careers and made substantial business contribution for their organizations.