Phoenix CIO Community
Inner Circle
May 14, 2026 | Different Pointe of View
May 14, 2026
Different Pointe of View
Collaborate with your peers
Join Phoenix's top CIOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:
Strategic Alignment and Prioritization of Critical Initiatives
Strengthening Foundational Capabilities
Tailoring Change Management Approaches
Phoenix CIO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CIOs, For CIOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs
Gary Desai
Discount Tire
CIO
Ed Dzadovsky
Circle K
EVP, CTO
Raghu Santanam Ph.D.
Arizona State University
Sr Associate Dean, Information Systems - W. P. Carey School of Business
J.R. Sloan
State of Arizona
State CIO
Agenda
May 14, 2026
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:30pm Discussion Topics
Navigating the Spectrum of Change — Aligning Strategy, Execution, and Team Focus
As organizations plan for the future, executive leaders are challenged to balance strategic initiatives with operational fundamentals. The pace and nature of change can vary widely, and Gartner research shows that tailoring change strategies to the specific context significantly improves alignment and outcomes. Diagnosing and navigating organizational change effectively is now essential for driving business success.
By sharing insights on setting strategic priorities, preparing IT and security teams for evolving demands, and ensuring foundational capabilities are robust and aligned with enterprise objectives, CIOs and CISOs can more effectively translate strategy into action. This positions their organizations for sustained progress in a dynamic environment.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your top two priorities for the upcoming quarter, and how are you aligning the organization to deliver on them?
- Which foundational capabilities are most critical for your teams to focus on amid ongoing change?
- How are you diagnosing the nature of change in your organization and tailoring your approach for greater success?
- What practical strategies have you found effective for maintaining momentum and resilience during periods of transition (e.g., embedding joint CIO-CISO forums, formalizing outcome mapping, building internal talent pipelines)?
6:30pm - 7:00pm Networking Break
7:00pm - 8:00pm Summary Discussion & Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Phoenix CIO Community Inner Circle.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue
Different Pointe of ViewYour Community Sponsors
CIO Thought Leader
Key Sponsor
Program Sponsors
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.
