Why a Librarian is the CIO Your Business Needs | Fractional CIO Explains

Is your business constantly chasing the latest tech trends, only to be left with expensive, underused tools?

In this episode of The Weird Canadian, we sit down with Abby Clobridge, a fractional CIO with over 25 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations make smarter technology decisions. What makes Abby different? Her background isn't in computer science—it's in library science, giving her a unique "people-first, technology-second" approach.

What You'll Learn: • The #1 mistake businesses make when adopting new technology • How library science principles apply to modern business tech strategy • The critical difference between a CIO and CTO (and which one you need) • What AI readiness really means beyond the hype • How to turn organizational knowledge into a strategic asset • Why the fractional CIO model is perfect for growing businesses • Practical strategies to avoid technology fragmentation and wasted budgets

About Abby Clobridge: Abby is the founder of FireOak Strategies, where she serves as a fractional CIO for organizations around the world. Before founding FireOak 15+ years ago, she worked as an investigative researcher at CNN, developed knowledge management programs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and launched digital initiatives at Bucknell University. She's worked with organizations across dozens of countries, from UN agencies to local nonprofits, helping them cut through the tech noise and build systems that actually stick.

As a member of the Forbes Business Council, Abby writes about the human side of digital transformation, AI readiness, and why knowledge might be your organization's most undervalued asset.

Connect with Abby Clobridge: Website: https://fireoakstrategies.com/ PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/guestdetail/1757673846703751e8ec34170

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