IT leaders’ top 15 takeaways from 2021

Every year has its twists and turns, but 2021 — like its predecessor — was filled with more than the usual number of memorable events and seismic changes, from inflation and supply chain issues to the Great Resignation and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

So, after another turbulent year, we asked a handful of CIOs to look back at what the past 12 months have taught them. Here they give their top takeaways from 2021.

1. Unpredictability and constant change are the new norm

Principal Financial Group

Kathy Kay, CIO at Principal Financial Group, suspects many people will look back at their January 2021 expectations for the year and realize how off they were. “How we thought the year was going to end is much different than how it’s actually ending,” she says.

Given that fact, Kay says she and other CIOs must always be ready for change. She acknowledges that the need for this trait isn’t new, but it became increasingly critical during the past year that was as unpredictable as the year prior.