Techfluential by Deloitte Demystifying the CIO and Board Relationship
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Apr 29, 2025 
Jim Fowler, Nationwide EVP and CTO, leads tech modernization and resilience. Sara Tucker, Nationwide board director, chairs tech and transformation committees. They discuss evolving CIO-board partnerships, three boardroom conversations about metrics and investment, prepping teams for board meetings, translating tech into measurable business outcomes, and when boards need dedicated technology oversight.
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Boards Evolved From Compliance To Strategic Tech Partners
- Boards are shifting from compliance-focused oversight to active interest in technology's role in strategy and innovation.
- Sara Tucker observed boards now expect CIOs to show how tech investments enable business results, not just mitigate risk.
Start Presentations With Outcomes Not Tech Details
- When presenting to a board, focus on operational health briefly and spend most time on investment value and long-term tech R&D.
- Jim Fowler recommends demonstrating expected business outcomes and a 3–10 year view of technology impact.
Coach Teams To Anchor Tech To Company Priorities
- Prepare teams to speak in business terms by anchoring every discussion to strategic priorities and measurable outcomes.
- Jim Fowler tells his team to tie tech work to his company's three priorities: financial stability, customer centricity, operational excellence.