Chief Digital Officer
GroundTruth Group of Companies · Edmonton, Alberta · Remote
Leads digital future initiatives across IT, marketing, AI, business intelligence, operational systems, and technology adoption.
Chief Digital Officer · IT Specialist · Edmonton, Alberta
Digital strategy, IT operations, and field-ready technology.
I’m Benjamin Steffes-Lai, a Canadian and German dual citizen with 20+ years of experience connecting IT infrastructure, software, data, automation, digital marketing, field systems, and creative production into practical business solutions.
Profile
A practical digital leader with deep IT roots.
Benjamin Steffes-Lai is an Edmonton-based Chief Digital Officer and IT Specialist whose career began in Germany and continued in Canada after relocating in December 2017. His work spans IT operations, software and database development, business intelligence, technical support, cloud services, digital marketing, UAS surveying and mapping, photography, videography, and field technology.
His strength is connecting technical systems with real operational needs: improving workflows, supporting distributed teams, translating complex requirements into practical tools, and helping organizations adopt digital solutions with clarity and structure.
CDO focus areas
- Define and execute digital strategy aligned with business goals.
- Modernize workflows through automation, analytics, cloud services, and practical AI adoption.
- Improve reporting, dashboards, documentation, and data-informed decision-making.
- Bridge technical and non-technical teams through clear systems, training, and implementation planning.
- Support digital marketing, SEO, analytics, visual content, and brand systems.
Experience
Professional history
IT Manager – Systems and Business Intelligence
GroundTruth Group of Companies · Whitehorse, Yukon
Managed infrastructure, internal IT projects, technical support, assets, cloud services, training, software/scripts, business intelligence, digital marketing, and UAS mapping workflows.
IT Support Technician
GroundTruth Group of Companies · Whitehorse, Yukon
Provided on-site and remote technical support for offices, home offices, remote exploration operations, client support, hardware, software, communication equipment, and field technology.
IT Specialist
PVH Corp. · Greater Düsseldorf Area
Supported offices and retail locations across central and eastern Europe, including user support, account management, training, mobile device management, procurement, AV systems, and intranet development.
Information Technology Consultant
eData Systems GmbH · Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Supported IT project management for printing centers, datastream manipulation, documentation, training, consulting, and application development.
IT Specialist for Application Development
WOMA GmbH · Ruhr Region
Designed and developed web pages for IBM System i ERP data and provided tier 1 and tier 2 support for non-technical users.
Skills
Core capabilities
IT operations
Network administration, infrastructure, technical support, help desk support, hardware support, endpoint management, and IT consulting.
Security & systems
Cybersecurity, cyber threat intelligence, Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Azure, and PowerShell.
Software & data
Software development, web development, JavaScript, CSS, PHP, C, MySQL, Google API, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Power BI.
Digital & creative
Digital marketing, Google Analytics, Google Ads, photography, videography, UAS operations, drone piloting, XRF, training, and project management.
Credentials
Selected certifications and education
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft · Issued Aug 2021
COC-NSO: Governance Series
Smith School of Business at Queen’s University · Issued Jun 2023
MITRE ATT&CK Defender / Fundamentals
Cybrary · Issued Jul 2021
Specialized Computer Scientist – Software Development
Bertolt-Brecht-Technical College of Duisburg · Grade A
X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer Level 1 Operator
Natural Resources Canada · XRF radiation safety, theory, and application
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator – Advanced Operations
Hummingbird Drones / Thompson Rivers University
Community
Volunteer leadership and service
- Secretary Edmonton Tennis Community · Apr 2025 – Present
- Treasurer and Secretary Yukon Badminton Association · Feb 2022 – Mar 2024
- Volunteer / Trailblazer Biosphere Expeditions · Monitoring the return of wolves to Lower Saxony
- Volunteer German Federal Agency for Technical Relief · Disaster and humanitarian relief
Contact
Let’s connect.
For professional inquiries, collaborations, or portfolio requests, the best verified contact path is LinkedIn.