How can a CIO thrive in today's Tech Environment?

By Vahid Haghzare, Director of Silicon Valley Associates Recruitment &
Armae Garcia, Marketing Associate, Silicon Valley Associates Recruitment

This year, a panel of leading tech recruiters at Silicon Valley Associates Recruitment, an IT Recruitment Agency in Shanghai, share their views on how to succeed in today’s one of most challenging job markets alongside the CEO role, as well as the imperative strategic acumen and value creation mindset required to compete effectively.

Over the past year, the technology talent market has become a hot commodity. How will this trend play out over the next twelve to eighteen months?
For further insight into the trends and themes impacting technology leadership recruitment, here’s what has been discussed on the broader environment and how it’s affecting the role of technology leaders.

1. Macro Trends that are influencing the Technology Industry and Market for Talent

We are in the middle of a time of great change, it is a time when the forces of science, technology, and globalization are taking their toll on many industries. There are many global trends at play that may have a profound effect on business and society in general.
Over the last 20 years, globalization has become increasingly prominent. Will this trend continue, and if it does, what will be the economic and organizational implications? Technology is one of many factors influencing this phenomenon. Discussions have arisen regarding the export of certain technologies and goods from the United States to other countries. China, for instance, has had a difficult time assimilating social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Available technology practitioners are experiencing a unique period of growth. As chief information officers, chief technology officers, and other leaders of data-related initiatives become increasingly influential in their organizations, they face an unprecedented opportunity to make a lasting impact on their enterprises and industries. However, these leaders must also contend with an increasingly demanding set of stakeholders.
The average length of time a chief information officer remains in that position is two to three years. Some people come into the position, accomplish what they set out to do, and then move on, while others remain longer if they can show measurable results within a relatively short period of time.

2. Impact of these issues on the technology organization

In order to understand this new technology environment, companies first need to assess the level of cloud computing they will engage in and what type of data they will store. They will need to know whether they will be building their own data centers or using cloud services, or both. They also need to consider what types of data they will be using and how they plan to store it. The digital landscape is composed of many different aspects, including the fuel (information) that powers everything else. These systems are made up of APIs, low-code platforms, and engagement tools.
As you begin to enter a new world, you need to keep these three things in mind. The modern technology stack is complex, and you need to understand the business model architecture in order to optimize your use of the stack. If you want to have an overview of your organization, you might want to centralize your data. You may have business in China and other parts of the world, or you might organize around different product lines, so you need to think about your business model. To keep all this secure, you should consider cybersecurity measures.

3. How does this trend affect the role and skills of tech leaders?

When you move into a new environment, you need to adapt quickly and be flexible, but you must also remember your value-creation mindset. To succeed in digital transformation, organizations must have leaders who can articulate a clear vision of the future, explain to senior executives how technology will play a role, and manage change effectively. Financial and business acumen are also critical since you must be able to explain the value your product provides to others.
Technology is a crucial part of marketing, but you also need to lead the business to make decisions quickly and efficiently. You will be judged on how well you articulate your strategy, so learn all you can about the global forces that influence your company. The CEO role is one of the most demanding jobs in an organization.

4. Promoting CIOs to CEOs

For many CIOs, taking on the role of CEO is a logical next step in their career trajectory. Businesses whose success is dependent on technology will need a process-oriented workforce, as well as a team with a high level of technical fluency.
There remains the question of whether these individuals have the strategic vision required to serve in a CEO role, or if they should be promoted to a COO position instead. Many people feel that the latter option is more appropriate for them; however, there are exceptions to this rule. Finance has been the proving ground for many CEOs, but that's not always worked out. IT folks will see more of it, but it's too early to tell if this will be a tidal wave or just a ripple.
To be a CEO, most CIOs must have business acumen and an interest in the position. CEOs must make tough decisions, so they need a strong desire for the job and a willingness to devote all their time to it.
Not everyone is suited to be CEO, and there are many executives who have said they are not interested in the position, especially if they work at a public company. Therefore, someone who wants to be a CEO must be highly motivated.
In addition, many CEOs perform an array of external-facing tasks that CIOs might not be involved in. For example, they attend board meetings, meet with stakeholders, and speak at stockholder gatherings. Most CIOs don’t participate in these kinds of activities. As a result, most CIOs are missing out on this important element of the CEO role. However, CIOs can grow by participating in these events and making themselves more visible throughout the organization.

5. What value do IT recruiters offer to job seekers who aren’t actively looking for a new position?

You need to be strategic about your career. You should try to get to know as many people as possible, gain an understanding of the company culture, and work towards getting promoted. This will help you progress in your career and eventually land a job for which you feel better suited. Remember to end a relationship professionally, and nurture the relationships you have with the company. These relationships will be an asset to you throughout your career—helping you prepare for your next position and providing insight into future opportunities.
A successful career does not happen by accident. It would help if you took ownership of your career. Having a credible relationship with a recruiter is one way to go about this, as it will allow you to hear about specific opportunities and compensation questions, among other things. We often deal with a great deal of information, and we’re happy to share it with you. This can include transactions or investments in a relationship, depending on the circumstances.

6. Predictions for the job market in the future

It is more important than ever to do your due diligence on the organizations you invest in. Recently, we have seen many mergers and acquisitions, which could affect your decision.
As technology becomes increasingly integrated into the business, people are realizing that it drives the top line and bottom line. In the next few years, there will be a pause in this trend as people wait to see how it develops. This pause will be followed by an increase in interest in technology use later in 2023. The impact of technology on business and society will continue. Digital transformation is not going away. The appetite for data and how it can be operationalized has never been greater. Organizations that want to be successful in this environment should focus on cultivating skills related to data science, big data, and analytics.
Technology is not going away. Digital transformation is not going away. The demand for data and how it can be operationalized is not going away. What you will see is perhaps a slight slowdown in the volumes. But certainly, from a practitioner’s standpoint, people who are talented in these various disciplines, there will continue to be in outsized demand for their skills.

Silicon Valley Associates is a specialist IT Recruitment Agency ideally positioned to support the continual demand from tech companies and IT Departments looking to hire in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai, Japan, and Worldwide. Please let us know if you would further advice on the above topic or if your hiring needs
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