Key Energy Services

Aligning IT with Business Success

I believe that leadership starts with fostering collaboration between IT and the business, overcommunicating on what goals we are trying to achieve, promoting continuous learning and innovation and focusing on operational excellence. 

I have worked a large portion of my career for oil field services firms that focus on operational excellence.  In IT, we strive for the same thing.  IT leadership goals should be in sync with the company’s. 

Balancing Innovation with Business Reality

I think innovation should tie into the company's risk tolerance.  If you work for a company with a lean IT organization and small profit margins, you will not want to be on the bleeding edge of innovation.  However, if you work for a global company with a tolerance for risk, you can afford to be more risky with trying unproven innovative approaches. 

Regardless of the type of project management approach you are taking, such as agile or waterfall, I have found it is always beneficial to follow some project management basics at the start of the project.  Developing a project charter to ensure alignment between the business and IT, stakeholder analysis to ensure everyone knows the roles that have been agreed to, and finally, a risk register.  When I have skipped these steps in the past, I have usually regretted it.

Preparing Organizations for Responsible AI

I think the role that AI will play in organizations today is the biggest technology challenge.  There is a lot of money going into the AI space, and everyone seems to want to get on board with the technology.  I think leaders should prepare for this by getting educated on AI and gaining an understanding of all the implications AI use will have on organizations.

Technology should always create business value. Knowing the organization’s goals and challenges is just as important as mastering the tools themselves.

It is not just IT that is utilizing AI.  The business is using it as well.  That starts with data privacy, including how information is stored, who has access to it, how data shared with AI platforms is handled and whether it may be used to train future AI models. Regulatory compliance is equally important. Organizations must ensure that AI use aligns with all applicable regulations, including requirements such as HIPAA, where relevant.

Cybersecurity also remains a critical consideration. As with any third-party vendor that accesses company data, organizations must evaluate the security of AI providers, understand how access to sensitive information is controlled and assess potential cybersecurity risks. Finally, accountability cannot be overlooked. While AI can generate outputs and recommendations, people remain responsible for their accuracy. Organizations need appropriate controls and oversight to ensure AI-generated results are reliable and fit for their intended purpose. 

Leading with Trust and Accountability

Technology should always create business value. Knowing the organization's goals and challenges is just as important as mastering the tools themselves. Strong communication skills are equally essential. One of the most valuable abilities an IT leader can have is explaining complex technical concepts in simple, relatable terms.

Since IT supports all parts of an organization, you need to develop relationships with people in other departments.  Allies outside IT are important for getting ideas accepted. At the same time, be willing to take ownership when things go wrong. Take ownership of failures.  If you make a mistake, accept it and communicate what you will do to prevent it from happening again.  Above all, be reliable. Meet commitments and maintain integrity.  It is really critical to do what you said you were going to do.