Black Tech Symposium Keynote: From Secretary to CIO with Vanetta Pledger
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#### Keynote - "From Secretary to CIO"
The path from secretary to Chief Information Officer (CIO) is not a common one, but it is entirely achievable with determination, strategic planning, and continuous learning. It begins with mastering the administrative role—developing organizational skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of business operations. Secretaries are often at the heart of communication and scheduling, offering unique insight into how departments function and where inefficiencies lie.
The next step is education. Many successful transitions involve earning certifications or degrees in information technology, business administration, or project management. Online courses and night classes can help bridge the knowledge gap without interrupting full-time work. As technical skills grow, so should involvement in IT projects—volunteering for cross-functional initiatives, offering to coordinate tech upgrades, or assisting with data entry and reporting tools.
Networking within the organization is crucial. Building relationships with IT personnel and demonstrating initiative can open doors to entry-level tech roles like IT coordinator or systems analyst.
With hands-on experience, one can progress into management by leading small teams, managing budgets, or overseeing digital transformation projects.
Leadership, strategic thinking, and communication—skills honed from the secretary role—become even more valuable as responsibilities grow. Eventually, with a track record of successful projects and visionary thinking, stepping into the CIO role becomes not just possible, but a natural progression.
This journey isn’t linear or easy, but it is a powerful example of how grit, growth, and adaptability can transform a support role into one of executive leadership.
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The 2nd Annual DC Metro Black Tech Symposium highlights the success and possibilities of Black technologists and their allies. This learning, networking, and empowerment event is packed with six keynote presenters, 45 learning sessions, 5 evening 2.5 hour workshops, and multiple virtual “speed-networking” sessions.
Three-day attendance passes range from $47.50 to $57.50 for FULL ACCESS. All tickets support our 501(c)3 nonprofit purpose.
https://bit.ly/DCMII-BTS
Session presentations include:
- Starting and succeeding as a consultant with government contracting
- Interviewing at your best
- Resilient leadership
- Model based system engineering
- Breaking into tech
- Getting your first customer
- Influence strategies for tech leaders
- Building applications with no or low code
- AI: embracing agents, mitigating prejudice and crafting effective prompts
- Threat detection using Splunk
- Upskilling as a project manager
- Why Black voices matter in cybersecurity
- Multiplying your success through mentor advocacy