I envision CTOpedia as a valuable resource and growing community for current and aspiring tech leaders. The goal is a platform where industry insights, career advice, best practices, opinions, and interviews with leaders and executives are shared and actively discussed. I’m aiming to create a space where knowledge is freely exchanged, and everyone—from seasoned CTOs to those just starting their journey in tech leadership—can find value and contribute.
My background
My journey through the tech industry has been turbulent at times, grueling at others, but nearly always a good time. Although I enjoyed my time in the trenches, for many years I struggled to find meaning and purpose in my job. Was I coding through crunch time for money alone? What does it mean, personally, to build software that gets put on a shelf and forgotten? If you stay tuned, you’ll find my own and others’ possible answers in the months ahead.
Over 14 years I’ve held many roles, from tech support, to design, engineering, and management. My aim throughout most of that time was to become CTO, a job that seemed the peak of my career path. It seemed that Chiefs of Technology held a multidisciplinary role that would provide challenge and reward in equal measure. Was I right? Mostly!
Why start a blog/website?
On the road, I found very few signposts and little direction on how to reach my destination. How does one reach CTO? Do you have to create the role for yourself? Do you have to start your own company? What does a CTO need to know? What does a CTO do on day one? Day 60? Day 600?
I found very little in the way of targeted advice. And generic management and leadership advice seldom applies to tech teams, remote teams, globally distributed teams, or groups working together to build, maintain, and support a digital product offering. As I continued down the path, even more questions emerged with few clear answers. How do I recruit and vet top talent? How do I keep and nurture those top performers? How do I reduce costs without impacting the team or reliability? How do I maintain morale along a dwindling runway?
Hopes for the site
We’ll answer these questions and cover even more ground over time. I’ll be reaching out to colleagues and my ever-expanding network of tech leaders to contribute their insights and experience. I’m hoping this website will serve as those signposts and reassuring rest stops to guide present and future leaders towards rewarding roles, happy and successful teams, and higher and higher peaks of accomplishment.
If you have some insights to share, please consider contributing or taking part in an interview!