Governing Body Spotlight

Ian Allison started in the Business Intelligence space and moved on to overseeing teams ultimately becoming a CDO a decade into his career. From here, he went on to do data leadership consulting, until Ivanti enabled Ian to work on his start up while being their Head of Data overseeing their entire data practice.

When Ian is not working with data, he is teaching STEM to kids in a non-profit he founded or coaching his kids in wrestling – all of which are state champions or state placers.

Learn more about the Dallas CDAO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

I started out my career in Business Intelligence being personally trained by experts who had been in the space for over a decade. Their training enabled me to quickly transition into middle management, overseeing all the data and analytics in a publicly traded company. Eventually this led me to become a Chief Data Officer at one the world's most prestigious asset management firms. After reaching the top, I decided to become a consultant advising data leaders, eventually consulting for Ivanti. Ivanti was so impressed they made an offer I could not refuse, bringing me on to be their Head of Data.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Lead with clarity and empathy. I believe in empowering teams through transparency, trust, and a shared mission. In healthcare, every decision has real-world impact, so I strive to foster a culture where security is not just a function – but a value.
 

What is the greatest challenge CDAOs face today?

The convergence of digital transformation and escalating cyber threats. In healthcare, this means securing complex environments without slowing innovation. We’ve implemented a Zero Trust Architecture, advanced threat detection, and a strong governance model to ensure resilience while enabling secure cloud adoption and operational agility.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CDAO?

Understand the business, not just the technology. Build relationships, communicate risk in business terms, and stay curious. Cybersecurity is a dynamic field – success comes from adaptability, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead through influence.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

By the strength of the culture we build. Success is when security is embedded in the organization’s DNA, when teams feel empowered, and when we can demonstrate measurable risk reduction while supporting innovation and care delivery.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

It’s about shared wisdom. These communities offer a space to exchange ideas, benchmark strategies, and learn from peers facing similar challenges. The collaboration and support are invaluable in navigating the evolving threat landscape and driving meaningful change.
 

Gartner C-level Communities Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.