IT is not an Order Taker Anymore

My 13-year-old son has recently started expressing what he thinks instead of simply doing what he’s told.

As a parent, I’ll admit that it’s becoming challenging. But it’s also a reminder that finding your own voice is part of growing up.

It got me thinking about the professional world.

For a long time, IT in life sciences was often viewed as an order-taking function. The business decided what it wanted, and IT figured out how to deliver it.

But the world has changed.

With AI, automation, data, and technology evolving faster than ever, there is an incredible opportunity for technology leaders to drive real business transformation. Not by taking orders, but by helping shape strategy, challenging assumptions, and identifying possibilities the business may not even see yet.

The companies that will win over the next decade won’t be the ones that simply adopt AI. They’ll be the ones with leaders who have the courage to think differently, speak up, and turn technology into a competitive advantage.

Sometimes progress starts by respectfully asking, “Why are we doing it this way?”

That’s true for a 13-year-old. And it’s true for leaders.