IT Leaders Summit Advisory Board: The challenges shaping IT leadership

‘IT leaders will need to become even more adaptable’

Advisory Board members for the IT Leaders Summit share their insights ahead of the event in September.

We were lucky to talk to more of our Advisory Board members for the IT Leaders Summit about the key topics covered in at the event. Including changing IT roles, prioritising within budget restraints and other challenges faced by IT leaders.

Meet your interviewees

Rebecca Reynolds Jones, Head of Technology, Institute of Directors

Rebecca is the Head of Technology at the Institute of Directors, leading a technology transformation programme while overseeing cyber security, data, AI, technology support and infrastructure services.

Robert Compton, CIO, Mobilize Financial Services – UK

Robert is the CIO for UK with SMF24 banking responsibility. He covers the full range of Digital, Data, Security, Transformation, IS and IT.

Nick Ioannou, Information Security Manager, Edminston

Nick is an Information Security Manager, developing the security culture, aligning to security frameworks, audits and advising on software and hardware.

How do you see the role of the IT leader evolving over the next three years, and what skills will be most critical for success?

Over the next three years, IT leaders will need to become even more adaptable, balancing unprecedented rates of innovation with increasing risk, alongside rethinking workforce models and the skills required in an AI-enabled organisation. – Rebecca

Soft skills with a technical understanding are key. Keeping identity in the age of AI Slop – ensuring business colleagues understand this too. And finally supporting the adoption of IT and tech tools across whole business – not just within the domain of IS-IT. – Robert

With rising costs of online services, AI, RAM, doing more with less or extending the IT hardware lifespan becomes increasingly important. Managing expectations and communication skills are key. – Nick

IT budgets are always being stretched – how do you decide what gets prioritised?

Business impact and risk reduction remain the two most important factors when determining investment priorities. – Rebecca

IT is there to support the business at the end of the day. We fully align our IT Strategy to that company strategy. Everything relates back whether that’s a bug impacting a system key for the goal or a new functionality to help push another pillar – it should all be aligned. – Robert

By taking a step back and asking, ‘what are we aiming to achieve’ and ‘how does this benefit the business.’ – Nick

What is the one challenge you believe IT leaders are underestimating today?

Managing the pace of change is one of the biggest challenges facing IT leaders today with tougher economic conditions. While organisations are under pressure to do more with less, robust governance and disciplined prioritisation can help turn competing demands into sustainable business outcomes. – Rebecca

Delivering more for less – Giving clarity in the age of constant “crisis” – put into quotes because it is a perceived crisis we have all instilled into ourselves ever since Covid arrived. – Robert

The true cost of AI implementations. – Nick

How does participating in the Computing community and events such as the IT Leaders Summit help you navigate challenges and make better decisions?

At a time when many leaders work remotely at least part of the week, communities such as Computing are more valuable than ever, providing access to trusted peers, shared experiences and practical insight that help inform better decisions and validate strategic thinking. – Rebecca

Absolutely and creating a great peer network is a support that really benefits the IT Leader community. – Robert

Conversations and discussions with peers that are not trying to sell you anything has tremendous value, others may have already resolved the problems you currently face and may be a years ahead, and can offer hindsight where they went wrong. Honest discussions were thing did not go to plan really do help a great deal. – Nick

Computing’s IT Leaders Summit takes place on 17th September at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London. It is an exclusive event for senior IT professionals. Find out more on the website.