Grant, our Chief Architect Forum (CAF) chair will welcome us to the conference, introduce the CAF and walk us through the day’s agenda before opening with his topic to ground us on “What is a Chief Architect and how do I become one?” Let’s dig into the misconceptions and the realities of the role of the Chief Architect. We’ll talk about what is required to perform the role in terms of culture, people and technology leadership and the types of challenges that land with the Chief Architect of an organization. Where does a Chief Architect need to focus upwards, laterally and downward in the organization? What forums are important to create and join? We’ll also cover the various architect roles and some tips to navigate towards obtaining these interesting positions!