The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced on March 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in person on May 11 at The Ritz-Carlton in McLean, Virginia.
Next up is Chief Technology Officer (Private & Public) finalist Kyle Tuberson, CTO of ICF. Here, he talks about major recent successes, overcoming career struggles, major focuses going forward and more.
What important achievements did you have in 2021/2022?
As ICF’s first chief technology officer – a role and office I helped do – I am proud of our journey in technology and digital approach. In my current role, and even then, I have helped guide ICF leadership and business partners toward viewing technology as a true business driver. One that generates value throughout the company and for our clients. And it emphasizes the importance of making ICF technology a bigger, more important part of our business.
Together, we captured the entrepreneurial spirit of ICF to identify opportunities to develop, grow and expand ICF’s technology capabilities. This led to a series of acquisitions, starting with cloud-based platform services provider ITG in 2020. Last year, we added federal health IT provider ESAC and IT modernization and digital transformation solutions provider Creative Systems and Consulting . And we continue to make investments that bring value to our clients and have a greater impact on their missions.
Today, we are a leading executor of the three most adopted low-code platforms in the federal civil government. And we were named Appian’s 2021 Trusted Delivery Partner in the Public Sector and ServiceNow Americas ’US Federal Partner of the Year.
But it’s our highly sought after combination of deep domain expertise, strong analytical capabilities and the ability to architect and develop technology to the scale that I think truly separates us. I’m proud of my role in helping us get here, and excited about what’s to come.
What has made you successful in your current role?
Empathy, collaboration and creativity. I was fortunate to live in many different countries when I was a child and while living abroad, I quickly learned the value of empathy-that doing big things is not something you can do alone.
As CTO, I am able to step into the position of organizations and help them see the value of technology. Digital transformation is not a one -time effort, so communication is key to helping others see themselves as part of a larger narrative and journey.
When I joined ICF, I was struck by a culture that embraced entrepreneurship. Knowing that new ideas are welcome and encouraged has developed better collaboration with my team. We do our best work for our government agency partners when we work together.
And finally, you need to make room for creativity. AI, machine learning, Internet of Things, cloud – these are complex things that can be hard to explain. So when we present our ideas, we use visualizations and communication techniques to make these concepts more relatable and the mission value clearer.
What are you proud of being a part of your current organization?
Being part of ICF means being surrounded by really smart people who work together – and use technology – to face difficult challenges. Our climate experts bring a wealth of analytical knowledge as they pave paths for clients toward a sustainable and low -carbon future. Our public health experts apply AI and machine learning to disease monitoring – a critical resource throughout the pandemic – to help our clients anticipate the next major threat. During my 12+ years at ICF, I am proud of my role in working with these incredible experts to use the power of technology to bring to life world-changing ideas.
Often, the “T” in CTO means translator. I help domain and mission teams understand how technology and more ways of working can be used as a tool in their space and the value it brings when properly integrated into teams. In a sense, I translate the technical aspects to help prepare the agency’s mission leaders for what’s to come.
What are your main focuses for the future, and why are they so important to the future of the country?
In our industry, there is a huge push to modernization and innovation, an intense focus on cloud disruption. But this push is not independent. It’s about trying to do big things by using the cloud. Innovation is an opportunity to think about how technology can improve things; how can we protect the country from the next major disease outbreak or combat the effects of sea level rise.
Part of this is bringing together teams with different backgrounds to make sure we work in the best way possible. Addressing the growing challenges of our world requires cooperation, diverse perspectives and empathy. By breaking the loops, we can work together on a common goal, talk to teams and rethink how to use technology to accomplish large tasks.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Be quick. Get connected. Be OK with being uncomfortable. When faced with challenges that put you outside your comfort zone, stay agile and continue to learn from those around you. Don’t worry about frustration or fear-use them as opportunities for personal and professional growth. The biggest development in my career was when things got tough. As with our technical work, we need to embrace trial and error as part of our own continuous improvement. Without being pushed, we cannot grow.
What was your biggest struggle in the career and how did you overcome it?
I am a natural introvert, but also the face of ICF technology proficiency. As CTO, I conduct public speaking, but it’s not always easy. I became more comfortable with those scenarios by studying as I progressed. Gradually, I became better at doing. I come forward to embrace any lingering fear.
In meetings, I always listen and think. I value that as a strength. I learned that being the loudest voice in the room wasn’t the only way to make my voice heard.
Click here to see all the Chief Officer Awards finalists.
