From CIO to Strategic Advisor: Lessons on Scaling, Governance & Innovation Karl Mosgofian Interview

**What does it take to go from CIO to trusted business advisor?**

In this episode of *The Heartbeat Podcast*, host Mike Sommer welcomes Karl Mosgofian—seasoned tech executive and former CIO of Gainsight—to unpack what it *really* means to lead IT in today’s dynamic enterprise environment.

With over three decades of experience, Karl shares hard-earned insights on scaling organizations, taming technical debt, and evolving IT from a back-office function to a strategic growth enabler. You’ll hear real-world strategies for implementing governance without killing innovation, selecting the right consulting partners, and building a future-proof technology foundation.

Whether you’re navigating startup growth, enterprise transformation, or somewhere in between—this conversation delivers the actionable guidance today’s IT leaders need.

🎯 **Perfect for:** CIOs, CTOs, IT Directors, and tech execs focused on aligning IT with business outcomes.

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**💡 Topics Covered:**

- Redefining the CIO role in the modern enterprise
- From operator to advisor: the mindset shift
- Scaling infrastructure without chaos
- Managing consultants and hybrid teams
- Technical debt, governance, and innovation trade-offs
- Building systems that last beyond your tenure

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#CIO #DigitalTransformation #ITLeadership #TechStrategy #TheHeartbeatPodcast #KarlMosgofian #EnterpriseIT #ITGovernance #ScalableTech

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### ⏱️ **Timestamps included for easy navigation!**

00:00 – Welcome & Introductions

00:12 – Personal reflections and career journey

01:11 – Shifting from CIO to strategic advisor

02:34 – Growth moments and leadership insights

04:05 – Managing scaling complexity

07:46 – Tackling technical debt effectively

13:23 – Change management through consulting

16:54 – How to choose the right consulting partner

17:13 – New models of IT consulting

18:09 – The “Done With You” consulting approach

19:03 – Custom solutions vs. best practices

21:05 – From startup agility to enterprise scale

23:43 – Why documentation drives consistency

31:32 – Balancing innovation with governance

34:25 – Final advice for today’s CIOs