Karen W. Robinson, 2012 Honoree

- Title
- CIO, State of Texas, and executive director, Texas Department of Information Resources
- Employer
- State of Texas
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- New titles added to your IT organization?
- I added positions for chief administrative officer, chief operations officer and deputy CIO. This provided improved functional clarity for my direct reports and better rationalized shared services across all program areas.
- What characteristic is most important to you in an IT hire?
- Integrity. I look for this in all my hires, because IT is about thinking clearly when others can't, and having honest discussion about possibilities and impossibilities.
- Your relationship with a key business leader:
- My relationship with the chairman of the board is the most important relationship I have. The chairman is appointed by the governor and provides insight and guidance essential to keeping the department on the right path.