What I Would Do in My First 90 Days as a New CIO – By Atin Agarwal

When you step into the CIO’s chair, the first 90 days aren’t about proving how much you know — they’re about earning trust, understanding context, and setting a clear path forward. I remember my early CIO days when the temptation to “change everything” was strong. But rushing in without the right groundwork can derail even the most promising transformation. Here’s how I’d approach my first 90 days — aligned with AI-driven enterprises, cybersecurity-first mindsets, and business agility.

Day 1–30: Listen Relentlessly Meet key stakeholders from C-suite to front-line teams. Assess the IT landscape — infrastructure, applications, governance, security posture. Build rapport — not just with decision-makers, but with people running operations. Example: At Vodafone Idea, immersion into challenges shaped a cloud migration strategy that improved resilience and reduced costs.

Day 31–60: Diagnose & Prioritize Map technology strengths vs. business pain points. Evaluate cyber readiness — a non-negotiable in the current threat landscape. Identify quick wins (e.g., process automation, cost optimization) delivering results. Example: At Adani, ERP modernization was scoped within 45 days to enable real-time analytics for faster decision-making.

Day 61–90: Act & Communicate Launch 2–3 initiatives with tangible business value. Establish KPIs and governance models to ensure accountability. Example: At DSM, Industry 4.0 adoption in manufacturing lines delivered measurable productivity gains in under a quarter.

Trends I’d Integrate from Day One: AI/ML Automation: Accelerating insights, reducing manual effort, enabling predictive decision-making. Zero-Trust Security: Protecting enterprise assets in an increasingly borderless environment. Cloud & Edge Synergy: Enabling speed, scalability, and local processing. CIO’s success in the first 90 days is less about “technology for technology’s sake” and more about strategic enablement — aligning digital capabilities with business ambitions while fostering a culture ready for change.

About Atin Agarwal Mr. Atin Agarwal is a seasoned technology and transformation leader with over 20 years of experience across telecom, FMCG, manufacturing, ITES, and conglomerates. He has held key roles at Vodafone Idea, Hitachi, Karam Industries, Adani, Airtel, DSM, and Birlasoft, leading enterprise digital initiatives focused on AI/ML automation, ERP modernization, Industry 4.0, cloud, and shared services across India and Africa. Known for driving IT cost optimization, budgeting efficiency, and cross-functional agility, he has been recognized among India’s Top 10 Tech Leaders by TradeFlock and awarded by CIO Today and CIO Times for innovation.