CIOs are an ambitious lot. Not the type to be satisfied with the status quo, they have set big goals for themselves in the upcoming year, according to countless surveys of IT execs.
They want to expand their use of artificial intelligence, deliver more value from those AI investments, further boost employee productivity, drive more efficiencies, improve resiliency, expand their transformation efforts, and more.
Of course, every CIO has a unique to-do list with key objectives to accomplish. So, in keeping with the New Year’s spirit, we asked multiple CIOs about their professional resolutions for 2025. Here’s what they resolve to do in the upcoming 12 months.
1. Innovate
Shane McDaniel, CIO for the City of Seguin, Texas, says his city has grown by about 35% since the 2020 census.
To ensure his team can meet the challenges that such growth brings, he has doubled his IT staff and invested in upskilling his team. He’s .
“My resolution is to mature in our execution of responsible AI,” she says. “So often organizations can be caught up in the appeal of a shiny new thing, which can create unintended consequences. AI is the new gold and in order to truly maximize it’s potential, we must first have the proper guardrails in place. Taking a human-first approach to AI will help ensure our state can maintain ethics while taking advantage of the new AI innovations.”
She is optimistic in that approach, believing that “those of us embracing AI will be in a better place tomorrow as it continues to mature” alongside , they’re looking for gen AI to — not just in her own department but across all divisions.
“I firmly believe continuous learning and experimentation are essential for progress. Our industry is evolving so quickly, and success today hinges on true investment in continuous professional development and a willingness to experiment with new technologies,” she says. “We have fantastic innovation labs, hackathons, and a strong support for grassroots innovation. But innovation is not just the responsibility of the technology division; it is something that the entire business is involved in. By educating not just our business partners but our entire employee base about the power of emerging technologies such as generative AI, we can ensure that everyone is aligned with us as we chart our future.”
8. Deliver better digital experiences
Deltek’s Cilsick has her sights set on improving her company’s digital employee experience, believing that a to close the door to new sprawl while cleaning up past sins, as well as addressing the accumulation of and updating UI and performance to provide an integrated toolset.”
9. Position the company for long-term success
Lieberman wants to look beyond 2025, saying another resolution for the year is “to develop a longer-term view of our technology roadmap so that we can strategically decide where to invest our resources.”
This comes at a time when the technology roadmaps of many IT leaders .
“By incorporating AI’s evolving reasoning capabilities, we’ll enhance decision-making and streamline operations, with measurable improvements tracked against baselines to demonstrate real business impact,” she says.
For many IT leaders, that last part can make or break AI projects.
Asked how she plans to measure that impact, Lieberman says, “Success will be evident in a more productive workforce, streamlined operations, and empowered employees who feel supported by intuitive tools and processes. We’ll see measurable gains in productivity, reduced operational costs, and a stronger alignment between technology and business goals.”
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