Ghada Ijam, the chief information officer of the Federal Reserve System, was officially inducted into the CIO Hall of Fame on Aug. 16, according to a press release. The recognition took place during a ceremony held as part of the 2023 CIO 100 Symposium & Awards, which took place in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Established back in 1997, the CIO Hall of Fame annually shines a spotlight on a select group of IT leaders who have made substantial contributions and left a profound impact on the IT field, the integration of technology in business practices and the advancement of the CIO role itself. During this year's ceremony, Ijam was honored alongside a cohort of CIOs representing organizations such as Johnson & Johnson, Nationwide, Honeywell, Rackspace Technology and ServiceNow.
"I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. I also recognize that achieving this wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of my colleagues, teammates and dedicated tech professionals. This is truly a collaborative effort, and I am sincerely grateful for the privilege to lead and collaborate with such talented individuals," Ijam said, according to the release.
Since assuming her role as CIO in January 2020, Ijam has spearheaded a transformative journey encompassing digital innovation, cultural evolution and structural enhancements within the Federal Reserve System's technology domain. Her focus has been on fostering collaboration, promoting innovation and fostering greater diversity within the field. Operating from her office at the Richmond Fed, Ijam has overseen the technology and cybersecurity teams responsible for providing technological solutions and support to the entire Federal Reserve System. She also partners with technology leaders across all 12 Reserve Banks, in addition to national business lines, to shape the Fed's digital trajectory. Ijam initially joined the Federal Reserve in 2017 as the chief operating officer for National IT, the organization's technology unit.
With over two decades of experience as an IT leader, Ijam has a proven track record of delivering results through orchestrating complex initiatives, adopting a business-oriented approach to IT management and adhering to her core principles of integrity, inclusion and determination.
"Ghada has a remarkable ability to set forth a clear vision, strategy and objectives that inspire her teams to achieve remarkable results. Yet, her contributions extend beyond this role. She also leads the Fed's Women in Technology Group and remains dedicated to supporting the local community by collaborating with organizations like Goodwill," Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Richmond Fed, said.
