Six CIOs Share Their #1 Priority for the Near Term

As technology disruption continues and business expectations rise, the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) is evolving faster than ever. Today’s CIOs are no longer just technology experts – they are strategic business leaders, responsible for driving transformation, innovation, and measurable outcomes across the enterprise. Within Gartner CIO Communities, thousands of technology leaders connect year-round to exchange insights and collaborate on solutions to these shared challenges.

With so many mission-critical priorities competing for attention, we asked CIOs at the recent Gartner Global CIO Community Executive Summit to share their perspectives on the #1 thing technology leaders should focus on in the months ahead. From harnessing AI responsibly to reinforcing the CIO role as a business driver, here’s what’s top of mind for six global CIOs:

1. Maria Lensing, Global CIO & CTO at Sorenson Communications, on Embracing AI Responsibly for Business Outcomes

“If there was one thing CIOs should be focused on right now, it would be how we embrace the power of AI responsibly to drive business outcomes. It's not just about what technology can do; it's about what it can do to realize a business ambition… So to me, the most important piece is how do we bring all of that together under this brand new world, the hype that is AI – but, do it with responsibility towards doing it right.”
 

1. Arthur Hu, SVP, Global CIO & Services and Solutions Group CTO at Lenovo, on Positioning Technology & AI for the Future

“The number one thing that CIOs should be focused on is positioning the technology organization to help bring their companies into the future. All CIOs have an operational role, and the company expects that, but the most important strategic discussion is about the potential value of generative AI. With all the work, change management, and investment – it will take more than one-quarter, two-quarters, or even two-years. So for the forward thinking CIO, the ability to rethink what the technology team does for the company is strategically critical at this time.”
 

1. James Whatley, CIO at Mary Kay, on Driving Business Value with AI
   

“AI – that's the easy answer of what CIOs should focus on in the next six months. But it's about the problems we are trying to solve, regardless of the technology. AI is just another tool in our tool belt. Really focus on the business value.”
 

1. Rashmi Kumar, SVP & Global CIO at Medtronic, on Business Leadership

“In my opinion, CIOs need to lead, act, and behave like business leaders. We are not about technology or the next new GenAI-type breakthrough. We are here to drive business outcomes, and we can drive that business outcome through digital literacy… At the same time, we’re enabling digital transformation to not only improve operational efficiency, but also bring digital into our products – which our customers are asking for.”
 

1. Jarret Eubanks, CIO at DPR Construction, on Creating Differentiation and Transformation

“The number one thing CIOs are focused on is, obviously, driving AI value.It's about understanding your business and where you can leverage AI and other emerging technologies to create a differentiation. There's certainly baseline expectations that CIOs are driving compliance, cybersecurity, and IT operations – those are table stakes. But the evolving role of the CIO is to figure out how you are as a business leader, driving real transformation and real differentiation for your business, that you create scalability and drive revenue.”
 

1. Vagesh Dave, Global VP & CIO at McDermott International, on Understanding Business Needs First

“CIOs are business leaders, and technology is table stakes… Technology becomes an enabler, but the CIO has to be part of the business. The seat at the table is not just a cliché, but really you have to understand the business and the pain points. Technology is there for the business, not the other way around.”

These perspectives highlight a clear shift: technology is no longer the end goal, but the means to drive business transformation, differentiation, and value. Whether it’s leveraging AI responsibly, understanding business needs, or positioning technology teams for the future, CIOs are stepping up as true business leaders.

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