By Holt Hackney
When the Chief Architect Forum (CAF) was born, Kevin Donovan was a logical choice as chairman. Afterall, he is a strategic global IT executive and enterprise architect with more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and innovation initiatives across Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms and government agencies.
Additionally, Donovan has guided impactful architecture strategies for companies like EPAM Systems and W.W. Grainger, where he has built global IT architectures, driven cloud transformations and developed innovative data and API-first platforms.
With an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Aarhus and a highly respected TOGAF certification, Donovan, who currently advises clients as Chief Architect for WVE, is the ideal candidate for our first of a series of CAF interviews.
Question: How did you get your start in technology?
Answer: I came into technology from an unusual path — first studying biology before completing a Master’s in Computer Science. That mix of systems thinking and curiosity about how things connect still shapes how I approach architecture today. I began as a developer, writing Java for enterprise systems, and over time moved into roles that connected technology with business strategy. Architecture was the natural intersection.
Q: What do you like most about your current work?
A: Helping organizations translate strategy into action. I enjoy bridging the gap between executives and delivery teams — turning abstract goals into architectures people can actually build and evolve. It’s the alignment work that keeps strategy real.
Q: Why did you join the Chief Architect Forum (CAF)?
A: I joined CAF because it’s one of the few places where senior architects can talk openly about the profession — not just frameworks or tools, but influence, leadership, and impact. The community’s mix of humility and ambition is rare.
Q: What are you most looking forward to or hoping to get out of CAF membership?
A: As Chair, I’m focused on helping CAF mature into a leadership body that shapes how architecture is practiced globally. My goal is to strengthen collaboration across working groups, elevate the voice of architects in the C-suite, and create real value for members through shared learning and visible outcomes.
Q: What’s one trend or challenge you think architects should be paying more attention to right now?
A: Architects need to look beyond governance and focus on influence. As AI and low-code change how systems are built, the differentiator won’t be control — it’ll be our ability to align people, data, and decisions across the enterprise.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone aspiring to move into an architecture role?
A: Don’t rush to frameworks. Start by learning how organizations actually work — how decisions are made, how trade-offs are negotiated, how outcomes are measured. Technical depth gets you in the room, but clarity, empathy, and persistence keep you there.