Giovanni Tracia
CIO
Sky Italia
As CIO at Sky Italia, Giovanni Tracia leads his team to define new technology solutions for business support systems, enabling commercial transformation and evolution on assisted and digital channels. From design and development to operations, Giovanni’s team delivers products and technical roadmaps enabling business and technology transformation to improve efficiency and agility.
Prior to joining Sky, Giovanni spent over twenty years advising senior technology executives at various service providers (telecommunications and media) on digital and large technology transformation, building high-performing teams capable of driving key transformations and large delivery projects.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I started out my career at Global Systems Integrators (GSIs), delivering large projects in the telecommunications arena. I spent the following fifteen years in technology strategy consulting, advising senior technology executives throughout their digital transformations. My client intimacy ultimately led to the opportunity to become CIO at Sky Italia.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
The three principles which drive my leadership are:
- Lead by example.
- A No-limit mindset.
- Never enough!
The third is my favourite – the attitude to improve constantly and incrementally towards a better place, with small steps on an ongoing basis.
With disruption being a key theme of the past few years, where do you see your role as a CIO going in the next 1-2 years?
My industry is hyper-competitive and I see my role transforming to a business executive – one able to shape how our technology architecture can enable new commercial offers and new products with “just a click”. This will ultimately give our business a competitive advantage to react to market conditions better and faster.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the role as a CIO?
Be very curious and try to understand and own how technical staff works. Fix the basics first and take calculated risks prior to starting large and complex transformations.
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
- I love doing many sports to cope with turning fifty.
- I love travelling and spending time with my family as often as possible – you only live once!
- I love watching films and series on Sky.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Learning from others’ experiences and returning some of your failures and successes.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
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