7 challenges IT leaders will face in 2026

CIO Magazine highlights the growing shortage of skilled tech talent — the top challenge CIOs expect to face this year — and points to skills‑first hiring as a leading solution. Washington Trust CTO Daryl Clark shares how the company has built a strong IT pipeline through its long‑standing partnership with Year Up United, noting that seven current IT employees began as Year Up United interns, including one now serving as an assistant vice president. The feature underscores how Year Up United’s training model prepares young adults with the skills employers need, and how sustained partnerships like Washington Trust’s consistently deliver job‑ready, high‑impact talent.