DORA BOUSSIAS
Founder and Head Advisor/Coach for DoraB Global LLC
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
First, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to share my story. It’s an honor to be here, and my hope is that my journey will inspire and empower others, offering insights that can benefit their own paths.
I’m currently based in the greater Tampa, FL area, though I was born and raised in Greece. I came to the U.S. at 17, speaking limited English, with the goal of getting a college education and then returning home. However, like many who come to the U.S., I ended up staying - 36 years later I’m still here. I spent most of my time in the tri-state area of CT/NY/NJ before relocating to Florida in 2020 and I must say, I am really enjoying the beautiful weather!
Professionally, after successfully driving business innovation in data & tech within corporate America for nearly 30 years, I made a strategic pivot in the summer of 2024 to focus my energy as an Advisor, Keynote Speaker, and Coach.
What path have you taken to your current position?
My professional journey began nearly 30 years ago when a required internship for my bachelor’s degree turned into a full-time job offer. Over the years, I’ve held various IT roles, including Software Development, Enterprise Architecture, Program Management, and Data & Analytics - the latter has been a common thread throughout my career.
A significant part of my work has involved setting data strategy and driving business transformation at the enterprise level. As my responsibilities and impact grew, I eventually rose to executive ranks. I've been fortunate to work at leading global organizations like GE, Prudential, and Stryker. Overall my experience spans multiple industries, including Financial Services, Retail, Education, MedTech, and Insurance.
Alongside my corporate role, I am deeply passionate about giving back to the community by sharing my lessons and influencing the industry. This drive has led me to join several advisory boards and actively engage as a speaker at conferences and a guest on over 30 podcasts. I am honored to have received recognition for my professional contributions, including being named on the Data Power Women list, AI100 Leaders, and the Global Leadership Institute Awards
As mentioned earlier, I have recently made a pivot into entrepreneurship. I have founded my company, DoraB Global, where I am the head Advisor/Coach and a Keynote Speaker. At this stage of my career, I am focusing my energy to empower leaders to transform their world by driving strategic growth and career success – faster and with confidence.
Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?
Frankly, if you had asked me ten years ago where I’d be today, I couldn’t have predicted it. My career journey has been less about chasing specific roles and more about ensuring I was adding value and making a positive impact.
Naturally curious and driven by a growth mindset, I’ve always looked ahead - learning new tools and practices and integrating what made sense to my organization, while never losing sight of the basics or the need for a solid scalable foundation. While I spent 30 years in IT and held some highly technical roles, I’ve always been business-value minded. My 'north star' has been how my work could benefit the end customer/patient, while also driving new opportunities, mitigating risk, or reducing costs for the business itself.
A key aspect of my career has been my focus on talent. I believe in authentic leadership and an empathetic approach. When my team connects their work to business objectives and feels valued, we all perform better.
Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey? (If you feel comfortable, please share their name and how they helped you)
I didn’t have a specific mentor for most of my career, but I’ve always observed how leaders carry themselves and adapted what resonated with me. Only in the last year or two have I connected with another woman leader in tech, from whom I’ve learned a great deal.
As for a role model, it may sound cliché, but my mother has profoundly influenced my life. I deeply admire her spirit and determination to succeed and give back, even in the most challenging situations.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
More than ever, being a technology leader means being a business leader first. This involves ensuring that the technology strategy is not only aligned with business objectives but also actively supports and enhances them. Prioritizing objectives based on criticality, impact, ROI, and feasibility is crucial for implementing the right technologies—not just chasing trends.
Emphasizing data privacy and security remains essential, and recent AI advancements highlight the importance of robust data governance and information architecture. Finally, attracting and retaining the right talent is vital. As traditional technical tasks become increasingly automated, it’s crucial to bring in critical thinkers and team players who can effectively leverage evolving technologies and communicate for success.
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
Leaders of the future must prioritize business objectives over technology itself. Effective leadership involves not only embracing and driving change but also carefully selecting and prioritizing initiatives with structured approaches to maximize return on investment. It’s crucial to surround oneself with top talent and diverse perspectives, fostering an environment of agility, adaptability, and inclusivity.
As I often say, being an "authentically authentic" leader is essential—transparency and sincerity are vital, as people can see through a lack of genuine leadership. An empathetic approach is also crucial; today’s workforce seeks to connect their work with company values, feel recognized for their contributions, and envision a clear career path for themselves. Leaders who invest in organizational culture, focus on upskilling their teams, and make employees feel valued, I believe these leaders will be well-positioned to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
At this stage of my career, my mission is to empower as many people as possible to achieve their fullest potential more quickly and with confidence. This is an important part of my legacy.
I am eager to leverage the profound lessons I learned from my 30 years in corporate roles to help others soar, excelling in their own careers and endeavors.
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
As I always say, 'know your craft'. Be really good at what you do, but realize also that this is table stakes. Meaning, while competence is crucial, it's only the starting point.
Invest time in understanding the functional aspects of your business and enhance your communication and influencing skills. No matter how advanced the tech, I have come to realize that 'every business is a people business'. Maximizing your success hinges on how well you connect with and influence others.
"Be really good at what you do, but realize also that this is table stakes."
What role do you see emerging technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning, blockchain) playing in your industry, and how are you preparing for them?
As I write this, the hype around AI/GenAI is starting to wane, though it remains significant. As a small business owner, I am leveraging this technology to establish a more scalable foundation. My mission to empower others relies on effectively communicating the value I offer and reaching the right audience. I’m utilizing the latest tech to automate operational processes and amplify my messaging through both scale and personalization.
Just as I did in my corporate career, I take ownership of learning any new skills needed for success. Today this means leveraging AI for the right purpose, tomorrow it will involve adapting to yet newer technologies. I believe that evolving personally along with the business and technical landscape is key to achieving long-term success.
How do you measure and communicate the value and impact of technology initiatives to other business leaders and stakeholders?
The key has always been to frame new technology in terms of its benefits for the specific person or function I'm addressing. For example, when introducing innovative tech in data management, the overall benefits remained consistent, but it was essential to demonstrate how it directly impacted the individual I was speaking to—whether they were a manufacturing leader, operations manager, or finance executive.
This approach is central to the strategy. Business leaders are more likely to support technology when they understand how it will address their own specific challenges or the issues they’ll face if they don't adopt it. Metrics can range from straightforward operational measures to more strategic and complex KPIs.
I would also emphasize that this communication needs to be ongoing and consistent over the lifecycle of the program, even after one has attained the necessary funding for the program. It is not a one-time effort.
A big thank you to Dora Boussias from DoraB Global LLC for sharing her journey to date.
If you would like to gain more perspective from Tech Leaders and CIOs you can read some of our other interviews here.
