Qiana Hicks is the Chief Business Technology Officer (CBTO) for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Previously, she served as a senior leader in software engineering at Express Scripts, leading major technology transformations for the organization. She has also held senior leadership roles in Software Engineering for the Boeing Company and UnitedHealth Group.
Qiana started her IT career 23 years ago as a young mother. She has established an extensive track record in software engineering, quality assurance, infrastructure, production operations, data warehousing, and analytics. She has received numerous STEM awards, including Tech Stars, BEYA, and Women of Color in Technology, throughout her career. Drawing upon her personal experiences, education, and professional background, Qiana is dedicated to empowering young people, particularly those in marginalized communities and rural areas, by helping them overcome obstacles and to break patterns that contribute to widening achievement and socioeconomic gaps. As the CBTO for MDE, Qiana will continue that work, leveraging information and technology to drive positive changes in education.
Qiana is a graduate of Minneapolis Community & Technical College and holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, as well as a master’s degree in business administration.
