The 7 Make or Break Challenges

Facing IT Leaders in 2026

COMMENTARY                                  

By Archana Choudhary

India & USA

It’s February 2026, and if you are like me, you’re already deep in Q1 execution. AI agents are no longer in experiments, they’re in production. According to Gartner’s 2026 CIO and Technology Executive Survey, 94% of CIOs expect major changes to their plans and outcomes within the next 24 months, yet only 48% of digital initiatives meet or exceed business targets. Refer: The CIO Agenda 2026: Master Agility, Risk and Tenacity

I see repeatedly 7 challenges derailing or elevating leaders. I’ll walk through each one, why it’s make or break, and most importantly what the best organizations I know are doing about it.

Challenge 1: The Widening Talent and Skill Gap (especially in AI, Cloud and Cyber security)

As an IT Leader, I wake up every day knowing that our most ambitious plans hinge on one irreplaceable factor: People. Whether it’s rolling out critical migration workload, transformative AI initiatives or creating defense against increasingly cyber threats. None of the systems can truly secure without the right talent.

Reports from 2025 and projections into 2026 shows that skill gaps in AI, machine learning, cloud security, and cyber security affect nearly 9 out of 10 organizations. AI and machine learning consistently top the list of hardest-to-fill skill areas with cybersecurity close behind. They are often cited as the most pressing need by over 40% of cyber security professionals in surveys like the ISC2 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Refer: 2025 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study

Globally, the cybersecurity talent gap alone is estimated at around 4.8 million unfilled roles, while broader IT skills shortages could cost the global economy trillions in delayed projects, missed opportunities, and lost competitiveness by 2026. In my own experience, this gap doesn’t just slow us down; it forces tough trade-offs. Over half of IT leaders (including many I’ve spoken with in industry forums) report that staffing and skills shortages steal significant time from strategic work and innovation.

Why is this make-or-break in 2026?

More…

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How to cite this work: Choudhary, A. (2026). The 7 Make or Break Challenges Facing IT Leaders in 2026; PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue III, March. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pmwj162-Mar2026-Choudhary-7-make-or-break-challenges-in-2026.pdf

About the Author

Archana Choudhary

Florida, USA

Archana Choudhary is Vice President at Deutsche Bank, with over 20 years of experience in IT project management. She is recognized expert in strategy execution, PMO leadership, and project portfolio management having led complex initiatives including bank acquisitions and mergers, as well as Agile transformations that unified siloed teams and stabilized fluctuating priorities under robust PMO structures.

A frequent speaker, author, and PMP mentor, Archana has contributed to PMI global standards and delivered presentations at various PMI chapters, including Dallas, Carolina, North East Florida, Miami Conference, Global Summit, Agile Asia Pacific symposium, among others.

She is an award-winning project management professional, honored at various platforms like Women in Tech as Global Technology Leader, PMI Phoenix. Recognized for leadership excellence, influence and strengthening professional PM communities, contributing to advancing women in project management.

Archana also serves as a judge for prestigious international awards, including PMI PMO Awards, startups and is regarded as a thought leader in the field. She can be contacted at www.linkedin.com/in/archana-choudhary-690875b0