Thinking About Leaving Gartner?

When's the last time you had a conversation with your Gartner EP that changed the way you think?

If you can't remember, it's time for a different kind of conversation.

Working with Michael over the past nine years has been transformative. His ability to elevate my strategic thinking and sharpen my IT vision has directly influenced how we align technology with business goals." — Todd, CIO, Large Food Services Manufacturer

Not every Gartner relationship has stopped delivering value. But for some CIOs, the model that once felt indispensable begins to feel less aligned with what they need now.

The issue is not whether Gartner has value. The issue is whether your current mix of access, advice, and cost still makes sense for the decisions in front of you. As the role gets broader and the stakes get higher, some leaders find they need a more direct, more candid, and more context-specific form of support.

And the timing matters. CIOs are facing more pressure to reduce IT spend than at any point in recent memory. Gartner ExP is one of the most conspicuous line items in that budget. If the relationship has become transactional - or if you’re burning political capital just to remain a Gartner buyer - this is exactly the moment to ask whether you’re getting that kind of value, or whether that spend could be used more wisely and in a more defensible way.

This is less about good or bad - and more about fit.

The traditional advisory model works well for some leaders, especially when broad access to research, standardized frameworks, and a large content library are the main priorities. For others, the real need is different: fewer generic inputs, more judgment, more challenge, and more time with someone who understands the specifics of their environment.

The question is not whether Gartner has value. It is whether the value you need today is the value you are buying.

Questions to ask yourself:

Impact

How often do you leave a conversation with your EP thinking differently about a problem - not just with more information?
When you look back at the last year, how many important decisions or outcomes can you clearly connect to that relationship

Fit

Is the support you are getting today matched to the stage you are at as a CIO, or closer to what you needed several years ago?
Has the amount of time and attention you receive changed over time - and in which direction?

Value

If you had to explain the ExP spend to a skeptical CEO or CFO, would you lead with specific outcomes or with access?
When you need an answer or a point of view, how often do you go to Gartner first - versus internal experts, peers, or AI tools?

If you feel like things have changed, you may not be alone. Maybe it's time to explore a new direction.

The AI Disruption

In the age of AI, many CIOs are rethinking what research access is actually worth

Gartner's core business model is built in part around access: access to research, access to analysts, and access to structured insight. That still has value. But AI has changed the baseline.

Questions that once required paid research can now often be answered in seconds. That does not eliminate the need for expert judgment. It raises the bar for what should count as premium value.

For many leaders, the most important need is no longer more information. It is better interpretation, sharper context, and more honest decision support.

That is where independent advisory can complement research access - or, in some cases, become the more valuable part of the mix

What I Bring From Gartner

I was not a typical Gartner EP. Here's what that means for you.

Before I tell you why I left, let me tell you what I built there.

I spent more than a decade as a Senior Executive Partner at Gartner. In my last seven years, I never had an annual client retention rate below 90% - and averaged 94%. Not because I was managing relationships. Because I was changing how people thought.

I created the coaching framework that was taught to every incoming Executive Partner worldwide - across every practice, not just IT. HR, marketing, finance, supply chain. The methodology I developed became the standard for how Gartner EPs engage with their clients.

I spoke at Gartner Symposium and CIO Leadership Forums consistently - and consistently received top ratings. Not because I had the best slides. Because the conversations that followed changed what leaders did next.

I tell you this not to impress you. I tell you this because if you're considering moving your advisory relationship, you should know exactly what you're getting. You're not getting someone who couldn't make it at Gartner. You're getting someone who was among their best - and chose to build something better.

Learn more about me.

Your Three Options

If you're a current Gartner ExP subscriber, you have three realistic options.

Option 1 - Drop to GITL (Gartner for IT Leaders) and hire Michael

Keep your Gartner research access and analyst calls. Drop the ExP advisory relationship - which, if we're honest, may no longer fit the demands of your role. The difference in cost between ExP and GITL and working with Michael can fund a new initiative you genuinely care about. You spend less and get more.

Option 2 - Leave Gartner altogether - AI has made research access largely commoditized anyway.

For many CIOs, GITL is more than sufficient - and for others, the custom GPT built for CxO Amplify clients covers the majority of research needs and is built into the basic subscription cost. If Gartner's research is no longer driving decisions in your organization, this option deserves an honest look.

Option 3 - Stay with ExP. There are legitimate reasons to maintain a full ExP subscription.

If you're navigating a major ERP or enterprise platform selection and need Gartner's contract pricing intelligence and vendor negotiation leverage - that is real and specific value that is difficult to replicate. If you need deep technical architecture guidance on a specific platform where their analyst bench is genuinely strong - that value exists. Some leaders simply like the status of having an ExP subscription. And if you're a Fortune 100 organization operating at the very leading edge of enterprise technology, Gartner's breadth and depth may be exactly what the scale requires.

Eyes open, it may still be worth it.

The difference between Options 1 and 3 is not loyalty. It's an honest assessment of what you're actually using - and what it's actually worth.

The Difference in Practice

How a CxO Amplify engagement compares to Gartner ExP - side by side.

A Direct Word

If you've been with Gartner for years and you're reading this - you already know.

You already know whether the relationship is working. The harder question is what you're going to do about it.

I spent more than a decade inside that system. I know exactly what it can deliver — and I know when a leader needs something different than what any large firm is structured to provide.

If you're ready for something different - a relationship where the depth is the point, where someone knows your specific situation, your team, your constraints, and your board - reach out. There is no pitch. Just a conversation.

And if after that conversation you decide ExP is still the right call - I'll tell you honestly if I think you're right.

Start with a Conversation →

"Michael O'Brien was more than an executive coach - he was a catalyst for deeper thinking and meaningful growth. He pushed me to look beyond the obvious and always made space for support when I struggled to find the right path."

Craig, CIO, P&C Insurance Company

Ready to Find Clarity?

Let's have a conversation about what's possible for you and your organization

703.629.4332

Michael@CxOAmplify.com

Start with a Conversation