Mastering the Chess of IT Leadership Today
CIO, Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Cushman & Wakefield's CDIO explains why modern IT leaders must think strategically across the whole enterprise.
Salumeh Companieh, chief digital and information officer at Cushman & Wakefield, compares modern IT leadership to chess rather than checkers because each decision cascades across the enterprise.
The role has evolved from pure technology focus to enterprise operations at the C-suite level, requiring clarity of intent, disciplined execution, and anticipation of downstream consequences. Companieh notes teams move faster when outcomes are crystal clear, and she connects individual work to company earnings calls during town halls.
She highlighted technology's inseparability from business strategy in an investor presentation, positioning the firm at the forefront of new ways of working for professional services.