Technology Leader Mentoring
The first year in the top technology seat decides a lot. We mentor new CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, and IT leaders through it, one on one, from experience in the same chair.
- Month 1BaselineObjectives agreed and measured
- Months 1 to 2PlanA 90-day plan for the role, a development plan for you
- Most of the engagementPracticeLive problems, every two weeks
- Final monthsHandoffResults reviewed, your own rhythm in place
Who It’s For
Newly promoted leaders
You were great at the job below this one. This one is different: budgets, boards, vendors, and a team that now looks to you.
Leaders in a hard first year
You walked into a breach, a failed project, a cost mandate, or a skeptical board, and you want someone who has been there.
Leaders being prepared for the seat
Your company has picked its next technology leader and wants them ready before the role opens.
How We Mentor
- 01
Baseline
In the first month we talk with you, and with your sponsor if there is one. You complete our readiness self-assessment. Together we agree on three to five objectives and how we will know they are met.
- 02
Plan
We build a 90-day plan for the role and a development plan for you, and we track both.
- 03
Practice
Sessions every two weeks on what is in front of you now. We review the board deck before the meeting, the budget before it goes to finance, and the vendor contract before you sign, then we debrief afterward.
- 04
Handoff
We taper the sessions, review results against the objectives, and you leave with an operating rhythm that is your own.
What We Work On
- Board and executive communication
- Budget, spend, and vendor management
- Building and leading the team
- Risk and security judgment
- Managing up and across
- The first 90 days in the role
How it works
- Typically 6 to 12 months, with sessions every two weeks.
- Remote, on site, or a mix.
- Your company can sponsor it, or you can engage us directly.
- We match you with the principal whose background fits your role and industry.
- What you say in sessions stays between us. When a company sponsors the engagement, it sees progress against the agreed objectives, nothing more.
Free Tools for New Leaders
Technology Leader Readiness
Eighteen statements across the six areas we mentor. See where you are strong and what to work on first.
Take the assessment Template · PrintableFirst 90 Days Plan
Who to meet, what to learn, what to decide, and what to show leadership at day 90.
Open the plan SampleObjectives and Outcomes Tracker
How we define objectives, measure them, and track progress during an engagement, shown with a fictional leader.
See a sample trackerQuestions We Hear
Can I engage you myself, or does my company have to?
Either. Many engagements are sponsored by the CEO or the board. Some leaders engage us directly and keep it private.
What does my employer see?
Only what we agree on at the start, usually progress against your objectives. What you say in sessions stays confidential.
How is this different from executive coaching?
Coaches help you find your own answers. We do that too, but we have also run IT, security, and technology organizations and reported to boards, so when you need a direct view from someone who has made the call, you get one.
Keep Exploring
Step Into the Seat With Someone Who Has Been There
Tell us about the role and what is in front of you. We will tell you plainly whether mentoring is the right fit.