Making IT Make Sense: How Tech Leaders Can Educate the Business Without Losing the Room

Brent Mark has worn a lot of hats in his life: traveling military serviceman, newspaper delivery driver, pizza maker, Walmart employee, CIO, and now VP of IT Business Services for Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. But if there’s one thread that runs through his story, it’s been hard work, building trust, and staying the course.

Mark didn’t set out to be an IT leader. In fact, he stumbled into tech while working at a truck stop, where he helped a stumped technician troubleshoot an interface system. That one moment snowballed into a career that’s led him to “the best job” he’s ever had. But it wasn’t just technical skill that got him here, it was hustle, grit, and a commitment to making technology understandable to the people it affects most.

Knowing the Room and Reading It Right

One of the biggest challenges for any IT leader isn’t the tech–it’s people’s understanding of the tech. Especially when those people don’t speak “IT.”

Mark learned early on that throwing jargon into a meeting doesn’t win trust. It loses the room. “I don’t need to impress anybody with big words or technology terms,” he says. Instead of using hard-to-remember acronyms, Mark relies on analogies to get his point across. “I cannot tell you how many ‘houses’ I’ve built,” he goes on to say, describing how building a house is his go-to analogy. “If it's a complex problem, break it into that analogy and get them on that same page of where we're at with the process.”  

With a variety of different backgrounds and levels of understanding in a company, it’s easy to forget how overwhelming technical language can be to those outside the bubble. That’s why Mark starts by identifying his audience. Talking to those in finance? Focus on proof points and data. Chatting with those in marketing? Focus on the story. In other words, learn the person’s communication style and meet them where they’re at.

And when he's addressing mixed groups? He makes sure everyone gets on the same page before moving forward. “It’s so much easier if you simplify and get to the core,” Mark says. He goes on to say that, while there are people who need to know certain levels of detail, not everyone needs the same deep dive. 

Trust, Not Tech, Is the Real Currency

For Mark, building trust isn’t just an afterthought, it’s the goal. “You’ve got to have trust. That trust is built in consistency and transparency,” he states.

For the rare moments when broken-down concepts and analogies don’t register with an audience, Mark says trust is what it comes down to. That’s when he enters “Hero Mode,” which is all about planning, communicating, coordinating, and giving his business partners the risks, benefits, and “the why” all in layman’s terms. 

Mark explains how this opens the door to questions and transparent conversations with his partners, allowing everyone to be on equal playing fields despite any gaps in knowledge. Once this foundation of trust is set, it’s all a matter of being patient on both ends as everyone moves forward.

Coaching the Next Wave of IT Communicators

So, how does Mark coach his own team to think beyond the firewall? With years of experience training IT professionals, he leads with storytelling, preparation, and leaning into discomfort.

First place he starts: presenting to other peers or stakeholders: “Don’t read your slides if you’re putting a presentation together,” he urges. “They’re already three lines ahead of you, or they’ve skipped to the bottom line.” Instead, Mark recommends putting up a graphic or something that triggers key talking points, and rehearsing it enough to know the content inside and out. “Know your material, know your audience, keep it simple…It’s all about practice and preparation.”

Mark emphasizes this point after seeing many tech professionals lean on the crutch of data-heavy decks and technical lingo. Instead, he pushes his team to get comfortable with communicating–whether to peers, business partners in other departments, or clients.

One way to get comfortable is through scenario-based practice, followed by presenting to their peers. “Doing that ahead of time, before they get in front of their peers, is a great opportunity to give them practical skills and application.”

Stay the Course: Advice for Rising IT Pros

Mark’s message for younger or more technical team members is simple: show up, work hard, and don’t obsess over job titles or chasing the next big opportunity. “Staying the course has merit,” he says, especially in a world where quick wins and job hopping are more common and attainable than in the past. 

But Mark also emphasizes the importance of finding the right culture. “The company you keep matters,” he states, and goes on to share his appreciation for his own organization, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. “They truly care and empower people to make us all successful.” 

Mark says that when someone finds the right company that aligns with their values, it’s important to hold onto it. This mindset has led him to “the best job” he’s ever had as VP of IT Business Services.

It’s easy to admire his career. But what’s even more compelling is how humble and dedicated he’s remained even in his current role. “No matter the jobs I’ve had, it’s work ethic, smiling, and having a positive attitude.”

Mark wants IT to make sense. For his team, for the business, and for anyone trying to make smart, informed decisions. That’s not just about code. It’s about relationships, trust, and the systems built to work better, together.