Session insights:

• Critical communication strategies — with whom should I be talking
• Leadership components — critical aspects of dealing with people
• Building operational credibility within the organization as the key to success
• Understanding and evaluating the expectations of the business
• Determining critical strategies that make a difference

As a new CIO, one must recognize their own leadership style and understand the business they are going to lead. Two years ago, Timothy Theriault joined Walgreens as the SVP & CIO, and from day one he embraced these responsibilities. Setting a bold agenda, Theriault engaged the business and its customers, resulting in a stronger IT team.

Session insights:

• The CIO’s first days — listen and learn
• Transforming the IT organization — importance of communication
• Rebuilding the organization from the top down
• Set a bold agenda — be transparent and deliberate
• Engaging the business, staff and customers

Our communications are more fractured and fragmented than they have ever been. All of us, along with our clients, colleagues and partners are inundated with information that must be parsed, categorized and acted upon in order to accomplish our most critical goals. The more information we accumulate and manage, the more critical communications becomes. Using a series of powerful stories, anecdotes, visual examples and his story tools, Craig Wortmann describes unique challenges we face trying to communicate effectively and demonstrates how leaders create strong connections with people and with the organization’s strategy. He discusses the importance of capturing and telling the right kinds of stories and why stories are the most effective method for enhancing performance.

IT plays an important role in the new world — in fact one can clearly say that IT is an integral part of the new business environment. CIOs play a very important role in the new corporate structure with a span that cuts across organizational boundaries. It is in this world that CIOs have the power to be a true innovator in organizational process enrichment. Valuable CIOs also possess a lot of characteristics that can play a significant and very material role in the transition/ transformation of an organization. In the context of ‘Great American Insurance’ and the larger industry environment, Piyush Singh will share his experiences related to role of CIO, debunk some myths that exist in the operating world and leave you with some thoughts to ponder — especially his Big 5!

This session will include a short, interactive persuasive exercise. Participants will explore the natural challenges that arise in persuasion — in particular, how to deal with emotional people. We will consider how our attempts to bring them back to reality can inadvertently entrench them. We will identify techniques to work with them through effective information sharing.

Over the last four years Schneider National has embarked on a holistic transformation, positioning the company to achieve greater operating efficiency and effectiveness, customer service, global growth and high performance culture. Judy Lemke, EVP & CIO, is lead executive sponsor for this comprehensive transformation (dubbed “Quest”) that has quite literally changed every aspect of the Schneider organization — jobs, processes, software, technology and culture.

At some point, nearly every CIO must prepare for a transformation. In this discussion, Lemke will talk about her approach, successes and failures, and key lessons learned.

In this engaging discussion, Keat Wilkins, President and Founding Partner of Sense Corp, will discuss the key IT trends shaping business today. Wilkins will share how CIOs are prioritizing their projects and describe how technology is positively impacting organizations. From this overview, Wilkins will discuss future technology trends and reveal the three areas which Sense Corp believes will have the most impact on IT and business.

Why is it that some managers are completely comfortable when thinking about strategy, while others silently squirm whenever mention is made of that curiously vague topic? How do you think about strategy? Perhaps a better question is, do you think about strategy? Turns out, it matters quite a bit. This session will bring you a fresh and unexpected look at how you can use strategy in your organization to better understand and develop your business.

Why is it that some managers are completely comfortable when thinking about strategy, while others silently squirm whenever mention is made of that curiously vague topic? How do you think about strategy? Perhaps a better question is, do you think about strategy? Turns out, it matters quite a bit. This session will bring you a fresh and unexpected look at how you can use strategy in your organization to better understand and develop your business.

In the CIO role, you have the challenge of frequently implementing new products and services that will drive the organization forward. CIOs find themselves asking ‘What vendor-partner will make a profound impact on the business?’ and ‘What vendor will be able to keep pace with the demands of new technology and our rapidly changing environment?’

Macario Gallegos encourages new CIOs to go beyond these questions, and asks ‘How can one leverage more value from a vendor, effectively impacting business objectives?’ In this session, Gallegos will discuss strategies for identifying the right partner, at the right time for the right project. Will also cover topics on leveraging better pricing and overall capabilities from your organization’s key vendors & solution providers.

Rapid changes in customer needs, technological advances and broadened geographic reach rewards those who can demonstrate agility in performing their role. This session explores barriers to greater agility and introduces a framework that will enhance leadership styles.

Rapid changes in customer needs, technological advances and broadened geographic reach rewards those who can demonstrate agility in performing their role. This session explores barriers to greater agility and introduces a framework that will enhance leadership styles.

Incorporating participant input from the Information Technology Trends Discussion on Day Two, Allison Esenkova, Chief Strategy Officer and Partner at Sense Corp, will facilitate small group discussions. Participants will engage in real-world brainstorming and problem solving on prioritized industry trends. Esenkova will share both strategic thinking and tactical approaches for moving organizations forward in the three areas which Sense Corp believes will have the most impact on IT and business.

As business evolves alongside of technology the CIO must keep pace, and often lead the way. In fact, the choices one makes as an IT leader today very clearly define the path for future CIOs. As a business leader and CIO, Randy Krotowski teaches about where information technology is headed and how IT leaders must take the lead in defining the next phase.

Session insights:

• Understanding the different phases of the CIO role
• Core competencies — moving through the phases
• Shaping the future — steps to take now