Why Communication is the Secret Skill Most CIOs Get Wrong

Momentum is built in the uncertain moments, when leaders are stretched, cultures shift, and teams look for someone steady to move them forward.

In this episode, Aaron Kopel sits down with Warren Lenard, CIO of the Indiana Office of Technology, whose path has taken him through some of the toughest environments a CIO can face. From guiding a retail organization through COVID to stepping into statewide leadership with no public-sector background, Warren has led in seasons that reveal what leadership truly means.

Key takeaways

• Leadership evolves when leaders shift from controlling outcomes to enabling people
• Culture is strengthened or weakened by how leaders communicate
• CIOs earn their influence by partnering across the business, not protecting the tech

Episode highlights

(00:00) Intro

(01:33) How COVID challenges were tackled at Byrider

(13:25) Warren’s career journey and experiences

(21:55) Finding leadership growth and communication in IT

(27:56) Why in-person interaction shapes culture, teamwork, and silos

(38:32) How the CIO role continues to evolve

(43:18) The importance of AI literacy in the future of work

(46:07) What fitness and creativity teach

(48:08) Advice he’d give his younger self

(49:16) Connecting and networking with purpose

Resources

Warren Lenard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrenlenard
Aaron Kopel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronkopel

Explore the Indiana Office of Technology: https://www.in.gov/iot/ 

Explore Project Brilliant: https://projectbrilliant.com
Explore the Indiana CIO Network: https://techpoint.org/indiana-cio-network

Reset by Dan Heath: https://www.danheath.com
Books by Malcolm Gladwell: https://www.gladwellbooks.com

Books by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/books/?srsltid=AfmBOoo9gyp35SwrlEnRT9TEWq4bGBO5_SJ4oosSe7F3TR0lKMqyTFv7 

Buy Unlocking Momentum: https://a.co/d/hKPFqoS