GET A DEMO

Transforming IT from a Cost Center to a Growth Enabler with Kurt Shriner

  • cost center, executive advocacy, growth enabler, IT leadership, kurt shriner, podcast, psychological safety, talent retention, team culture, technology roadmap
Kurt Shriner explains how to turn IT from a cost center into a growth engine using safety, visibility, and strategy.

IT can be more than support—it can be strategy.

Kurt Shriner, believes transforming IT from a cost center to a growth enabler starts with one thing: visibility.  He believes the most impactful IT teams don’t just fix problems—they drive growth. As Vice President of IT Infrastructure Management at Capital Bank, Kurt has made it his mission to show how IT can contribute to revenue, retention, and strategic decision-making—not just support tickets.

In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection, he shares how IT leaders can shift how their teams are seen—by publishing roadmaps, protecting team focus, and speaking each executive’s language.

Transforming IT from a cost center to a growth enabler starts inside your org

  • Make strategy visible. Kurt’s 18-month roadmap lives in Asana and links every initiative to a strategic business goal. It’s not just a tracker—it’s a negotiation tool.
  • Protect engineer bandwidth. By routing all support requests through himself, Kurt keeps his team focused and avoids constant context-switching.
  • Invest in safety. Regular check-ins and trust-building help engineers surface blockers early—before they become budget-busting delays.
  • Translate value. Whether he’s talking to Finance or Sales, Kurt adapts his message to show how IT reduces risk, drives revenue, or improves customer experience.
  • Mentor for growth. His goal isn’t to keep engineers forever—it’s to help them grow into the leaders they’re meant to be.

“When I talk about transforming IT into a growth enabler, I’m not saying we stop break-fix. We still keep the lights on. I’m looking for value-add that proves we’re more important to the business than before.” – Kurt Shriner

Why transforming IT from a cost center to a growth enabler matters

When leaders view IT as overhead, they cut it first. Kurt Shriner proves that with the right mindset, transparency, and internal advocacy, IT can earn a seat at the strategy table—and stay there.

Want to see what it looks like in practice? Listen to the full episode and learn how Kurt turned infrastructure into influence.

🎧 Read more or listen now: https://www.bigleaf.net/podcast-episodes/019-kurt-shriner/

Related Links