RASOUL KHADIVAR
Sr. Vice President - Global CIO at PTS Consulting Services
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
My name is Rasoul Khadivar, and I am currently serving as the Global CIO for PTS Consulting Services, which is a global consulting firm catering to clients across various domains and countries. I am responsible for the entire spectrum of technology, ranging from Infrastructure and Application Development to Cybersecurity and more, on a global scale. My purview extends to overseeing IT operations for multiple locations, including client programs and internal operations, along with major oversight over Marketing and Compliance. While I call the Chicagoland area my home and cherish its offerings, I also have a great appetite for traveling the world, especially during the frosty Chicago Winters.
What has your journey to your position been like? What path have you taken?
Originally from Iran, I migrated to the US in 1996 after finishing high school. My journey in the US has been shaped by the sense of independence instilled in me, as well as the kind and supportive family and community around me.
I pursued my passion for technology and problem-solving by majoring in computer science at the University of Northern Iowa. My natural curiosity led me to interview professionals in the technology field to gain insights into the industry's future potential.
After graduation, I began my career with one of the Big 5 consulting firms, where I spent six years working with a diverse range of clients and honing my skills. I subsequently joined Walgreens as a lead analyst and steadily progressed up the ranks to senior leadership.
My path to becoming a CIO has been grounded in the understanding that technology is an enabler for driving business success, and I am committed to leveraging it effectively to create value for organizations. In my role as a CIO, I bear complete responsibility for all technology-related affairs within the organization. I strongly advocate centralizing accountability under a single leader to promote efficient strategy formulation and execution.
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?
Growing up in Iran, I never imagined that I would eventually hold such a high-level professional position in America. However, as I progressed in my career, I realized that becoming a tech leader was a part of my long-term vision. Since a young age, I have been fascinated by the limitless potential of technology to transform industries and improve people's lives. In fact, I can remember wanting to design my own single-passenger aircraft when I was just 10 years old!
As I pursued my education and gained experience in the technology field, my passion for leading technological innovation and driving business success only continued to grow. Now, as the Global CIO for PTS Consulting Services, I can bring that passion to life by leading a team of talented professionals and leveraging technology to create value for our clients across the globe.
Achieving this position has required years of hard work, dedication, and discipline. I feel honored to have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the industry and to continue pursuing my passion for technology. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with inspiring leaders and colleagues who have supported my growth and development. Their mentorship and guidance have played a significant role in helping me realize my vision of becoming a tech leader.
Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have had the support and guidance of several mentors who have played a significant role in my journey. One such mentor was Rex Johnson, a manager I worked with during my early days as a consultant. As a young college graduate, Rex mentored me on how to build confidence in my abilities and taught me how to effectively deliver major projects for clients. Under his guidance, I was able to lead large teams and manage significant budgets, which helped me to develop my leadership skills. I owe a great deal to Rex for his pivotal role in my flourishing career as a consultant.
Additionally, during my time at Walgreens, I had the privilege of working with other exceptional leaders who provided mentorship and guidance as I progressed in my career. The insights and knowledge that I gained from my mentors have been invaluable in shaping my professional development and have contributed significantly to my success as a tech leader.
As a role model for the younger generation, I would continue to portray strategic thinking, excellent tactical execution, great relationship-building skills, and most importantly being there for your team when they need you the most.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
Overall, I believe the role of the CIO is to become more strategic from business and technology crossroads. A future-proof CIO firstly must be in tune with the overall business strategy before deciding what technology to use and must be a key player in helping their enterprises navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape and stay ahead of the curve.
One significant change that I expect in the role of the CIO is an increased focus on innovation and digital transformation. As companies continue to adopt new technologies, such as cloud, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the CIO will play a critical role in driving innovation and ensuring that these technologies are integrated seamlessly into the company's overall strategy.
Another area where the CIO's role will evolve is in cybersecurity. With the increasing number of cyber-attacks and the growing importance of data privacy, the CIOs role will need to take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity, working closely with other executives to develop robust security strategies, awareness, and ensuring that the company's data is secure.
As companies continue to rely more on technology to drive their business, the CIO's expertise will be invaluable in identifying new opportunities and ensuring that the company stays ahead of the competition. This will require the CIO’s role to collaborate even more closely with other executives to identify new business opportunities and drive growth.
In a nutshell, over the next 5 years, tech leaders must keep up with the latest changes, evolve themselves and their organization on a continuous basis. As Socrates said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
How do you keep current with new skills, technologies and personal development?
To remain current with the latest developments in the tech industry, I have subscribed to numerous technology newsletters and publications. I immerse myself in topics such as AI, Cyber Security, and Block Chain technology to gain practical knowledge. From a leadership standpoint, I am committed to continuously learning and refining my skills by analyzing and understanding how the new generation of IT workers can be best guided and managed. I also listen to many CIO podcasts where other leaders in the industry share their knowledge.
What do you see as the next leap in technology that will impact your business or industry in particular?
The facts are that early days of the internet brought about a significant milestone, as it facilitated innovation and problem-solving. I think the second milestone was the advancement of mobile technology, enabling individuals to accomplish most of their tasks on mobile devices. I believe we stand at the brink of another significant milestone with the emergence of AI.
I compare the current state of AI to the invention of electricity: like electricity, AI has the potential to transform multiple aspects of our lives. Just as electricity powered the Industrial Revolution, AI is powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution by enabling new technologies like autonomous vehicles, smart homes, and personalized medicine.
I firmly believe that AI will eventually touch every business soon. Most monotonous and manual tasks will be replaced as AI will perform such duties more efficiently. This could lead to job losses, but it will also allow human capital to be refocused on critical thinking and innovations. However, the rapid deployment of AI across all sectors has raised concerns about copyright issues, ethical questions, and if AI is not managed properly, it could potentially harm our lives.
Another area that could bring positive disruption is quantum computing. Classical computers are limited in their capacity to simulate large and complex systems. In contrast, quantum computing can make a significant difference in this area by simulating these systems much faster and accurately, enabling researchers to make more precise predictions about their behavior.
With quantum computing, we can simulate complex chemical reactions, optimize supply chains, and improve cryptography to enhance security. I believe, practical applications of quantum computing are still in the early stages of development and require significant research and development to become widely accessible.
Quantum computing is the key that unlocks the door to a new era of computational power, where the impossible becomes possible.
"Focusing on personal development is a very key area for any leader."
If you were mentoring a leader of the future, what advice or guidance would you give to help them on their way?
If I were mentoring a leader of the future, here are some advice and guidance that I would give to help them on their way.
Focusing on personal development is a very key area for any leader. This could include reading books on leadership, attending conferences, seeking feedback, and practicing self-reflection.
Building strong relationships is another major focus area for future leaders. Leaders are only as effective as their ability to build and maintain strong relationships with their teams and stakeholders. I would encourage them to invest time and effort in building these relationships, and to be approachable and open to feedback.
Being adaptable and resilient is a major trait to have as a leader. Given that the future is uncertain, leaders must be able to adapt to change and bounce back from setbacks. I would encourage the leader to develop resilience and a growth mindset, and to embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
Overall, my advice to leaders of the future would be to focus on personal development, build strong relationships, communicate effectively, foster a culture of innovation, lead by example, embrace diversity and inclusion, and be adaptable and resilient.
Lastly…
Choose your words and actions wisely, for the bridges you burn today may be the very ones you need to cross tomorrow.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
I'm committed to delivering excellent results in my current role, but I'm also open to taking on new challenges that will allow me to continue growing and learning. Ultimately, I hope to make a positive impact on the industry and the company, and I'm excited to see where my career takes me.
Moreover, outside of my professional career aspirations, I am an avid traveler and love to immerse myself in different cultures, which includes learning new languages to better communicate with the locals and broaden my understanding of their customs and traditions.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I believe that the world needs to focus on eradicating major diseases, adopting sustainable energy sources, and addressing environmental issues to create a healthier and more sustainable planet for all. Diseases such as cancer and malaria continue to have a devastating impact on people's lives, while fossil fuels are depleting and contribute to climate change. We also need to address environmental issues such as deforestation and plastic waste to preserve the planet for future generations. By investing in research, promoting sustainable practices, and reducing our carbon footprint, we can work towards creating a better future for all.
A big thank you to Rasoul Khadivar from PTS Consulting Services for sharing his 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.
