No one ever said being a CIO was easy. And over the past few years, it rarely has been. But at least it hasn't been dull. In this series, “What It’s Like To…,” IT leaders share their stories from the front lines—CIO to CIO, in their own words, from the gut, without vendor spin or PR meddling, without fear or favor. We’ve identified situations—both common and sui generis—that other CIOs can relate to or experience vicariously. And what we’ve found is that the CIO experience is nothing if not multidimensional. It is, at turns, rewarding and disappointing. Maddening and moving. Mundane and, occasionally, extraordinary.In these sometimes painfully candid, first-person stories, CIOs talk about what it’s really like to lay off loyal employees, or get fired themselves. How it feels to bet the farm on a new technology and come out on top, or pull the plug on a multimillion-dollar project and take the heat. To be the winner in a merger, or the loser. To deliver more with less. To handle logistics in Iraq, survive a hurricane, or simply walk a mile in your customers’ shoes. You may already know what it’s like to work for a 24/7 boss. You may even know what it’s like to take a real vacation. But do you know how it feels to save a life, or risk your own?(And for the stories we couldn’t get—the tales no one would tell—click here.) So what is it really like to be a CIO in the 21st century?You know your piece of the answer. For the rest, turn the page. What It’s Like To… Achieve 100% UptimeSend People into DangerSurvive CharleyTake Your Application Source Code Out of Escrow Bear Witness to IT HistoryWalk in Your Customers’ ShoesMove a Company to Open SourceWork for a 24/7 Entrepreneur Be the Last Man StandingBond on Mt. FujiBe an Early AdopterLose Your JobSave Four LivesPull the Plug on a Multimillion-Dollar ProjectBrief the PresidentTestify Before CongressBe the First CIO of the U.S. SenateWalk into an IT DisasterGet the JobNot Get the JobBuild the World’s Most Powerful SupercomputerBe the Fall GuyLive in a Two-CIO FamilyMove to a New IndustrySurvive the Pentagon AttackTake a Real VacationBe Treated Like a Rock StarBe an American AbroadCatch a KillerBe DifferentWork in IraqBe a Man in a Woman’s WorldBe Hired by the FBIStart Your Own CompanySave $55,000Fire Half Your StaffDownshift Your LifeGo from CIO to CEO Stories We Couldn’t Get There were some subjects that CIOs absolutely, positively would not (or could not) address. Related content news Zendesk to lay off another 8% of its staff, cites macroeconomic issues The new tranche of layoffs comes just six months after the company let go of 300 staffers and hired a new CEO in order to navigate its operations through macroeconomic distress. By Anirban Ghoshal Jun 01, 2023 3 mins CRM Systems IT Jobs feature 5 CxOs on leading change To be the agents of change that businesses require today, IT leaders must embrace a flexible mindset, prep their orgs for change, and recognize that intention and purpose are vital to empowering transformation. By Dan Roberts Jun 01, 2023 13 mins Digital Transformation Change Management IT Leadership feature Top 8 data engineer and data architect certifications Data engineers and data architects are in high demand. Here are the certifications that will give your career an edge. By Thor Olavsrud Jun 01, 2023 9 mins Certifications Big Data Data Mining events promotion Australia's CIO50 Team of the Year Awards finalists revealed Along with the unveiling of the annual CIO50 List and the team category winners, the 2023 CIO50 Awards will also recognise the inaugural Next CIO winner and a new Hall of Fame recipient. By Cathy O'Sullivan May 31, 2023 3 mins IDG Events Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe