Kyiv’s wartime CIO can teach IT leaders from all types of industries how to better prepare for and respond to unpredictable events.
When Oleg Polovynko became chief information officer (CIO) for the city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, his five-year IT strategic plan was ambitious yet directionally predictable. Consistent with global urban trends, city leaders wanted more high-quality digital services for their community. However, in February 2022, one year into Polovynko’s carefully planned strategy, everything suddenly changed. His country and city were plunged into a war that would derail everything and necessitate a completely different focus.