Executive trust is earned—here’s how Kurt Shriner earns it
Getting IT a seat at the table isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about speaking the right language. Kurt Shriner, VP of IT Infrastructure Management at Capital Bank, explains how mentorship from a CFO changed his approach—and why IT leaders need to tailor their message for every executive in the room.
Advocacy starts with fluency, not flash
- CFOs care about costs and ratios—not server specs. Kurt ties every proposal to OpEx, EBITDA, or risk mitigation.
- One-on-ones uncover hidden pain. Kurt meets with each department head regularly, surfacing issues before they become crises.
- Success is about relationships. His team earns trust by delivering quick wins and showing long-term value.
- Visibility builds credibility. His shared Asana roadmap shows who’s doing what, when, and why—backed by business metrics.
- IT becomes the go-to partner. Once Kurt’s team proved their value, they were invited into marketing, operations, and supply chain strategy.
“Once I start knocking other departments’ issues out of the park, I become a strategic business consultant to them. But none of that happens if I don’t foster those relationships with them.” – Kurt Shriner
Why this matters for your IT roadmap
If IT wants to escape the cost-center label, it has to advocate internally. That means understanding what matters to every stakeholder and framing outcomes in their terms. When IT earns executive trust, budget conversations shift from defense to momentum.
🎧 Learn more in the full episode: https://www.bigleaf.net/podcast-episodes/019-kurt-shriner/