"The ability to facilitate vendor options in tandem with internal   options with objectivity is critical to becoming a trusted advisor to the end user community"

Dele Oladapo
VP & CIO HR,Law and Compliance
Prudential Financial

Oladapo is responsible for implementing technology strategy and delivering information technology services such as governance, architecture, systems automation and end user experience. In addition, Oladapo is an executive sponsor of Workforce Oportunity Services, a nonprofit 501©(3) organization that partners with Prudential on the VETalent Program, a training and hiring program that prepares military veterans for new careers in information technology and business operations. The organization also works with Prudential to help prepare Newark youth for IT careers. Previously, Oladapo was a vice president, Information Systems, in Corporate Technology Management, where he led a global team of specialists that provided software connectivity for mission critical platforms in trading and call center applications. He also was involved in the company’s demutualization, the Prudential of Japan/Gibraltar data center migration, and business continuation technology planning efforts. Dele also has experience in implementing policy administration technology, customer relationship technology, service delivery technology, financial systems, business continuation architecture and infrastructure and other distributed platforms. He became CIO of LCBE in 2010 and CIO of Human Resources in 2013. Prior to joining Prudential in 1997, Oladapo worked at Bankers Trust Company, Salomon Brothers Inc., Chase Manhattan Bank and United Technologies. Oladapo has a BS degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University and an MBA degree from Columbia University. He is a member of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum. From 2009 to 2011, Oladapo was co-chair of Black Leadership Forum, a business resource group at Prudential, and is currently the executive
advisor of its Information Technology Committee.
 

Challenges in technology to meet enterprise needs in 2013 and expectations

The ability to buy or build cost-effective solutions that deliver strategic value was a specific area of focus that requires a robust working relationship between the business and information technology. The key to successfully driving a ‘buy vs. build’ effort is to showcase benefits to the business and IT teams. From a business perspective, the ability to facilitate vendor options in tandem with internal options with objectivity is critical to becoming a trusted advisor to the end user community. From an IT perspective, highlighting the importance of integrating state of-theart packages as well as developing in-house systems are choices that need to be based upon time to market and business need. Examples of third party implementations include functions such as pre-clearance on stock purchases, e-mail surveillance and e-billing to outside counsel. Inhouse development projects include Gift & Entertainment and anti-bribery/anti-corruption systems.

The areas in business environment where solutions do not yet exist or not up to the mark, and which if existed, would've made job easier

Requirements definition and change management to requirements are on my wish list. A user friendly and intuitive solution that effectively produces functional requirements and assists in the scope creep, associated with unmanaged change would improve the experience for both the business and the information technology organization. I doubt that this challenge is unique to the financial services industry, but would be a welcomed solution, nonetheless.

Technology trends impacting enterprise business environment

Social media has changed the user’s expectation for collaboration. In the past year, Prudential’s Law, Compliance, Business Ethics & External Affairs Department implemented a new Intranet experience that includes social collaboration via online communities and blogging. The new social capabilities facilitate two-way dialogue between subject matter experts/senior management and the others in the department. There has also been a steady adoption of corporate e-mail accessibility on iPhones/iPads and Androids via Good Technology.