#CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership? is around the corner! Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with Sharon Prior who will be our panellist on April 3rd at 15:00 CET. Don’t forget to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21!

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with Sharon how today’s CIOs must act as strategic business enablers rather than just technical experts. The traditional IT silo has given way to "fusion teams" — cross-functional groups where IT and business co-create solutions. Sharon highlights that the modern CIO must prioritize business outcomes, such as revenue growth and customer experience, over technology itself.

She advocates for enterprise architecture and long-term roadmapping as essential foundations for agile and continuous delivery. A strong proponent of data governance, Sharon warns against fragmented data ownership and insists that business functions—not IT—must be accountable for the quality and clarity of their own data. Sharon also underscores the importance of education and governance in the AI era. She encourages building AI governance boards and setting clear guardrails to empower business users while maintaining control.

What skills are essential for modern IT leaders? How can IT leaders balance long-term strategy with agile delivery in a fast-paced tech landscape? Watch the full interview to find out!