Are you a Next CIO? Award program celebrates IT’s rising stars

No mere back-office operator, today’s successful CIOs accelerate business transformation, strengthen security posture, and increasingly translate AI ambition into real-world outcomes. At the same time, the path from “high performer” to “enterprise technology executive” has become both more urgent and harder to navigate.

If there’s a common frustration among ambitious technology leaders, it’s this: performance alone doesn’t always translate into promotion — especially when the target role requires cross-functional influence, board-level communication, and business-strategy thinking.

The Next CIO leadership development and awards program for rising technology executives addresses that gap with a clear, supported pathway from rising leader to future CIO, with public recognition as the surface layer and development and network-building underneath.

The program is designed to identify high-potential technology professionals and support their growth toward more senior leadership roles.

Next CIO at a glance

What it is: A year-round leadership development and awards program for emerging technology executives.

Who it’s for: High-potential IT leaders on a path to roles like CIO/CTO/CDO. Read the FAQ for nomination criteria, deadlines, and eligibility details.

How to enter: Nominations for the Next CIO Awards are now open. The submission deadline is March 31, 2026 11:59 PM ET.

Where to start: Join us at CIO 100 Leadership Live: Atlanta, March 5, 2026, where all regional nominees are invited to an exclusive luncheon. Register now!

Recognition is the headline; readiness is the point

The Next CIO program will be integrated into the CIO 100 Leadership Live regional event series, giving rising leaders new opportunities to engage directly with senior CIOs and influential peers. And Next CIO Award winners will be recognized at the annual CIO 100 Symposium& Awards.

Not simply a set of sessions, Next CIO is a structured environment where rising leaders can build strategic capability, professional visibility, and community at the same time. The goal is to broaden access to mentorship, reduce barriers to advancement, and support rising talent at a point where leadership trajectory often becomes defined.

Next CIO is a year-round initiative , built to blend recognition with the kinds of development and connection that leaders often need, but don’t always get, on the way to the top job. The program includes:

• Mentoring with established CIOs
• Leadership workshops tailored to professionals approaching their first executive role
• Access to a growing peer community of ambitious technology leaders

“We are thrilled to launch the program in the United States as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the CIO community,” Romy Tuin, Foundry’s Global Director of Events Content, said in a statement. “This initiative provides a powerful opportunity to recognize leaders on a strong path to the technology C-suite, while building a network of future CIOs who can develop, refine, and strengthen the skills needed for executive success.”