Misgana Tesfaye

About Misgana Tesfaye

I am a futuristic, innovative, and collaborative technology leader with 20+ years of experience modernizing IT, driving digital transformation, and managing enterprise-scale budgets and teams. My leadership style is grounded in integrity, empathy, and ethical decision-making, while delivering measurable results in state government and beyond. I take a deliberative and organized approach to strategy, governance, and operations, building joyful, high-performing teams that thrive on collaboration.With an MBA from the University of Colorado, a Harvard Business School certificate in Organizational Leadership, and Scrum Master certification, I bring both technical and organizational expertise. My goal is to transform complex IT environments into platforms that improve people’s lives and strengthen public trust.

Experience

1. Chief Information Officer

   Colorado Judicial Branch

   Nov 2025 — Present · Denver, CO, US

   As the Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology Services (ITS) for the Colorado Judicial Branch, I lead the ITS Division in supporting the strategic direction and daily operations of the Judicial Department. Operating as a Servant Leader, I am dedicated to empowering our team to provide the technological foundation necessary to ensure equal access to justice.Strategic Planning: Establishing the goals and priorities for the ITS Division while assisting the State Court Administrator in the overall strategic direction of the Department.Technological Oversight: Prioritizing technology initiatives and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of both current and future systems to achieve business goals.Policy & Security: Developing and implementing comprehensive IT policies, including those for information security, statewide disaster recovery, and system delivery.Financial Stewardship: Overseeing the departmental technology budget and presenting justifications for budgetary items to ensure the achievement of departmental goals.Stakeholder Collaboration: Promoting strategic relationships with external entities, including state and local agencies, the General Assembly, vendors, and the public.Team Leadership: Building and mentoring high-performing management teams within the ITS Division, focusing on recruitment, coaching, and professional development.

Education

• Overland High School - Aurora, Colorado, USA

  Diploma

  1992 — 1996

• University of Colorado Denver

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Dual Major: Accounting & Finance

  1996 — 2001

• University of Colorado Denver

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

  2003 — 2007

• Harvard Business School Online

  Certificate in Organizational Leadership

  2024 — 2024

Skills

• Program Management
• Research
• Management
• Team Building
• Budgeting
• Sales Tax
• Data Analysis
• Tax
• Strategic Planning
• Employee Relations
• Leadership Development
• Public Speaking
• Change Management
• Business Strategy
• Use Tax
• Organizational Development
• Payroll
• Analysis
• Internal Controls
• Policy
• Auditing
• Business Analysis
• Corporate Tax
• General Ledger
• Budgets
• Internal Audit
• Public Policy
• Process Improvement