Launching or maturing an Identity and Access Management (IAM) program is no small feat. Too often, organizations rush straight into selecting tools or technologies, only to discover that without a clear structure of leadership, ownership, and alignment, the effort struggles—or worse, fails.

The truth is simple: IAM is not just a technology project. It’s a business transformation that impacts every corner of your organization. That’s why before writing requirements, signing contracts, or mapping workflows, the very first step is building a foundation rooted in people and process. This foundation requires three critical elements: an Executive Sponsor, a Project Manager, and clearly identified stakeholders.

Why Executive Sponsorship Is Non-Negotiable

Every successful IAM initiative starts at the top. An Executive Sponsor provides the authority and visibility needed to move IAM beyond being “just another IT project.” At the University of Virginia (UVA), for example, Fischer Identity partnered with leadership to establish executive backing that ensured resources, alignment with institutional priorities, and the ability to cut through red tape when decisions were needed.

Without an Executive Sponsor, IAM efforts risk stalling when competing priorities arise. IAM touches admissions, HR, finance, healthcare, research, and IT operations simultaneously—it requires a leader who can champion the effort across silos and frame the program as a business enabler, not just a technical necessity.

The Role of a Project Manager: Turning Vision into Execution

If the Executive Sponsor is the “why,” the Project Manager is the “how.” IAM implementations span multiple years and consist of dozens of interconnected projects—source system alignment, lifecycle automation, account claim design, external identity management, and governance controls, to name a few.

A dedicated Project Manager ensures that:

• Timelines are realistic and coordinated across teams.
• Milestones are tracked and communicated.
• Risks are documented and mitigated.
• Technical teams remain aligned with business outcomes.

This role is not simply about managing tasks; it’s about weaving together business process improvements, technical integrations, and organizational change management into one cohesive effort.

Stakeholders: The IAM Ecosystem

IAM success depends on more than IT. Every project must start by mapping out and engaging stakeholders across the organization. At UVA, for example, aligning with HR and Student Information Systems teams was vital to ensuring accurate source data and smooth provisioning.

Stakeholders typically include:

• Human Resources & Student Systems: Owners of source data, critical for lifecycle events.
• IT Security: Guardians of compliance, audit readiness, and policy enforcement.
• Application Owners: Leaders of business systems impacted by provisioning and deprovisioning.
• End-User Representatives: Voices of faculty, staff, students, and contractors who will feel IAM’s daily impact.

Early stakeholder identification reduces resistance, ensures smoother adoption, and builds trust that IAM is being done with the business, not to it.

From Projects to Programs

A strong IAM program is rarely delivered in one giant project. Instead, it emerges through a series of connected efforts:

• Automating lifecycle management
• Strengthening account claim and onboarding processes
• Managing external identities and reducing risk
• Improving identity matching and data accuracy

Each of these projects contributes to the larger IAM program vision, but without an Executive Sponsor, Project Manager, and engaged stakeholders, they remain fragmented initiatives rather than a unified strategy.

Lessons Learned: What Leaders Need to Hear

Executives don’t want to know every technical detail. They want assurance that IAM investment will:

• Reduce risk and ensure compliance
• Simplify user experience and improve productivity
• Provide scalability for future needs
• Deliver results without endless customizations or delays

Fischer Identity has over 20 years of experience helping organizations build IAM programs the right way: from executive alignment to project execution, all without custom code or fragile deployments. We’ve seen what works, and we’ve helped institutions like UVA transform their identity management practices in record time.

Start With People, Not Technology: The Non-Negotiables for IAM Success

If you’re trying to “figure out” IAM, don’t start with the technology. Start with leadership, structure, and clarity of roles. Define your Executive Sponsor. Empower your Project Manager. Identify and engage your stakeholders. These are the non-negotiables that turn IAM projects into a sustainable IAM program.

IAM is a journey, and the roadmap can feel overwhelming—but with the right foundation, you’re not just implementing technology. You’re building trust, reducing risk, and creating a secure, scalable identity ecosystem that supports your organization’s mission.

And if you’re looking for a partner who has been there before—quietly leading some of the most complex IAM use cases in higher education, healthcare, and beyond—Fischer Identity stands ready to help.