Eric Olson

CIO, Treasury Department

The chief information officer for the Department of the Treasury heads up a $4 billion information technology portfolio that largely consists of infrastructure for the nation’s economic and financial systems. Olson was promoted from deputy CIO, a role that saw him run the enterprise cybersecurity program and IT shared services portfolio. Leaders must prioritize the “right work” — the projects that bring “the most value to the organization,” he said. “I think it is about maintaining a balance between extremes,” Olson added. “Be results-driven, but don’t lead a death march. Be positive but not at the expense of being candid. Be fact-driven, but use facts in the appropriate context.”