Our Community
Our Mission
The Technology Leaders Association (TLA) delivers career advantages for Chicago IT leaders through trusted intelligence and purposeful connections.
Who We Serve
TLA is open to IT leaders at the Senior Manager level and above across the Chicagoland area. This includes Directors, VPs, CIOs, and equivalent roles in organizations of all sizes. We also welcome practitioners with operational or delivery leadership responsibility, those who manage teams, budgets, or technology strategy.
Consultants and business development professionals are considered on a case-by-case basis to maintain the right community balance. Our goal is simple: a network where every member can both give and receive meaningful value.
Why Members Join
Our community serves two groups equally well.
Employed leaders use the network to build and maintain senior relationships and stay current on the market.
Members in transition use the network to access job market intelligence, curated opportunities, and relationships built on reciprocity.
The TLA community captured this reality for over 20 years with a simple truth: you are always in transition. Sometimes you are getting a paycheck.
Member Benefits
What distinguishes this community from a typical networking group is simple: structured access to intelligence, opportunities, and relationships that help move careers forward.
- Monthly networking events. Structured monthly meetings combine purposeful networking with job market intelligence. Featured speakers cover topics relevant to job search, career development, and IT leadership. No vendor pitches.
- Job market intelligence. Receive curated market insights from executive search partners actively working the Chicago IT leadership market.
- Job Postings. Access curated IT leadership opportunities sourced from member organizations and executive search partners serving the Chicago market.
- Member directory. Connect with a network of senior IT leaders across Chicagoland who are actively helping each other.
Membership Criteria
We evaluate applications based on role, responsibility, and fit, not just title.
- Senior Manager, Director, VP, CIO, or equivalent IT leadership role
- Current or recent experience leading technology teams, budgets, or strategy
- Practitioner background in delivery, operations, architecture, infrastructure, or security
- Open to both employed leaders and those in career transition
Non-practitioner roles (recruiting, sales, consulting without delivery responsibility) are reviewed by committee to preserve the practitioner-to-non-practitioner balance that makes this community work.
How to Join
Apply online with your current resume. Referrals from existing members are welcomed but not required. Applications are reviewed within 5 business days.
Our Commitment
Membership is free. There are no fees to join and no financial interest embedded in connecting members. This is IT leaders helping IT leaders.
If this community fits your experience and your willingness to contribute, apply today.