Sam Ebrahim - Diary of a CIO

I am really pleased to welcome Russell Morris onto the podcast. He is a proud Brit, tragic Tottenham FC fan and an exceptional CIO who has had success on the global stage. 

In this podcast we discuss 

👉 His journey across 3 continents and 10 countries to where he is today

👉 Why he priorities 'psychology over technology'. Why the human side of IT matters

👉 Breaking the land speed record & working for Warren Buffett 

👉 The opportunity a CEO gave him in his 20's that led to a future in IT leadership

👉 His leadership approach to get the best out of people 

👉 Tips for people exploring the fractional CIO market

👉 Plus many more topics and great advice for listeners. 

I am really pleased to welcome Leigh Williams onto the podcast. She is an extremely purpose led executive who is currently CIO at Brisbane Catholic Education. 

In this podcast we discuss 

👉 Her purpose that drove her into education and the impact it has on the next generation 

👉 How education is evolving over time and the part that technology plays in this 

👉 The lack of female leaders she had growing up and the impact that had

👉 Her commitment & contribution to mentoring the next generation of female leaders

👉 What Brisbane Catholic Education is doing with AI and their 'worlds first' roll out 

👉 Plus many more topics and great advice for listeners. 

I am really pleased to welcome Tanya Graham onto my podcast, who has an exceptional background across business and technology leadership roles throughout her career. Tanya is currently the Group Executive, Digital & Transformation at icare NSW. 👏 

🤔 Her background and current role make her a perfect guest to discuss 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗜𝗢, and how it is moving into a more business blended technology leadership role. 🤔 

In this podcast we discuss 
👉 The evolving role of the CIO. Where it has come from, where it is today and where it is going in the future 
👉 Her thoughts on where the 'traditional' role of a CIO will sit in the future 
👉 Tanya's background working in business functions and technology roles that has led her to where she is today 
👉 What's helped her choose her previous roles & companies based on purpose, with advice she would give to others 
👉 Dispelling 'imposter syndrome' for female leaders, stopping this narrative
👉 The value of DE&I in her teams and how this is incorporated into her succession planning strategy 
👉 Plus many more topics and great advice for listeners

 I am proud to host the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗜𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 on this episode, Kurt Brissett. 

Kurt has recently joined Built. as their Chief Digital & Information Officer, prior to this he was the Chief Technology & Transformation Officer at Transport for NSW. 

In this episode we discuss:
💥 His journey into the military at a young age and how this supported his entry into technology
💥 His struggles transitioning from the military to the private sector and what he learnt - with tips for others looking to change sectors 
💥 What he learnt from the military & private sector to become a good leader
💥 His guiding star that helped focus his career journey
💥 The journey to 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗜𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 and what it meant to him
💥 How he manages work pressures whilst having a healthy family life 

In this episode I welcome Keiren Lawrence to the podcast. She is the CIO of Brickworks Building Products, having previously worked at Ampol. 

👉 The topic of this podcast is 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 👈 

In this episode we discuss:
💥 The journey to where she is today 
💥 What she has learnt from her transition to her first CIO role 
💥 Lessons she has learnt from presenting to the board & taking them of the technology journey 
💥 The importance of networking and her approach to this, being a natural introvert 
💥 How embracing 'change' can be a positive influence on your career 
💥 How she builds a strong mindset during challenging times
💥 Her advice to others who are looking to gain their first CIO role and break the glass ceiling 

In this episode I welcome Stevie-Ann Divoco to the podcast. She is currently the CIO of Beyond Bank Australia, a 2024 CIO Top 50 and the 2022 Executive Leader of the Year for Women in Digital. 

In this episode we discuss:
💥 Her atypical route to the role of CIO
💥 How she seeks opportunities outside of her comfort zone 
💥 The value of networking & her approach to building relationships
💥 How 'educating the board' is important and tips on how she does this
💥 What being a good leader means to her and advice on how to become one
💥 The approach she takes to building a strong mindset & confidence 
💥 How she balances operating at a high intensity level with getting the right amount of rest. 

In this episode I welcome Dr Angela Coble OAM onto the show. Angela is Executive Program Director at the Australia Energy Market Operator and founder of Leadonera Pty Ltd. This is a very special guest for me, as Angela is the person that inspired me to launch Diary of a CIO. 

In this episode we discuss:
💥 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘇𝗶𝗴𝘇𝗮𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿, 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿
💥 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲
💥 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗼𝗳 '𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 + 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 = 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵'. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱.
💥 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗘&𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻 
💥 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
💥 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮 '𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄' 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁
💥 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!

Sheridan is an award-winning transformation leader who was named CIO of the Year in 2023. She is also Chair of the Sustainable Digitalisation Project, which works to ensure the responsible, ethical and sustainable use of technology.

In this episode we talk about:
👉 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 & 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 '𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠' 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 
👉 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 '𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧-𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧' 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 
👉 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐈𝐎 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏 
👉 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 
👉 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲
👉 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞...

In this episode we talk about
👉 The challenges with driving a technology transformation in a 110 year old organisation 
👉 How a traumatic life event led him to joining a not-for-profit organisation 
👉 The best leader he had in his career and how this shaped his leadership style
👉 How IT can support organisations after natural disasters in Australia 
👉 His advice for others who are looking to move into a more purpose driven organisation 
👉 What being a CIO Top 50 means to him, and the team around him
👉 Effectively balancing work & life priorities