Subject: Qualcomm CIO Mary Gendron on business-first leadership

A transformational leader explains why IT needs to lead with a business-first mindset

What a privilege to spend time with my latest guest on the CIO Whisperers podcast, Qualcomm SVP and CIO Mary Gendron. This month, Mary was recognized with the SoCal CIO of the Year Leadership ORBIE Award, and in this episode, you’ll see why that accolade is so well-deserved. Mary talks about her career as a transformational leader, moments of courage, being confident in what you know, and earning credibility with all stakeholders.


After the show wrapped, Mary shared some more stories from her career journey, her philosophy of business-first leadership, and what it means to be an innovative anticipator. Head over to my CIO Whisperers column for that bonus content.

Next Week on the Podcast

Tune in December 1 for our next Whisperers Wednesday, featuring Michelle Greene, SVP and CIO at Cardinal Health. Michelle spearheads IT strategy, execution and operations for the Fortune 14 health organization’s pharmaceutical segment.


I leave every conversation with Michelle having learned something new, and this one is no different. You’re going to pick up so many insights and practical takeaways from what I call her “Michelle-isms,” the leadership expressions she uses to teach and communicate. Don’t miss this lively discussion with another transformational and innovative leader.

We’re grateful for you!


In this season of gratitude, I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we appreciate you tuning in, spreading the word, and sharing your thoughts on the podcast. Thanks to you, we’re building incredible momentum for the #tech4good movement and helping leaders everywhere learn from the career journeys of the top CIOs in the world.


Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the CIO Whisperers Podcast!