Being a good CIO doesn’t have to come at the price of being good to yourself. In fact, these two elements can work together to help CIOs achieve their new year’s resolutions, from managing cyber attacks to finding moments for peace and quiet. Join Gartner analysts Mary Mesaglio, Shanna Grafeld and Brandon Germer as they discuss how CIOs can meet their objectives this year with our research, 2025 CIO New Year’s Resolutions — How to Be Good (Enough).

Episode highlights:

• What is a professional resolution? (1:03)
• Why is being "good enough" important for CIOs? (2:26)
• Resolutions discussed:
  • Leading through movement (4:32)
  • Listening to silence (8:00)
  • Interviewing a hacked person (12:42)
• Why is setting resolutions useful for CIOs? (11:14)
• How can CIOs keep their resolutions throughout the year? (14:38)
• How does setting measurable goals make you unhappy? (17:59)
• What are the podcast guests' favorite resolutions for CIOs? (21:25)

“One of the perennial pieces of advice we give to anyone who's reading the research is: Don't do all the resolutions.” — Mary Mesaglio, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst (3:14 in this podcast)

About the Guests

Mary Mesaglio is a distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner. Her research focuses on how to help global enterprises execute transformations in the real world, with all the human behavioural messiness that real-world change implies. Mary works with enterprises on how to create clear principles, how to scale change messages, how to be rigorous about the behavioural side of transformation and how to make change real.

Shanna Grafeld is a senior principal analyst in Gartner’s global enterprise executive research practice and focuses on leadership and sustainability. Her leadership coverage includes psychological safety, multigenerational and multicultural leadership, conflict and change management. Her sustainability expertise includes setting and communicating sustainability strategy, organizational structures for sustainability and sustainable technology.

Brandon Germer is a senior director analyst in Gartner’s Office of the CIO Research. Brandon advises senior and executive business leaders on strategy, execution, product management and operating models through written research, conferences, workshops and one-to-one interaction.