Tanya Whiteing: Leadership Tips for Technology

Keys to Success: Teams, Tenacity, and Staying True to Yourself

Tanya Whiteing is the Chief Information Officer at Indara Digital Infrastructure, bringing over 25 years of experience in Information Systems and Technology. She has built a career that spans both consulting and corporate leadership, including senior roles at Boral and George Weston Foods. Throughout her career, Tanya has led high-performing teams, managed complex environments, and fostered cultures where people can thrive and deliver meaningful impact.

Her foundation in both technical expertise and strategic leadership, combined with her commitment to authenticity and personal growth, has underpinned her success across multiple industries. Tanya holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of New South Wales and is a qualified CPA.

What factors do you think have been critical to the success you have achieved in your career?

Any success I’ve had isn’t mine alone, especially as my roles have become more leadership-orientated. I’ve been fortunate to work with and lead excellent teams of intelligent, fun, and genuinely good people. Working well together creates an environment that encourages learning, growth, and shared success. Focusing on the people around me has also helped keep me grounded.

Growing up, the mantra “actions speak louder than words” really stuck with me. You need to be able to demonstrate results. That idea was reinforced recently when I came across a LinkedIn article quoting Barack Obama’s advice to young professionals: “Learn how to get stuff done.”

Looking back, I can’t recall ever saying ‘no’ to an opportunity—even when it wasn’t something I was initially excited about. Being open, showing up, and consistently delivering have helped me get noticed, opened doors, and added to my toolkit of experiences.

Lastly, I’ve always tried to be myself, even when I felt lonely or vulnerable. As I’ve matured, embracing my authentic self has helped me find purpose, align with my values, and, importantly, have fun along the way.

What is the most valuable advice you’ve received in your career, and how did it help you?

Over half of my career has been in consulting, where progression is typically well-defined. You know what the next level looks like and what you must do to get there.

But when I moved into my first corporate role, that clarity disappeared. That’s when a mentor offered advice that stuck with me: “Careers are full of elevators and escalators.”

Sometimes, your career will move like an elevator – with direct promotions, straight up. Other times, you’ll find yourself on an escalator, still moving forward, but in a different way. That mindset shift helped me see that not all career progress is vertical and that every role and experience contributes to your broader development.

What was the most challenging situation you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

After working in the USA, I took a career break to focus on my family. When I returned nearly four years later, I also navigated life as a newly divorced single parent of three young children.

The biggest challenge wasn’t the learning curve of returning to work; it was balancing work and family life. What got me through was support and lots of it.

I prioritised my children and made sure I had a strong, dependable support system around them. Knowing they were okay gave me the space to focus on my work. On the professional side, I was also open with my line manager about my personal situation, which helped me access the flexibility I needed.

Looking back, I never felt unsupported at work, and somehow, it all worked out.

If you were starting your career now, what would you do differently?

I don’t regret any of my career choices, but if I had the chance to start over, I would have engaged an executive coach earlier and more consistently.

Coaching has been invaluable to me; it’s helped me gain clarity, reflect on my passions, and build confidence. Having someone push you out of your comfort zone and question your assumptions is extremely powerful.

Investing in coaching earlier allowed me to navigate career changes with greater purpose and consistently focus on personal development rather than just professional advancement.

Tanya Whiteing’s story is one of resilience, authenticity, and people-first leadership. From consulting to corporate CIO roles, she’s shown that success is about more than technical skill—it’s about getting things done, supporting others, and staying true to yourself.