An accomplished technology leader with more than 20 years of global private and public sector experience, Archana Nirad has been leading projects and tech operations in financial services organizations for over 15 years. She saw value in finding ways to align IT strategy with business strategy and turned to SFU Beedie’s Technology Leadership program to develop the skills to do just that. Since completing the program, Archana has been promoted to Chief Information Officer at BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA).

My Journey

With two decades of experience as a technology leader, Archana has a history of successfully implementing new products and business functions as well as introducing new business concepts at various global organizations across the private and public sectors.

“I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of many growing teams,” says Archana. “While the technological challenges in the IT sector become more pronounced, it’s clear that group cohesiveness makes the difference between average and high-performing teams. That’s where strategic long-term planning comes into play: as a leader, it’s a priority to align on-paper objectives with the interests and talents of the people you work with.”

Aligning IT strategy with business strategy and vision can be a challenge in many organizations, where they often find themselves thinking in silos, with IT often perceived as a support function. Archana saw that shifting perceptions to recognize IT as a strategic partner was pivotal in staying current with market trends. 

“Looking back, this was all amplified as the importance of technology skyrocketed even higher during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Archana.

My experience at SFU Beedie

The length of the program offered Archana the opportunity to apply learnings in real time and share feedback with her cohort.

“Many similar programs are shorter in duration which makes it difficult to dive deep and apply learning to the real world,” says Archana. “Since this program runs for a few months, you have much more time to get to know your peers and instructors which fosters an immersive, impactful learning environment.”

The program is offered jointly through the CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) along with a membership to the association, allowing students to tap into connecting and networking with peers in addition to the many online forms and conferences available through CIOCAN membership.

“In terms of key learning, I was looking to develop the skills to communicate to business leaders about ‘what’s in it for them,’” says Archana. “I wanted to demystify tech speak and break it into business language. It’s equally important for IT to understand the business side as well—it’s a two-way street.”

Highlights

“Meeting peers on similar journeys was the best part,” says Archana. “Breakout sessions gave us opportunities to apply in-class learnings to the real world. To bring the whole experience together, the instructors were fantastic at sharing their leadership experiences to make us stronger IT leaders.”

Where I am today

Archana is currently the Chief Information Officer at BC Financial Services Authority (BSFSA).