One of the key CIO trends we’ve seen throughout the pandemic is that tech leaders have now come to be seen as business leaders in ways we’ve not seen before. And as you’ll hear in this episode, to such an extent that it’s likely the role of CIO – including possibly the title itself – will shift even further away from being focussed just on technology, towards being a vastly more integrated role. But what do CIOs need to do – and know –to be become more effective leaders? And what of those CIOs with genuine ambitions to move into CEO roles? Cyber security is a key concern for CIOs and those executives charged with hiring them. It’s an area that requires as much of an understanding about governance and compliance as it is about technology these days. And what about things like business management? Or other disciplines that might indicate a command of soft skills? On that expression – whether you like or not – it might actually be losing its currency as things like emotional intelligence and the ability to understand and manage people become increasingly a given. Syed Ahmed, chief digital officer with mental health group, Innowell, has augmented his extensive tech credentials and experience with an MBA. He says it’s becoming increasingly important for tech leaders to equip themselves as true business leaders, whether they intend to take on such extended responsibilities or not. Louise Francis, country manager and research director for IDC A/NZ notes that for those tech leaders that do have higher ambitions, it’s essential that they develop a deeper understanding of change management, amongst other things.