Becoming a CIO: Eight tech roles to take you to the top

 1. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

• Overview: CTOs focus on the technological strategy and innovation within a company. They lead efforts in technology adoption, product development, and R&D.
• Relevance: The CTO role is closely related to the CIO, with a focus on external-facing technology, making it a natural pathway to the CIO role, especially in tech-driven companies.
• To make the jump to CIO: A CTO will be a prime candidate for CIO and it will be a logical, even lateral step in some cases.

 2. IT Director/Head of IT

• Overview: IT Managers or Directors oversee the day-to-day operations of the IT department, including infrastructure management, software development, and IT support services.
• Relevance: This role builds a deep understanding of the organisation's IT landscape and the ability to manage teams and budgets, which are critical for a CIO.
• To make the jump CIO: For a Head of IT, becoming a CIO could be the next step up, most likely at a similar organisation in the same sector where they have the experience and knowledge needed.

3. Chief Data Officer (CDO)

• Overview: CDOs manage data governance, data management, and analytics initiatives.
• Relevance: In data-driven organisations, managing and leveraging data effectively is key, making the CDO role a strong precursor to the CIO position.
• To make the jump to CIO: A CDO is more likely to become a CTO next, rather than stepping directly up to CIO (although it could happen). Any data-driven business would naturally be an environment where they could flourish – and potentially take the top role.

 4. Head of IT Security/CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)

• Overview: The CISO is responsible for the security of the organization's information systems and data.
• Relevance: With the increasing importance of cybersecurity, experience in this area is becoming more valuable for aspiring CIOs.
• To make the jump to CIO: It’s unlikely for a CISO to become CIO as their next role – they need to hold a senior position with a broader strategic remit first. But that deep knowledge of security could be a great positive for them further down the track.

There are other positions too that are a little less senior and may come earlier in an individual’s career, which in my experience can be high-potential development roles towards the top.

 5. Director of Digital Transformation/Innovation

• Overview: This is in itself a fairly senior role that focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives within the organisation, including the adoption of new technologies and digital processes.
• Relevance: Leading digital transformation efforts helps build the strategic vision needed for a CIO role.
• To make the jump to CIO: Transformation is a great grounding because it brings in so many aspects of systems, IT and business performance. It may just be a case of the individual broadening their experience where they can and looking for an organisation with a CIO vacancy that has also undergone a transformation.

 6. IT Program/Project Manager

• Overview: These professionals manage large-scale IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet business requirements.
• Relevance: Project management experience is valuable for a CIO, who needs to oversee multiple large initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals.
• To make the jump to CIO: The path to CIO is likely to involve the individual building their career up through the transformation/programme management route to director level, gaining more years of experience, and then looking out for a suitable opportunity.

  7. Enterprise Architect

• Overview: Enterprise Architects design and implement the IT infrastructure and systems that support the organisation's business strategy.
• Relevance: This role requires strategic thinking and a comprehensive understanding of both business and technology, key skills for a CIO.
• To make the jump to CIO: The most likely route for a technical expert like an Enterprise Architect is to move up through the technical side, setting their sights on becoming a CTO. From there, a CIO role could follow.

 8. Office of the CIO

• Overview: Office of the CIO acts as a liaison between the IT department and other business units, ensuring that IT services align with business needs.
• Relevance: This role builds the ability to bridge the gap between technology and business, a crucial skill for a CIO.
• To make the jump to CIO: These teams are already well engaged with the role of CIO and the business, and for the right person it could be a natural step to the CIO role itself further down the line. 

A more open field

Routes into technology are changing - more people are coming into it from non-technical backgrounds, and many don’t have a university degree, entering in other ways including through apprenticeships and self-learning. The field is opening up and there is more flexibility in career paths. A love of technology, a drive and determination to succeed, and the ability to inspire and motivate people and teams are the pre-requisites.

So, if you aspire to become a CIO, take heart that there are multiple different routes through which this could happen. Yes, you’ll need to work hard and build a track record of success – and it may also be worth thinking about additional qualifications like an MBA or relevant certifications (e.g. ITIL, PMP, CISM) – but the ways in which you could fulfil your dream are growing in number as the modern business and IT landscape continues to evolve