Learn the Business to Lead Technology With Dr. Michael Barr (#447 34:29)
You've Been Heard, Thursday, August 20th, 2026
A veteran CIO explains why business acumen matters as much as technical depth in IT leadership.
Dr. Michael Barr, CIO of the Guidance Center, describes how a career spanning military communications, infantry leadership, academia and healthcare IT shaped his approach to technology leadership.
He argues effective IT leaders must understand how the organization actually operates.
He also discusses building succession pipelines through mentorship, making decisions with incomplete information, and pursuing education beyond one's technical specialization in order to lead strategically.