The first 90 days as a CIO: The plan experts wish they had when they started

85% of CIOs are seen as critical change-makers—but how can you prove your value in just 90 days? Your strategy could define your leadership legacy.

The role of the CIO has never been more pivotal. CIOs aren’t just managing IT—they’re shaping the future of the business. With expectations higher than ever, a clear, strategic plan for your first 90 days can set you apart as a visionary leader.

This article provides a step-by-step new CIO action plan to help new CIOs navigate their role, build credibility, and position IT as a strategic pillar for growth.

From understanding stakeholders to delivering quick wins and creating a long-term IT roadmap, this guide is your blueprint for success as a CIO in your first 90 days.

Days 1–30: Adaptation

Expert advice from the IT Leaders Lounge community members

“Сoming into my current role, I reached out for feedback on what was working and wasn’t working so I could focus on the latter. I also wanted to understand what initiatives were in flight and on the road map to ensure my team was meeting targets and figure out where I could help remove any roadblocks in their way.” —Tracy Clark, Director of IT at Bishop Fox

“Create a questionnaire of open-ended questions and ask all stakeholders those same questions to get a sense of the current state and opportunities ahead. This helps me create my list of opportunity areas and start prioritizing on day 1.” — Arnaud Lucas, CTO & VP of Engineering at Wanderu, Inc.

“Don‘t hesitate to jump on things based on your gut feeling even if you’re just a few days into your position. If you feel something’s wrong or someone’s in the wrong place, you’re probably right!” — Axel Schulz of DB Fernverkehr AG

“Retain from introducing too much change or initiatives. I can imagine stepping into a new organization full of good ideas, but too much at the same time could make people reluctant to change or just feel overwhelmed.” — Bart Poort, Head of IT at XITE

1. Understand your real boss and stakeholders

Identify key stakeholders

Meet with the CEO, CTO, CFO, and board members. These early conversations will reveal their pain points and expectations for IT.

Keep an eye out for “shadow bosses.” These informal influencers can make or break your initiatives without holding official titles.

Tailor your communication

Each stakeholder has their own style – adapt to it. Data-driven leaders? Use detailed reports. Big-picture thinkers? Stick to bold goals and outcomes.

Start sharing your findings early. Regular updates build trust and ensure you stay aligned.

2. Assess organizational culture

Evaluate IT’s perception

Is IT seen as a necessary cost, a partner for innovation, or something else entirely? You’ll only know if you ask. Talk to people. Listen out for their honest thoughts.

Adapt your approach

Some companies play it safe, others go into risk headfirst. Adjust your strategy to fit the culture. Bold moves might be welcomed – or they might backfire.

Build cross-department relationships

Department heads are your allies. Understand how IT supports their workflows and where they fall short.

Show them how IT can be more than a service provider. Position your team as an enabler of their success.

3. Conduct a deep IT audit

Inventory your assets

Start with SaaS applications, cloud services, and hardware. Use tools like Spendbase to understand usage, costs, and adoption levels.

Find redundancies

Duplicate tools? Underused licenses? They’re hidden costs waiting to be uncovered. Spot them, and you’ve got an easy win. By addressing these inefficiencies, you can stop SaaS waste and improve your IT efficiency.

Assess security and compliance

Take a hard look at vulnerabilities. Are compliance standards like GDPR or HIPAA being met? This is critical groundwork for the months ahead.

4. Evaluate team capabilities

Assess strengths and gaps

Look at your team closely. Who’s a rockstar? Where are the skills missing? Knowing this now sets you up to build the right team for the future.

Promote sustainability

If you’re relying on heroic efforts from individuals, it’s a ticking time bomb. Focus on creating scalable processes to distribute the load.

5. Build trust with teams

Engage department leads

These leaders know where IT works and where it doesn’t. Ask them. Listen to their frustrations. Fix what you can quickly and show them you’re on their side.

Shadow key departments

Walk in their shoes. Watch their workflows in action. You’ll uncover nuances no report will ever capture.

6. Quick wins planning

Find easy opportunities

Underused licenses, duplicate tools, or simple process fixes are your starting point. These wins build momentum and credibility.

Plan for impact

Prioritize actions that align with leadership’s goals. Show them results they care about.

7. Define your purpose and set the vision

Clarify expectations

What does success look like for you? Make sure it’s clear and that your CIO goals are aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.

Set short-term priorities

Start small but focused. For example, complete your IT audit, build rapport with stakeholders, and identify three quick wins for the next phase.

Days 31–60: Quick wins

Expert advice from the IT Leaders Lounge community members

“Understand the business, what it does, and how IT enables it. Think about what you could do to support it immediately. Then turn to the CEO & CPO and present them your ideas.” — Axel Schulz of DB Fernverkehr AG

“Find the right balance of learning and doing. Learning is essential and should be the primary focus within the first 90 days. However, quick wins are critical to gain trust, but they should be quick!” — Arnaud Lucas, CTO & VP of Engineering at Wanderu, Inc.

“Going into a new company, don’t think all of your previous tools and processes will align and be as successful as they were at your previous company. Some great vendors make workflows and security much easier but it’s important to understand your environment and measure effectiveness objectively.” — Tracy Clark, Director of IT at Bishop Fox

1. Optimize the SaaS stack and costs

Act on your audit findings

Renegotiate vendor contracts. Use your data to demand better terms – vendors don’t want to lose you, especially if you’ve identified waste or inefficiencies.

Eliminate redundant tools and underused licenses. This isn’t just about saving money, it’s about simplifying the tech landscape for your team.

Consolidate overlapping tools to simplify your tech landscape. This not only reduces confusion but also helps you put an end to SaaS sprawl, leading to fewer support issues.

Implement SaaS management tools

Introduce a centralized tool like Spendbase. It’s time to move from reactive to proactive SaaS management.

Use Spendbase for cloud cost optimization to enhance cost transparency. No more hidden expenses or unexpected renewals – it’s all visible, and it’s all under control.

2. Increase efficiency and address inefficiencies

Streamline processes

Look for repetitive tasks that eat time. Can reporting be automated? Can approvals be sped up? These changes make an immediate impact.

Standardize workflows. Teams shouldn’t be reinventing the wheel every time a request comes through. Create clarity with consistent processes.

Tackle legacy systems

It’s time to evaluate those outdated systems. Are they slowing down your teams? If so, start planning updates or phasing them out.

Prioritize systems that create the biggest bottlenecks. Quick improvements here can ripple across the organization.

3. Improve security and address risks

Run a cybersecurity audit

Collaborate with your CISO to identify vulnerabilities. If you are stepping into this role, consider what steps are critical in your first 100 days as a new Chief Information Security Officer.

Check compliance with industry standards. Are you meeting requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS? If not, act now.

Fix critical gaps

Some risks can’t wait. Whether it’s patching software, tightening access controls, or addressing weak passwords, take immediate action where it counts. An enterprise password manager can help streamline access control without adding extra complexity to your workflow

Establish governance policies

Draft clear policies for SaaS governance. Include workflows for tool approvals, regular usage reviews, and compliance checks. Make these policies simple but enforceable.

4. Communicate wins and engage with leadership

Prepare detailed reports

Capture every win – big or small. Highlight actions taken, costs saved, and value delivered. Use data to tell a compelling story that’s hard to ignore. Tools that allow you to estimate savings can strengthen your reports by quantifying the value delivered.

Include visual elements like charts or dashboards to make your impact obvious at a glance.

Present to leadership

Share your quick wins. Show how these savings and improvements align with their goals – whether that’s scaling, cutting costs, or boosting efficiency.

Keep communication open

Update stakeholders regularly. Progress reports don’t need to be long, but they should keep everyone informed and invested in your work.

5. Establish IT as a strategic partner and plan for scale

Define IT’s mission

Write a mission statement that ties IT directly to the company’s growth and success. This isn’t fluff – it’s your chance to reposition IT as a driver of strategy.

Design scalable processes

Work with finance and operations to align IT processes with long-term business goals. Think beyond immediate needs – what will this look like in 12 or 24 months?

Foster collaboration

Involve department leads in IT decisions. When they feel heard, they’re more likely to support and advocate for your initiatives.

You’ve gone from identifying problems to solving them. Stakeholders now see you as a leader who delivers – and IT as a core pillar of business strategy. You’re building momentum. Keep it going.

Days 61–90: Strategic goals

Expert advice from the IT Leaders Lounge community members

“I wish I knew that the higher you climb the ladder the more you need to communicate complex technical stuff on a basic level. Your management peers want to know what’s happening but they don’t want to know the details. There is a huge gap between management talk and your expertise.” — Axel Schulz of DB Fernverkehr AG

“IT leadership is about technology, but even more about people, communication, and vision. Empower your team members. They are the ones that eventually help you reach your goals.” — Bart Poort, Head of IT at XITE

“You are going to face stakeholders who want to dictate what solutions and tools you use. Keep an open mind and consider their suggestions but do your due diligence before deciding as you will have much more knowledge regarding dependencies of technology and your organization than they do.” —Tracy Clark, Director of IT at Bishop Fox

“Management is something somebody should learn and nobody is born with. It should be a combination of hands-on experience and actual training. I had to tap into my training capability by reading books and creating a management guild within the organization.” — Arnaud Lucas, CTO & VP of Engineering at Wanderu, Inc.

1. Develop and communicate your CIO roadmap

Craft a comprehensive strategy

It’s time to think big. Develop a 12-month CIO roadmap that tackles immediate needs, but don’t stop there. Expand it into a 3–5-year strategy tied directly to your company’s growth.

Show how IT investments will support scalability, innovation, and efficiency. This is your chance to position IT as a driver of the company’s future.

Incorporate key metrics and KPIs

Define measurable success. Think about metrics like ROI, cost per employee, and time-to-provision software. These numbers tell a story that leadership understands.

Leverage data insights

Use tools like Spendbase to uncover patterns and trends. Data isn’t just numbers, it’s proof that your recommendations are grounded in reality.

Present to leadership

Bring it all together clearly and compellingly. Highlight how your roadmap aligns IT with business goals. This is your moment to show the strategic value IT brings.

2. Create scalable processes and a governance framework

Develop a SaaS strategy

Ongoing optimization needs structure. Create a framework for regular audits, budget alignment, and efficient use of tools.

Implement governance policies

Introduce simple, effective workflows for tool approvals, procurement, and SaaS management. Governance doesn’t have to be rigid – it just needs to work.

Plan regular audits

Schedule reviews that keep IT aligned with business needs. A proactive approach keeps surprises at bay and ensures continued value.

3. Drive digital transformation

Identify innovation opportunities

Where are the bottlenecks? Look for processes that could benefit from automation or entirely new technologies. Think about where IT can deliver the most impact.

Propose new solutions

It’s not just about finding tools – it’s about finding the right tools. Recommend SaaS platforms or technologies that enhance collaboration, productivity, or customer experience.

4. Build and empower your team

Define the ideal team structure

You’ve assessed your team’s strengths, and now build on them. Identify skills gaps and address them through hiring, training, or partnering with external experts.

Foster a culture of innovation

Give your team space to experiment. Let them explore creative solutions and reward proactive problem-solving.

Empower team members

Delegate authority where it’s needed. Trust your team and give them the tools and resources they need to excel.

5. Lead through communication and position IT as a strategic partner

Host engagement events

Organize town halls or workshops to show how IT supports the company’s big-picture goals. Make these events interactive and inspiring.

Promote transparency

Keep your team and stakeholders informed. Regular updates foster trust and keep everyone aligned with your vision.

Inspire and motivate

Paint a vivid picture of IT’s role in the company’s future. Show how their contributions are paving the way for growth and innovation.

6. Establish KPIs and metrics

Define success measures

Set clear KPIs that reflect IT’s contribution to the company’s success. This could include cost savings, improved efficiency, or faster time-to-market.

Align with company metrics

Make sure your IT metrics aren’t in isolation. They should directly support broader organizational goals.

You’ve moved from delivering quick wins to building a sustainable, scalable strategy. Leadership sees you as a visionary, and your team is energized to execute. The groundwork is laid and you’re ready to flourish in your role as a CIO.

New CIO 30/60/90 day checklist for a scaleup

Stepping into a CIO role in a tech scaleup brings unique challenges. Rapid growth, evolving processes, and high expectations demand a clear plan. This checklist provides a focused roadmap for your first 90 days.

Days 1–30: Adaptation and Discovery

Focus: Build understanding, relationships, and visibility.

Success indicators by day 30:

• Completed meetings with key stakeholders.
• Finalized IT audit with actionable insights.
• Quick win plans in motion.
• Clear expectations set with leadership.

Days 31–60: Quick Wins and Credibility

Focus: Deliver visible results, optimize costs, establish credibility.

Success indicators by day 60:

• Achieved measurable cost savings (e.g., 10% reduction in SaaS spend).
• Implemented process improvements.
• Addressed critical security vulnerabilities.
• Positive feedback from stakeholders.

Days 61–90: Strategic Planning and Team Empowerment

Focus: Transition to long-term initiatives, align IT with business growth.

Success indicators by day 90:

• IT roadmap approved by leadership.
• Governance frameworks in place.
• Optimized team structure.
• Initiated digital transformation projects.
• IT recognized as a strategic partner.

The final piece of advice from the IT Leaders Lounge community

“There are going to be days when you feel your whole environment is a dumpster fire. The best thing you can do is stay calm and lead. Gather the right people to tackle each issue and keep everyone updated consistently. One of the most important skills is delegation. If you try and take on every request, you will feel like a plastic bag in the wind that never lands.” — Tracy Clark, Director of IT at Bishop Fox, IT Leaders Lounge community member