Resetting for the Future - Embracing Opportunity

The Atlanta CIO community came together virtually to discuss the relationship between business and activism, the positive outcomes from the pandemic and creating a lasting impact through collaboration. It wasn’t the typical way this group usually sees each other in an Evanta setting, but the new normal of hosting town hall discussions is a great way for the community to connect. The panel consisted of a CIO, CHRO and CISO, which provided a unique perspective and opened dialogue about collaborating with partners across the business.

Ahead of this virtual town hall, Atlanta CIOs took part in a survey about the business implications brought on by the pandemic, which revealed the following:

34% reported that business operations will continue at a reduced level 

50% expect to return to standard business operations in the next 6-12 months

17% expect to return to standard business operations in 12+ months

11% reported business operations have increased

The conversation was led by Steven Ferguson, CIO at the Technical College System of Georgia; DeRetta Rhodes, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at the Atlanta Braves; and Kemper Seay, VP Infrastructure & Chief Information Security Officer at Carter's. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to the conversation and shared candid thoughts about communication, customer engagement and security posture. 
 

The Voice of Employees

Communication is essential as you navigate disruption, confront social change, and build upon the successes of your pandemic response. All participants agreed that it is important to engage as many people at as many levels of the organization as you can, all the time. Especially during this disrupted time with the social unrest around the world and the unknown nature of the course of the virus, communication to your employees from the leadership team is key. 

One executive commented that communication and voice is determined by the culture of your organization. At her organization, they are committed to creating a space where employees' voices are heard by hosting town halls or discussing in small groups.

At another organization, an executive admitted it has been a tough few months for everyone. She sees this time as encouraging and inspiring and is hoping that the outcome of the social unrest in the U.S. is real change. She said that change must come from the top, and their CEO set out a letter to the organization that empowered their VP of Social Responsibility to create a platform where employees feel supported and are open to sharing in roundtable discussions.

Another executive noted that their main mission is to continue to educate. His organization is ready to explore the uncomfortable questions and create a safe space where students, who are a majority minority, feel free to express their ideas.
 

Building on Positives from the Pandemic

Leaders must meet their employees and their customers where they are. That was the key to successful adoption in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic – providing clear direction for essential capabilities. That approach can carry forward and be applied to new initiatives.

One organization had to quickly pivot the courses that they offered in person to online, and in doing so, they are finding that they can expand more programs and adopt other technologies to help them succeed.

Another executive stated that their pivot is more toward the digital experience since they can’t interact with customers in person. They are implementing curbside pickup, making significant investments to their app and website, and they revamped their loyalty program to give back to customers. 
 

Collaborating Across the Business

Many organizations now have the distance and slight "pause" to continue to hone their security posture for a remote and distributed workforce. Testing, patching, and education are critical for stemming phishing attacks, malware, and Ransomware – all of which are in the spotlight during times when vulnerabilities have shifted.

All panelists agreed that they are focusing on enabling the business in a remote environment. During this time, employees need to feel supported and need the right tools to work productively. Their leadership teams are focused on continuing to educate the workforce, collaborate with others and stay engaged in constructive communication.

by CIOs, for CIOs

Join the conversation with peers in your local CIO community.