James Shira is known for his visionary leadership, decisive execution, and deep expertise in driving transformative, enterprise-scale technology and cybersecurity initiatives across global organizations. As PwC’s US and Global CIO and CISO, he oversees a vast digital estate of over one million assets and leads a workforce spanning 149 countries. Since joining PwC in 2015 as Chief Information Security Officer, James established a world-class, centralized Information Security organization, the firm’s first truly global function of its kind. He implemented a comprehensive security strategy that resulted in visibility and control across PwC’s digital estate. Under his leadership, PwC advanced Zero Trust security capabilities, reduced threat detection times from months to hours, generated significant cost savings, and protected billions in annual revenue.
Promoted to US and Global CIO in 2019, James spearheaded a multi-year digital transformation that modernized PwC’s technology infrastructure through extensive cloud adoption and enterprise application modernization. He successfully led one of the world’s largest Microsoft 365 migrations, transitioning 370,000 users across PwC’s global network. James also pioneered the deployment of AI-enabled solutions, including PwC’s enterprise AI framework, ChatPwC, which earned him the 2025 CIO100 Award for AI innovation, and M365 Copilot, accelerating innovation while maintaining stringent security and compliance standards. With over 20 years of experience, James excels at solving complex challenges by integrating emerging technologies to advance business strategies and inspire high-performing teams.
Recently in an exclusive interview with CIO Magazine, James shared insights on his non-traditional path to becoming a CIO, the evolving role of technology in professional services, and the importance of inclusive leadership. He discussed his passion for driving strategic change, tackling complex challenges, empowering employees to reach their full potential, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi James. Please tell us about your background and areas of interest.
My journey to becoming a CIO didn’t follow the traditional tech path. I started college focused on finance and business. This was the mid-90s, during the leadup to the dot-com era. Technology was becoming increasingly integrated into the classroom, and I recognized its growing importance. While putting myself through college, I saved enough money to build my own computer. I confess that part of my motivation was to play video games, but I also began using it for school. These experiences ignited my interest in technology, leading me to incorporate tech into my degree.
Immediately after college, I entered the field of IT security, which at the time was often situated past the coffee machine, near the restrooms, or in the basement of most companies. Security wasn’t a major focus for me, but I saw it as an interesting and challenging field with long-term potential. I directed my career toward security, initially serving as a CISO and, about 13 years ago, began expanding my responsibilities beyond that role. Seven years ago, I assumed the role of CIO.
In my professional life, I’m passionate about driving strategic changes and tackling complex challenges. I believe helping an organization solve these problems is essential for both the company’s success and personal growth. Outside of work, my life revolves around family—I’ve been married for nearly 20 years and have two children. I also enjoy working out in my home gym and restoring vintage cars.
What do you love the most about your current role?
Honestly, being a leader is a unique privilege that I truly cherish and appreciate. What I love most is helping people reach their professional goals and creating an environment where they can really thrive and grow. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch someone start at one point in their career and, over the years, see them take on bigger roles. It’s fun. I also love the continuous learning that comes with being at the cutting edge of technological and technical change. It allows me to be a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, constantly exploring new areas and learning.
Lastly, I enjoy the satisfaction of making things happen. My dad was a mechanic who would come home from work and tell us stories about what he accomplished that day. His stories always had a beginning, middle and end, and he was always able to speak about the impact of his work. Doing what we do, I try to create that same tangibility where I can and make things happen. I like tangible results, and I strive to create a sense of accomplishment in my work.
How do you see the role of technology evolving in the professional services industry?
I think the role has already shifted significantly in the last three to four years. Traditionally, that role would have been very squarely in the back office, probably not unlike it is in many other industries — very important but back office. The way it’s shifted in our industry, it’s much more strategic, much more closely nested with the strategic direction of the firm and network, and much more operationally critical to the success or failure of our overall agenda. The pace and rate of change, the pressure on delivery, and the need for operational excellence – all these factors have shifted dramatically in the last several years, and it all started accelerating during the COVID pandemic.
What personal or professional philosophies have contributed to your success, and how have you applied these principles in your career?
I think that’s probably one of the harder questions that I’ve ever been asked in a forum like this. For me, as a security professional by background, I’ve always had a strong sense of principle-based decision making – do the right thing. I think a lot of security professionals would agree that doing the right thing is foundational to how a lot of us have operated in our careers. However, when you translate that philosophy into technology, I think it becomes a bit more complex, where decisions between alternative strategies, architectures and vendors can be much more subjective. For me, what I try to do is bring as much objectivity to strategic decision making to ensure we’re doing the right thing.
I also firmly believe that the foundation of any successful organization lies in the empowerment and support of its employees. So, I try to be mindful not only of leading based on principles but supporting the success of the people around me. I know I can’t get that right every single time for everyone that I work with, but I try to keep in mind that success is a collective effort. I try to support the careers of the people around me and inspire my leaders to embrace and champion this philosophy with their teams.
These philosophies – doing the right thing and empowering teamwork – have been instrumental in my career. They offer significant long-term benefits even if not immediately evident. I have seen firsthand how doing the right thing and empowering teams have contributed to the things I’ve accomplished. In fact, saying “I accomplished” feels wrong because the work we do is very much a team sport. I lead a very talented technology and security organization and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to inspire and support them in delivering a number of transformational projects that have enabled PwC to achieve its business goals.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
Absolutely, my mom has had a profound influence on my life. She was a special education teacher and always championed doing the right thing and treating others well. She set high standards for my sister and me, never allowing excuses for not reaching our potential. Her unwavering belief in me, even when I was younger and not always living up to my potential, was crucial to my growth and making me the human that I am today. As a parent, I try to live up to her standards and instill those same values in my own children.
How do you stay current with the latest developments in technology and cybersecurity?
Keeping up with the latest developments in tech and cybersecurity is a challenge, and I approach it with a good dose of humility. I can’t claim to know everything, but I do my best to stay informed through news, podcasts, and hands-on experimentation with new technologies like AI. I dive deeper into topics that are particularly relevant to my work, ensuring I’m ready to make informed strategic decisions. It’s all about prioritizing and focusing on what aligns with my professional goals and the needs of my organization.
What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do in your time off?
Outside of work, I find balance and stress relief through exercise. What started as a way to shed a few pounds has become something I genuinely enjoy. I also have a passion for mechanical work, thanks to my dad, who was a mechanic. I love spending time in the garage with my son, passing on the skills and knowledge I learned from my father.
Family time is a priority, and I am committed to making time for outdoor activities that don’t involve screens. It’s important to me that my kids get to experience the world beyond technology, getting their hands dirty and enjoying nature. I also sit on a couple of non-profit boards and find a lot of joy in helping these organizations achieve their mission.
Which technology are you investing in now to prepare for the future?
Currently, AI is a major focus, though I’ve also invested considerable time in cloud and data architecture. Our investments are driven by the needs of PwC and its member firms, ensuring we’re ready for whatever the future holds. The tech landscape is ever-changing, so staying ahead and being ready to seize new opportunities is crucial.
What is your biggest goal and where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
That’s a tough one! Professionally, my biggest goal is to coach and develop the next generation of leaders. I think about succession planning a lot and want to make sure our team is positioned for success and led by the best people in the future.
As for where I’ll be in five years, that’s less certain. I thrive on the challenge and complexity of large-scale transformations, motivated by the chance to achieve the seemingly impossible. I might take on another big transformation project that stretches my skills and keeps me on my toes. It’s about embracing challenges and seeing where they lead.
What advice would you give to young professionals looking to start a career in technology?
First off, congratulations on choosing a field with endless possibilities! Technology is everywhere and becoming more integral to every industry. My advice? Stay humble and remember that you can’t know everything—technology is vast and ever-evolving. Keep that curiosity alive and commit to continuous learning. Success in this field requires emotional resilience, as well as the ability to lead and adapt to change. If you focus on these qualities, you’ll find a world of opportunities waiting for you.