A Playbook for Developing Future IT Leaders

Developing a robust leadership pipeline is currently one of the most urgent needs for many organizations. Leaders set the organizational tone; without investing in their development, organizational cultures suffer, impacting employee engagement and retention.

In our recent virtual session “The ROI of Training: Driving Growth Through People,” Carolyn Mattiske, Director, SUNY SAIL Institute, emphasized the importance of securing emerging leaders:  

“I work hard to make sure leadership development opportunities create a pipeline of leaders for our campuses. If we have cracks in the pipeline, and we are not actively creating the next generation of capable leaders, our campuses will become vulnerable.” 

📽️Watch the full recording of "The ROI of Training: Driving Growth Through People"

The Value of Cohort-Based Learning 

When it comes to leadership development, cohort-based models are often highly effective. Programs like the CIO Leadership Academy, co-hosted by NYSERNet and SUNY SAIL Institute, use this model to facilitate growth among the new and aspiring CIOs across New York State. 

The benefits of the cohort structure are profound: 

• • Social Learning: Cohorts bring together individuals doing similar jobs and facing the same struggles.
  • Shared Solutions: Participants gain confidence knowing their challenges are not unique, opening their eyes to solutions they might not have considered before.
  • Mentorship: Learning under the guidance of senior mentors, who have navigated various workplace seasons, inspires experimentation with different leadership approaches.

The CIO Leadership Academy is specifically designed for current and emerging IT leaders, helping them gain the strategic communication and leadership competencies required to transition from a technical expert role to an institutional leader. 

Designing Effective Development Programs 

Adult learners are busy, requiring programs that keep them engaged and allow them to apply learning immediately. To ensure engagement, instruction should be structured for maximum impact: 

• • Engaging Format: Limit lectures to approximately 20 minutes, frequently shift facilitators, and use small breakout discussions.
  • Applied Learning: Effective programs shift from theory to practice. A crucial element is incorporating an applied learning project, which requires learners to take what they are learning and implement it back to their work on campus. This allows them to fulfill their role while learning and applying new skills simultaneously.
  • Measuring Growth: Leadership ROI, while less tangible, can be tracked through pre- and post-program self-assessments and evaluations, giving leaders the necessary data to build future action plans.

Strategic Steps for Building a Pipeline 

For institutions looking to identify and prepare future leaders, the initial step is cultivating an internal learning culture. This involves encouraging the curiosity necessary for constant growth: 

• • Encourage Exposure: Leaders should recommend opportunities, like webinars, books, or podcasts, to their teams. These low-cost exposures to new ideas and ways of handling challenges can be discussed in group settings.
  • Safe Learning Space: It is vital to maintain a safe learning space where people are encouraged to break away from any fixed mindset and understand they are always in growth mode, not expected to be perfect.

By intentionally developing flexible, applied, and engaging pathways, organizations can secure their future leadership and ensure long-term stability. NYSERNet supports these efforts through professional development training and certification opportunities for our member organizations. This includes providing access to high-impact technical training bundles and certification courses, such as CISSP, as well as leveraging group buying power to offer top-tier technical training at significantly reduced educational pricing. 

Ready to take the next step?

If your organization is ready to strengthen its workforce and build a pipeline of leaders, NYSERNet is here to support your journey.  

• • Nominate a candidate for the 2026 CIO Leadership Academy by Dec. 31, 2025. Recommended for new and aspiring CIOs/CDIOs. Self-nominations welcomed. 
  • Purchase SANS training vouchers now through Jan. 16, 2026 at a discount that nearly covers our Inform tier membership fee. Courses popular with NYSERNet members include:

• • • SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style
    • SEC560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking 

• • • FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics 
    • SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits and Incident Handling 
  • Join a NYSERNet Cohort for upcoming StormWind Certification Trainings. When two or more members register for a StormWind course, they are connected via a private Slack channel to turn individual training into collaborative, peer-driven development. Upcoming courses include: 

    • ITIL® v4 Foundation

    • AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

    • Cisco CCNA: Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions
    • See All StormWind Offerings 

Contact educationservices@nysernet.org to get started today.