Ep. 61: Ernesto Boada, From Colombia to CIO, Building Without Fear and Leadership Through Change

In this episode of Next In Line, we sit down with Ernesto Boada, Chief Information Officer at CPI Card Group, whose journey into leadership is anything but traditional. From growing up in Colombia to moving to the U.S. with just two suitcases, Ernesto shares how persistence, curiosity, and a no fear mindset helped him break into tech and build a career that led to the C-suite. We talk through his early days at Accenture, learning from the ground up, and how saying yes to opportunities (even making copies and driving executives) ultimately changed the trajectory of his career.

Ernesto also dives into:

• What it really takes to step into a CIO role for the first time

• Why trust and transparency matter more than technical skill

• How AI is reshaping the workplace and why teams need to embrace it now

• The importance of continuous learning in a fast changing world

• Advice for the next generation trying to break into tech This episode is all about resilience, growth, and figuring it out as you go.