**How Ambitious IT Professionals Can Break the Glass Ceiling in the Age of AI**
For many IT professionals, career advancement often follows a familiar trajectory: successful project delivery, peer respect, and a steady climb into mid-tier management. Yet, after reaching this level, a “glass ceiling” can appear, making further progression—especially into senior roles like Chief Information Officer (CIO)—seem elusive. Compounding this challenge, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is changing the skills and mindsets required to reach the highest levels of leadership. Some experts even suggest that AI could make it harder for middle managers to ascend into senior executive roles, as technology automates or augments many traditional management tasks.
To help ambitious IT professionals future-proof their careers and position themselves as leaders in the AI-driven enterprise, ZDNET spoke to five business leaders. Their collective advice highlights the need for a blend of technical savvy, strategic thinking, adaptability, and continuous learning. Here’s what they recommend for breaking through career barriers in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
**Stay Technologically Engaged—Even at the Top**
Orla Daly, CIO at Skillsoft, emphasizes that today’s IT leaders can no longer afford to distance themselves from hands-on technology as they rise in the ranks. In the past, senior IT roles were often defined by management and leadership skills, with technical expertise taking a backseat. However, Daly notes that the integration of digital, data, and especially AI into every aspect of business means that successful leaders must remain deeply engaged with technology.
Modern CIOs are expected not just to manage teams, but also to serve as expert resources on emerging tech. Daly points out that AI tools now allow even those whose engineering days are behind them to automate tasks and create digital agents. She argues that future CIOs will need to understand how AI can fulfill some executive responsibilities, and be able to demonstrate its potential to other business leaders.
**Understand AI’s Capabilities and Limitations**
Fausto Fleites, Vice President of Data Intelligence at ScottsMiracle-Gro, agrees that technical awareness is crucial. He warns that IT professionals who fail to grasp the transformative potential of AI risk falling behind. Fleites maintains a hands-on approach, even as a VP, designing machine learning models and staying attuned to the boundaries of current technology.
He encourages others to develop a nuanced understanding of AI—not just what it can do, but also its limitations. Future digital leaders, he says, should be able to answer questions like: How would I deploy AI in a business context? How can AI be used to reimagine processes? Those who can apply AI strategically, and envision how it can transform operations, will be best placed for senior roles.
**Adopt a Proactive, Business-Centric Mindset**
David Walmsley, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Pandora, observes that IT can no longer be a siloed function focused solely on technical delivery. The days when technology leaders could blame