Technology is no longer a support function, it’s a growth driver, a risk factor, and a strategic differentiator.

As we move into 2026, CEOs don’t need to ask their CIOs more questions. They need to ask the right ones.

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Here are five questions CEO's should be asking their CIO this year:

1. How does our IT strategy directly support our business goals this year?
If the answer sounds technical instead of strategic, there’s a disconnect.

2. Where are our greatest technology risks, and are they visible to leadership?
Cybersecurity, vendor dependency, technical debt, and skill gaps should never be surprises.

3. Are we investing in technology, or just maintaining it?
There’s a big difference between spending to “keep the lights on” and spending to enable growth.

4. What capabilities will we need 12–24 months from now, and how are we building toward them?
Future readiness depends on today’s decisions around architecture, skills, and governance.

5. If something critical failed tomorrow, what pain would the failure cause?
Resilience is no longer optional. It’s a leadership responsibility.

The strongest organizations aren’t asking whether IT is working, they’re asking whether IT is working for the business.