Technology can enable change, but trust, communication, and strong leadership are what truly move organizations forward.

In this episode, Aaron Kopel sits down with Heather Darring, CIO of Kappa Alpha Theta and President of the TechPoint Indiana CIO Network. Heather shares her unconventional path into technology leadership, from studying art in college to leading IT for an organization serving more than 240,000 members.

Heather reflects on the lessons she's learned throughout her career, including why there is no single "right" career path and how focusing on your strengths can open unexpected opportunities. She also shares a powerful story about overcoming communication breakdowns between departments and how rebuilding trust led to stronger collaboration and measurable business results.

The conversation explores one of today's most important topics: AI. Heather discusses the responsibility technology leaders have to think beyond business outcomes and consider the broader impact of emerging technologies on people, communities, and the environment. She also explains why organizations should focus on strategy first and technology second when evaluating new tools and innovations.

Key takeaways:

• Trust and communication matter more than technology in successful transformations
• What responsibility do technology leaders have when it comes to AI and emerging technologies
• CIOs must ensure technology investments support organizational strategy and long-term goals

Episode highlights

(00:42) Welcome and host introductions

(01:40) Heather’s unplanned path into IT

(03:20) Joining and growing CIO network community

(05:31) Career advice: No single golden path

(12:49) Discussing AI ethics and social impact

(17:12) Scaling change across 240,000 members

(20:08) Future focus: Mission over technology hype

(22:59) Rapid-fire: Hobbies and admired heroes

(25:18) Legacy: Positive influence and connections

Heather Darring on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-darring-100/

Aaron Kopel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronkopel

Explore Project Brilliant: https://projectbrilliant.com

Buy Unlocking Momentum: https://a.co/d/hKPFqoS