Lookman Fazal

Chief Information & Digital Oficer
NJ TRANSIT

Leadership Insights to Action: An ongoing series – presented by Diversity First with contributor Jennifer Walker – spotlighting innovative leaders who are making meaningful, impactful, and sustainable change to elevate diversity, equity and belonging for the betterment of their organizations and beyond. Do you know such a leader who should be featured? Tell us!

What is an idea, practice, or innovation that you have led to accelerate diversity, equity & belonging at your organization or more broadly for industry? What was an unexpected challenge or opportunity that you encountered, and what did you learn?

One of my biggest goals – in my professional role and in my life – is to personify servant leadership. Taking a people-first approach can be tremendously helpful when building and supporting a team of diverse individuals. When faced with a challenge, I try to ask, “How does this affect my team?” rather than, “How does this affect me?” Considering their perspectives and needs is essential for ensuring they know that they are heard, understood, and valued for their ideas and contributions. Adopting a mindset of servant leadership has also helped me to better anticipate and meet the needs of the diverse customers who use NJ TRANSIT services. I try to consider how I can use my influence to best serve them, making transit more accessible and convenient for all.

The COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for everyone, but it was a valuable learning experience for me to see the importance of truly trusting and empowering my team. When disaster strikes, it can be easy and tempting to micromanage, but after listening to their ideas with an open mind, I realized that the individuals on my team approached problems from a variety of perspectives and offered bold, effective solutions that would keep NJ TRANSIT running smoothly. The work we did in such a difficult period was remarkable — we initiated a contactless commuter journey to empower riders and keep employees and commuters safe, rolled out the NJT Rewards program to boost local business and reward riders for their journeys, and have tasked our Innovation team with truly inventing the next generation of transit. Trusting my team and giving them the resources to make their ideas a reality was an excellent choice, and I would make it again without hesitation.

What is something that you wished that you would have known in your twenties?

In my early twenties, I aspired to become a high-level leader. Like many, I looked forward to the responsibility and respect that came with taking my place among c-suite executives. While part of this enthusiasm was about the potential to work on impactful projects and make a difference in the IT industry, another was tied to the vanity markers of status and power. Now that I have more than 28 years of experience in the field, I understand that a leader’s true power lies in listening to those that they lead. My strength as a CIO comes from building up my team, learning from them, and clearing any obstacles that may hamper their impressive work. If I could give any piece of advice to my past self, it would be to prioritize connections with people and invest in them as much as possible.

What are you currently reading/listening to?

I am a history buff and like to read historical nonfiction books. I listen to all genres of music that are happy and make you feel good, but my favorite is dance music. I also love to watch the highly educational channel known as TikTok.

This realization started changing the concept of my “why” for me. And that is the best advice which I give to folks is to explore their why and purpose.

What do you see as the greatest opportunity ahead?

As a leader in the technology space, I am excited (and somewhat wary) about how technology has become so integral to people’s daily lives. Technology has the potential to be incredibly empowering, but only if we are intentional about designing it to be helpful and accessible for all. Leaders, like me, are coming to a crossroads where we can reflect on our intentions and impact, and we must ask ourselves how our innovations impact the world in a moral sense. Do they make the world a better place? Do they make people’s lives easier? Are we making sure that as many people as possible can access the infrastructure we are building? Technology’s growing influence gives us a great opportunity to make a positive difference for those that we serve, and I am hopeful that we will choose the right path.

What will be your legacy?

I hope to leave a legacy of ensuring that technology serves as many people as possible, creating a positive workplace culture where people feel valued and understood, and being a mentor and friend to those around me. I try to make every plan and decision with people in mind, whether that is my team, our customers, or the next generation of IT professionals who will enter the field after me, and it is my hope that my intentions and actions create a ripple effect across my organization and industry.