From Crisis to Transformation: Chirag Arora’s IT Journey
For Chirag Arora, Head of Solutions at Kyndryl ANZ and proud ACS NSW Member, IT is about enabling organisations to achieve their boldest goals. Leading technical solutioning across industries from finance to energy, Chirag designs operating models and technology strategies that bring together cloud, AI, mainframe, and cybersecurity to power complex transformations. His journey began with a high-stakes data centre migration, where quick problem-solving saved the day for a CIO — an early lesson that IT expertise is as much about mindset as it is about technology.
1. What area of IT do you specialise in? How does your role quietly keep your organisation running smoothly?
Kyndryl is a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services. In Australia, we run and transform the IT operations of large financial services institutions, public sector agencies, energy companies and beyond. Leading the technical solutioning team, I specialise in designing technology, operating model, and commercial solutions that enable our customers to undertake large-scale, complex IT transformations. This allows our customers to run smoothly by helping them achieve their business objectives through executable and transformative IT solutions that bring together critical technologies including cloud, AI, mainframe and cybersecurity.
2. What is one IT myth you wish you could debunk to the rest of the world?
That “technology is a solution for everything.” Technology is an important tool and enabler, but it is not the one-size-fits-all, magic wand that people often think it is. Of course, technology can help to drive impactful results, but only when combined with the right mindset, people, processes and culture.
3. What’s one IT win you’re proud of that most people wouldn’t know happened behind the scenes? What’s a moment where your expertise saved the day?
In my first job I was assisting with a complex migration of an IT environment from one data centre to another for a global company. On the morning of the first business day after the migration, the corporate headquarters’ systems went down. It was 5 minutes to 9am, and I was able to quickly identify and fix the cause, saving the day for the CIO. That taught me that expertise is more than understanding the technology, it’s about mindset and following logic of elimination to problem-solve. As a graduate just out of university, it was a proud moment for me.
4. Which qualities / skills make a great IT professional?
People often think that you need to understand the ins and outs of technology to become a great IT professional, when in fact having the right soft skills is just as important. Technology can be learnt and it’s always evolving. Having qualities such curiosity, empathy, an openness to listen and attention to detail will go a long way for IT professionals to stay adaptable in a fast-changing environment, making them invaluable beyond just technical expertise.
5. Who is your IT hero (tech, system, robot or person)?
Tony Stark… he embodies a perfect combination of technical brilliance, innovation, and problem-solving.
IT Professionals Day 2025 celebrates the vital contributions of IT experts who keep systems secure, reliable, and innovative. Often working behind the scenes, they are the unsung heroes ensuring business continuity, digital progress, and user support. The day recognises their expertise, resilience, and the critical role they play in society.