Governing Body Spotlight

As a Chief Information Officer & Chief Human Resources Officer with a strong background in IT leadership, I'm passionate about building great teams and using technology to drive meaningful business growth. My focus is on creating a clear link between IT initiatives and core business objectives, ensuring every project delivers value. I've had the privilege of leading transformative projects, including a multi-million dollar SAP implementation and the launch of new platforms that significantly boosted revenue. I thrive on finding smart, people-centered solutions that help companies succeed in a dynamic market. I also like to travel and play basketball and pickleball.

Learn more about the Houston CIO community here.
 

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

My career journey shows a clear and consistent evolution from a hands-on technical expert to a strategic executive leader. I started by building a strong foundation as a Data Base Administrator before leveraging my expertise as an independent consultant, managing projects and guiding teams. For the past 18 years, I have focused on executive leadership, advancing through roles such as Data Warehouse Manager and eCommerce Manager to my current position as a CIO, demonstrating my ability to lead and drive business results with technology.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Results-Driven, People-Powered.
 

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

Today's greatest challenge is strategically aligning AI investments with immediate business demands. This involves more than just improving processes and efficiency; it requires us to first identify the real problem in process design, technology, or a knowledge gap among our people. My plan is to tackle this head-on by advancing AI literacy, monitoring the return on investment, and having more frequent, direct talks with team leaders.
 

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

The key to success for someone starting a C-level role lies in three main areas: shifting your focus from tactics to strategy, building trust and influence, and speaking the language of the business.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I measure success as a leader by focusing on two interconnected areas: tangible business results and the growth of my people.
 

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

The value is to provide a community where we can share valuable experiences, gain different perspectives from various business segments, and identify practical solutions to implement.
 

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