Spotlight on Bill Alfveby

Bill Alfveby serves as Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Navitus Health Solutions, a transparent Pharmacy Benefit Management company based in Madison, WI. In this role he is transforming his department while also playing a key role in the greater technology and business transformation of the company. Before Navitus, Bill held multiple technology leadership roles for other healthcare and financial sector companies. Throughout his career, Bill has focused on aligning technology strategy with business outcomes, helping organizations modernize operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and navigate large-scale transformation. He is known for building high-performing teams, fostering trusted partnerships, and delivering measurable results.

A fun fact: Around late July, mid-August, Bill starts looking forward to the Minnesota winter. :)

Learn more about the Minneapolis CIO Community here.

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

I began my career in software development, working with organizations ranging from startups to large enterprises. Over time, my career evolved into cybersecurity and technology leadership roles, often overseeing areas such as application development, data, infrastructure, and security. Throughout every role, a consistent theme has been aligning technology investments with business objectives and customer needs. That focus on business outcomes, combined with broad technology leadership experience, has been instrumental in preparing me for my current role as CIO.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Every company I've worked with has had guiding principles, and I've tried to carry the best of those lessons with me throughout my career. One that has stayed with me comes from former Applied Materials CEO Jim Morgan:

“Good news is no news. No news is bad news. And bad news is good news, if you do something about it.”

I appreciate this philosophy because it emphasizes transparency, accountability, and action. While it's important to recognize and celebrate success, it's equally important to create an environment where people feel comfortable raising concerns early. The sooner challenges surface, the sooner teams can address them and move forward.
 

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

We are navigating a significant business and technology transformation simultaneously. Success requires modernizing how our technology teams operate while continuing to deliver the business outcomes associated with the broader transformation. Balancing long-term transformation initiatives with day-to-day execution requires disciplined planning, strong prioritization, and a relentless focus on delivering value.

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

First, I've been fortunate to build a strong network of peers and mentors who consistently provide valuable perspectives, feedback, and ideas.

Second, it's easy for technology leaders to become overly focused on the needs of the IT organization itself. Successful CIOs must balance those internal priorities with the broader goals and opportunities of the business. Lean into the company's challenges, understand what matters most to the organization, and look for ways technology can help solve problems, even before the business fully recognizes the opportunity.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I measure success through the impact technology has on the business and the people around me. Have we delivered solutions that help our company achieve its goals and better serve our clients and members? Have we built a culture where people want to contribute, grow, and succeed? Ultimately, success is reflected in the outcomes we deliver and the strength of the teams we build.
 

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

Throughout my career, having a strong network of peers and mentors has been invaluable. Gartner C-Level Communities provides a trusted environment where technology leaders can openly share challenges, learn from one another's experiences, and gain perspectives from executives across industries. It offers an ongoing opportunity to build meaningful relationships while staying connected to the issues that matter most to today's CIOs.

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