In a world where technology is no longer a support function but the beating heart of every enterprise, the role of the Chief Information Officer has evolved into something far more powerful. At the 2025 ORBIE Awards in Atlanta, this transformation was on full display. The event didn’t just honor IT leaders—it celebrated the architects of digital reinvention.
From energy giants to global financial institutions, the spotlight fell on CIOs who’ve turned complexity into clarity and disruption into opportunity. Southern Company’s tech chief was recognized for leading a sweeping modernization of the energy grid, integrating AI and cybersecurity into the very infrastructure that powers millions of homes. At Equifax, the CIO’s work in rebuilding trust through real-time analytics and transparent data systems stood as a model for resilience in the face of scrutiny.
Cox Enterprises, with its sprawling media and automotive divisions, earned praise for its bold leap into cloud-native architecture and automation—accelerating product rollouts and transforming customer experience. Meanwhile, AGCO Corporation’s CIO was honored for bringing precision farming and IoT connectivity to the global agricultural stage, proving that innovation isn’t confined to Silicon Valley.
The awards spanned eight categories, from Super Global to Public Sector, and each winner was chosen by a jury of peers—previous ORBIE recipients who understand the weight of leading digital transformation. Their selections reflected not just technical excellence, but emotional intelligence, strategic foresight, and the ability to inspire change across entire organizations.
More than a ceremony, the ORBIE Awards served as a reminder: CIOs are no longer backstage operators. They are digital commanders, steering their companies through the fog of uncertainty with vision, agility, and grit. In 2025, the message was clear—technology leadership is business leadership. And the future belongs to those who dare to lead it.