The single most defining attribute of a CIO is as a futurist. It’s a risky position to have. But five practical points of focus will help you lead into what is next.

Most sources of outside input end up as waste. The CIO is more valuable than that; your velocity and capacity of growth depend on the source of influence. A well-led peer advisory group will give you the results you need in the time you need it.

We need more women in technology leadership roles because of the strength that comes from how they have been shaped and what they have overcome.

Leaders get frustrated when they aren’t getting anywhere. That’s why leadership is more than influence; it involves knowing how to rally, craft and drive. Of the three, drive seems to be the least emphasized in modern perspectives of leadership. It’s time to recover that.

Autonomy is essential for the C-Suite and leaders of your organization. But autonomy has been misunderstood, and as a result, led to horrific consequences. Two simple answers will eradicate the monster of autonomy gone wrong.

The CIO has an opportunity to make deep impressions in the life of their company and the lives of their people. They just need to keep three things in view: the need for more, the pace of momentum and the leverage of opportunity.