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Key Points
- As part of a new series at CIO News called "The Roadmap," we ask CIOs and other technology leaders to get tactical, and share their top four pieces of advice on topics ranging from scaling AI agents, to building high-performance teams and more.
- At Workato, CIO Carter Busse is at the forefront of the agentic AI boom. We spoke with him to learn how CIOs can capitalize on the spotlight the technology is shining on their roles.
Many organizations are lost trying to find their way through the AI wilderness. They need leaders that can blend technical IT knowledge with business acumen to turn AI hype into results that impact the bottom-line.
Few roles in the C-Suite are better suited to take on that challenge than Chief Information Officers. Often stewards of IT environments, CIOs are increasingly partnering with business counterparts to find new ways to use data and AI to help the company remain competitive.
“Everyone is looking at us — our peers, our CEOs, our board members — to lead this AI transformation," Workato CIO Carter Busse told CIO News. “Every CIO has got to do it. And many don’t know how.”
As someone who has been at the forefront of change in the technology industry for more than three decades, Carter shared his four pieces of advice to help other CIOs and IT leaders capitalize on the spotlight AI is shining on the role:
- Keep your eye on big problems: Whether it’s evaluating whether to join a company or deciding where to invest in AI capabilities, the focus should always be on solving big problems. For example, Carter’s enthusiasm for software-as-a-service led him to become Salesforce’s first IT hire. “I’ve only joined companies that I think are solving big IT problems. And because of that, I’ve been through three IPOs,” he said.
- Don’t overthink AI adoption: Too many CIOs fret over how to get started with AI. The key is to begin small, iterate fast, and quickly scale the most promising use cases, Carter advised. For example, Carter said he’s been able to build and test new AI applications with just a small team of technologists and business experts: “Every CIO today needs to be leading AI initiatives — just go,” Carter said.
- Prioritize helping the sales team: According to Carter, the easiest way for CIOs to prove their value is to support the sales department. If IT leaders can help accelerate deal cycles or optimize campaigns, for example, that’s a direct impact to the bottom-line: “I’ve always helped sales. We are rock stars if we can help revenue,” Carter said.
- Be the change you wish to see: CIOs need to use AI regularly, and should surround themselves with people who are just as passionate about the technology. For example, every morning, Carter relies on an AI agent to give him a rundown of how to prepare for upcoming meetings. And he’ll turn down candidates that can’t outline how they are currently using the technology in their personal lives: “I want to hire people who want to work here and who is passionate about integration and AI,” he said.
