Rudi Mohamed
CIO
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
As a visionary chief information officer and esteemed author of "The Rockstar IT Leader Handbook," Rudi Mohamed brings over two decades of expertise to the board.
Rudi’s transformative leadership in IT has been instrumental in driving digital excellence, enhancing security, and fostering sustainability across prominent global corporations, government agencies and startups. He is deeply committed to leveraging agile, DevSecOps, and cloud technologies to not only deliver superior business outcomes but also to cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.
Rudi’s track record includes spearheading significant digital transformations and modernizations, such as the modernization of the Fed/State Tax E-Filing systems, which dramatically increased efficiency and user satisfaction. Additionally, his efforts in developing a regulatory compliance money transfer solution attracted $3.7 million in venture capital.
He is passionate about mentoring and nurturing talent, and believing in the power of high-performing teams to deliver innovative solutions that make a lasting impact.
Learn more about the Minneapolis CIO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
My journey to becoming the CIO has been shaped by a series of strategic roles and pivotal experiences that honed my expertise in leveraging technology to drive organizational capabilities.
Initially, as a solution consultant for prominent global corporations, I learned the value of aligning IT with business goals. Joining the State of Minnesota, I applied this insight to enhance technology strategies at different agencies.
Throughout my career, my roles have consistently focused on the intersection of technology and business excellence. As CIO, I continue to leverage this rich background to guide our IT strategy, ensuring that technology investments not only support but also drive our organizational goals forward.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
As the CIO for a government agency, one of my guiding leadership principles is clarity. Clarity in communication, vision, and decision-making processes is essential. It ensures that the team understands our objectives, the rationale behind decisions, and their roles in achieving our goals.
This principle also fosters transparency, builds trust within the team and with stakeholders, and guides us in navigating the complexities of government IT initiatives. By prioritizing clarity, we enhance collaboration, streamline operations, and more effectively serve the public, aligning technology initiatives with the agency's mission and values.
What is the greatest challenge your particular C-level role is facing today, and how are you addressing it?
As a CIO, my biggest challenge today is effectively quantifying and communicating the financial and human value of digital transformation and modernization. To tackle this, I'm developing a comprehensive technology roadmap. This roadmap highlights the importance of each technology in our portfolio to our users, the agency, and the broader Minnesotans.
We're focusing on selecting impactful Figures of Merit (FOMs) that clearly quantify progress and usefulness, providing a transparent view of cost versus value.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?
Success as a CIO doesn't come from a single solution; it requires a balance of numerous essential factors. For those embarking on a CIO career, a crucial first step is to grasp the insights and guidance offered in "The Rockstar IT Leader Handbook." This book is a powerful resource for developing the traits and skills necessary to lead a high-performing IT department effectively.
How do you measure success as a leader?
As a CIO, particularly in the public sector, I measure success by the impact of technology on our operations and its ability to enhance or create new capabilities for our business units, ultimately delivering value to the society.
Unlike my private sector peers who may focus solely on digital transformation or modernization, I must balance both. I use speed, quality, and value metrics to identify issues promptly and determine when adjustments are necessary.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
As a CIO, navigating the fast-evolving tech landscape and making crucial decisions can feel isolating. Joining the Evanta community offers invaluable benefits, such as the chance to connect with peers who understand these challenges and access a rich pool of collective wisdom, enabling us to stay ahead with insights into emerging technologies, proven strategies, and lessons learned from others' experiences.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
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