You're faced with an IT Strategy interview. How can you showcase your problem-solving skills effectively?

Creo que es importante basado en la experiencia, donde se puedan dar ejemplos en los que se hayan resuelto problemas en base a comunicación interna y externa, negociación y cambio en la mentalidad de los equipos de trabajo en donde se enfoque el pensamiento hacia el ganar-ganar

Demonstrate problem-solving skills: Be ready with examples of how you've solved technical problems in the past. Walk the interviewer through your thought process. Show adaptability: Discuss instances where you've quickly learned new technologies or adapted to changing project requirements. Emphasize soft skills: Don't neglect non-technical skills like teamwork, leadership, or project management. These are often

Know what is important to the interviewer (cost control, innovation, time to market, even keeping the lights on). Follow-up with the tools/frameworks noted here, and there are several more, but know that an IT strategy is more than the tools/frameworks and that delivering tangible results is what is important Then as noted by others, show your problem-solving skills through your stories. "I took over a twice abandoned project and delivered it in 60% of the time and budget allocated... I've saved my organizations $100M+ by focusing on... I've taken over a project portfolio delivering 40% on time and got it to 99%...", etc. Then tie that experience to the challenges you believe that organization faces.

As an IT leader, demonstrating deep technical and business knowledge is crucial when discussing IT strategy in an interview. Start by highlighting your expertise in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and digital transformation. Discuss how these align with the business's goals, for example, by leveraging AI or automation to optimize processes. Articulating complex IT concepts to non-technical stakeholders showcases not only your technical skills but also your strategic mindset. Tailoring insights to the company’s needs solidifies your credibility as a problem-solver.

In addition to mastering core frameworks, make sure you're up-to-date on emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity trends relevant to the company’s industry. This shows that you’re not only grounded in foundational methodologies but also forward-thinking. Tailor your responses by aligning your knowledge with business outcomes, like improving operational efficiency or driving innovation. Highlight your ability to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business strategy, which is key to IT leadership.

As much as possible, you will want to be prepare for a few different stories and share these during the interview. Remember no two IT strategies are the identical; therefore if you can share different stories, it will showcase your ability to handle different problems and are flexible in your resolution approach. You will want to share personal stories and not theories. Remember it is the first time the interviewer is hearing your experience, therefore you will need to provide the context, the challenge, your thinking process, how you communicate and ultimately the success.

These stories need to be relevant, concise (you have limited time in the interview) and show your skills/value You should have three 'go to' stories that if questioned, you can go into deep detail on and show it was you that did the key thinking or work. You can also frame your stories as a question themselves, such as "Which of these would you like to know more about, Story 1, Story 2, Story 3? so you allow the interviewer to select the most relevant

Real-world examples are powerful tools in showcasing your problem-solving skills. Discussing past projects where you’ve successfully navigated challenges helps the interviewer envision you in action. For instance, share a story where you led a digital transformation project, addressing key hurdles like team buy-in, budget constraints, or outdated legacy systems. Detail the steps you took to resolve these issues and the impact your solution had on the organization. By framing your experience in terms of challenges, solutions, and outcomes, you demonstrate your practical approach to IT strategy and provide evidence of your ability to solve complex problems.

Along with the STAR technique, focus on stories that emphasize long-term impact and scalability of your solutions. Highlight instances where your strategic decisions resulted in lasting improvements, such as reducing downtime, optimizing resources, or driving digital transformation. Tailor your examples to reflect the company's specific industry challenges. This not only showcases your problem-solving skills but also your ability to implement sustainable IT solutions that align with broader business goals, adding a layer of strategic depth to your story.

I ran into this at a Microsoft interview where they questioned me about being in front of a CIO and how I would address a problem with a Microsoft product. The goal of the exercise was to see if i considered the CIO's needs, did my best to present Microsoft is a positive light, and still addressed the issue head-on. Expect this type of question as this applies to the 'why are manhole covers round, how many ping pong balls will fit into an airplane, etc. type questions, where the thought process is as or more important than the 'answer'. Know your thinking style and prepare for this type of question.

When tackling hypothetical scenarios during an interview, it’s crucial to verbalize your thought process. Walking the interviewer through your approach to a problem not only shows your technical expertise but also your strategic thinking. Start by breaking down the problem, identifying potential risks and impacts, and considering the business’s broader objectives. Discuss various approaches you might take, weighing the pros and cons of each before arriving at a solution. This approach highlights your methodical and logical problem-solving style. It also shows that you consider multiple perspectives, including stakeholder needs, time constraints, and resource availability, when crafting IT strategies.

As I think aloud, I would make sure to highlight how I use frameworks to guide my decisions, like TOGAF for architecture or ITIL for service management. I’d walk through how I prioritize solutions based on business impact—for instance, explaining how one option reduces operational risk or delivers higher ROI. By vocalizing my thought process and reasoning through trade-offs, I’ll be able to show my ability to think critically under pressure while staying focused on aligning IT strategy with overall business goals.

I would argue the premise here a bit. Adapting to change is a tactical response, and I would suggest a small part of developing an IT strategy. I would focus on pivoting tactically (Oracle versus SQL versus MySQL or Hadoop, etc.) but remaining true to the strategy. The strategy is ensuring data is accurate, available, relevant, cost-effective, and secure (regardless of tool) and the tactical choice of product can be variable because most any data storage/retrieval tool can be made to meet those strategic requirements. This way you can tailor your answers because interviewers will prize some requirements above others, and you can show you can hold to a strategy and be flexible with the specific solution

Adaptability is key in today’s fast-evolving IT landscape. When discussing problem-solving, emphasize your ability to pivot and adjust strategies based on new information or changing business requirements. Provide examples where you’ve had to shift gears due to unforeseen circumstances, like evolving cybersecurity threats or sudden shifts in market demands. Your willingness to embrace new technologies, re-evaluate your decisions, and adjust your course of action underlines your flexibility. Companies value IT leaders who can remain agile, finding innovative solutions when the original plan needs revising while maintaining a clear focus on long-term goals.

I always emphasize adaptability by sharing examples where I had to pivot due to changing priorities or unexpected issues. I explain how I reevaluated the situation, gathered new data, and modified the strategy to still meet core objectives. For instance, I might describe how a project shifted from on-premises to cloud deployment due to budget constraints and how I ensured a smooth transition. This shows not only my flexibility but also my ability to stay focused on outcomes despite evolving circumstances.

This is a critical skill as you should be able to show that you can offer a strong strategy, include individuals and teams across an organization (including outside of IT) and still build a consensus for the value proposition of your proposed solution. I remember working for Microsoft and on day 2 of reporting to a Fortune 50 company's CIO I was asked what software to use for firewalls. My first words were "Not Windows..." This may have jeopardized a sale, but after walking through the logic, I recommended Linux because at the time, you could lock it down in ways Windows couldn't do. The credibility I gained from proposing the 'enemy's' product made it so the CIO invited me into meetings I would have never been invited to.

Problem-solving in IT strategy doesn’t happen in isolation, and it’s essential to highlight your ability to collaborate effectively. Discuss how you work cross-functionally with other departments like finance, operations, and marketing to develop comprehensive solutions that support the organization’s objectives. Describe a situation where collaboration was key to overcoming a significant challenge, demonstrating your leadership in driving alignment across teams. Effective communication, empathy, and conflict resolution are all important aspects of collaboration that showcase your ability to bring people together to solve complex problems. This approach ensures that the solutions you propose are sustainable and widely accepted.

When discussing collaboration, I highlight examples where teamwork was critical to solving complex IT challenges. I focus on how I facilitated open communication, bringing together diverse perspectives from stakeholders like developers, business leaders, and vendors. I explain how I ensured everyone had a voice, while steering the group toward a shared solution. For example, during a major system upgrade, I coordinated between IT and operations to align technical and business goals, showcasing how collaboration leads to more effective outcomes.

Every IT leader has faced setbacks, but it’s how you respond to them that truly defines your problem-solving abilities. Sharing an experience where a strategy didn’t go as planned demonstrates humility and self-awareness. More importantly, focus on how you analyzed the failure, identified the root cause, and took corrective actions to prevent similar issues in the future. This reflection shows that you don’t just solve problems — you learn from them. Highlighting your ability to turn failures into learning opportunities conveys resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement, which are highly valued traits in any leadership role.