CIO Mastermind: Building a Vendor-Free Tech Community

What if CIOs had a place to grow—without vendors, pitches, or fluff?

In this episode of The Heartbeat Podcast, host Mike Sommer sits down with Scott Smeester, founder of CIO Mastermind, a private, vendor-free community built to empower IT leaders with strategic clarity, peer support, and real-world leadership development.

Scott unpacks the four biggest gaps holding back tech execs—business acumen, strategic leadership, professional development, and executive communication—and how his Rising Stars Framework is helping CIOs evolve into high-impact business leaders.

You’ll also hear:
– Why the traditional consulting model is broken
– How AI is reshaping the CIO mandate
– What succession planning and human-centered leadership mean for IT’s future
– The power of curated, peer-led conversations in driving transformation

If you’re a tech leader ready to lead beyond the tech stack, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in now to rethink what it means to be a CIO in today’s enterprise.