Into The Mind of a CIO: How CIOs really think about AI and IT Partners

A must-watch for IT services leaders and enterprise CXOs

In this episode, Bill Blount shares insights that come directly from the rooms where 300-plus CIOs speak openly without vendors or sales pitches. As a former CEO and CIO across multiple industries and now President of SIM Chicago, Bill explains exactly what technology leaders are prioritizing, what they are cutting, and what they expect from partners in 2025.

Why you should watch
If you sell to or serve the enterprise tech market, this conversation will give you an unfair advantage.

Bill explains:

- Why most AI pilots fail before production
- Why many AI pilots look great on paper but never reach production
- What CIOs actually spend money on in 2026
- Why business outcomes matter more than the technology stack
- How CIOs separate vendors from true partners
- What separates a vendor from a true partner
- How patterns from the Internet and cloud era are repeating today
- The human impact of AI including layoffs and rising demand for new skills
- The core skill set that will matter more than coding in the next 5 years

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I've spent 19+ years in the IT industry. If I've learned one thing, it's that the devil… · Experience: Flywheelr · Education: Alliance University · Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Chirag Khanijau’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

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Strategic CIO accelerating companies from startup to successful exit through technology… · Experience: Light The Way Technology, LLC · Location: United States · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Bill Blount’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

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