7 leadership traits major enterprises look for in a CIO

While many, perhaps even most, CIOs are content to head operations at a small- or midsize enterprise, others have loftier ambitions. These individuals wish to climb to the very top of the IT career ladder. CIOs at major enterprises — particularly those with market capitalizations measured in the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars — tend to be a different breed than their lower-level counterparts. IT chiefs at the largest enterprises are typically expected to possess knowledge and skills that may be minor, or even completely unnecessary, talents at smaller organizations. Understanding exactly what top-tier enterprises are looking for in a CIO candidate is essential for any IT leader who’s hoping to make the leap from to the majors. The following seven attributes are commonly found on mega-giants’ “CIO must have” lists.