In this podcast series, Toby Redshaw, CIO of Aviva, discusses with Brian Gillooly, Editor-in-Chief, Events at InformationWeek and Smart Enterprise Exchange, the changing role of the IT executive. They examine how new skills and experience are needed to enhance the CIO's leadership role in the  organization. Improved business acumen is a necessity, but ingenuity, an appetite for the appropriate amount of risk, and agility are the differentiators that are shaping the IT leaders of the future.

Part One: In this first part, Toby Redshaw explains why this is a great time for businesses to take advantage of new IT tools to move  them ahead. His advice? "Field a team,  build a strategy."

Part Two will focus on how to respond when the business expects more from IT than ever before. CIOs must be able to respond, says Toby Redshaw, and  new conversations are taking place about how Web 2.0 tools can serve internal business users as well as customers.

Part Three: What are the key skills CIOs need to hone? Industry knowledge, business process expertise, communications and high energy top the list, according to Toby Redshaw. He also encourages aspiring IT executives to be service-oriented and to broaden their professional networks.