2025 Priorities for Tech Executives

These 2025 priorities are the most common areas I'm seeing tech execs discuss and prioritise as we have entered the year.

If done well, they can set the year up. When they're poorly executed, Tech Execs will be reactive.

Tech leaders must refine their focus to drive impact while managing stakeholder expectations. Success lies in a clear strategy, strong people engagement, and contextualising AI amid emerging technologies.

Meanwhile, Cybersecurity and ESG remain critical factors that, if not managed proactively, can hijack strategic conversations.

Primary Priorities

Strategy: Simple Yet Contemporary - A strong strategy should answer three questions:

• What are we solving?

• Why does this matter now?

• How will we get there?

Leaders must align business objectives with AI, cloud, and data-driven decision-making while keeping execution practical. Complexity should be minimised to ensure clarity and adoption.

People Engagement: Winning Heads and Hearts - Employees must see their role in the bigger picture. Leaders can drive engagement through:

• Town halls for transparent discussions.

• Internal blogs that simplify complex changes.

• Fireside chats to humanise leadership.

Clear communication fosters alignment, motivation, and productivity.

Board and Peer Expectations: AI in Context

Boards need clarity on AI’s role within a broader tech landscape, including; the commercial impact and scalability of AI initiatives, governance, risk, and compliance frameworks, and the intersection of AI with cybersecurity, automation, and business operations.

Rather than feeding the AI hype, leaders must set realistic expectations and position it as part of a balanced technology strategy.

Secondary Priorities

Cybersecurity - Cyber threats can dominate discussions if not proactively addressed. Boards expect embedded cyber resilience, proactive risk mitigation, and compliance without stifling innovation.

A clear security strategy prevents reactionary decision-making and ensures cybersecurity remains an enabler. By taking a proactive stance, tech executives can keep cybersecurity from overshadowing broader strategic goals while still maintaining robust defences.

ESG - Driving and supporting activities for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are becoming an increasingly integral part of technology leadership.

Tech Execs must embed ESG into their digital transformation strategies, support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and ensure ethical technology adoption, particularly in AI and emerging tech.

By taking a balanced approach—both driving and supporting ESG initiatives—leaders demonstrate long-term value and mitigate reputational risks while aligning with corporate sustainability goals.

Final Thoughts

2025 balances strategic clarity, engagement, and board expectations while managing cybersecurity and ESG. Those who lead with simplicity, trust, and a balanced technology roadmap will drive meaningful business outcomes and remain relevant.

If you want to learn how I could help with the above, contact me here.