The CTO Playbook

In this episode, you'll learn the top mistakes founder engineers make when starting a business, why early technical decisions can have long-term business consequences, how to choose co-founders with complementary strengths, the importance of understanding business fundamentals as a technical founder, and strategies for picking the right tech stack for your startup's needs. Build your own CTO Playb...

Stephan Schmidt is a CTO coach and the author of “Amazing CTO”. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn why hiring the right people is the foundation of success and how to assess...

David Wascha is a seasoned product and tech leader with experience at Microsoft, MOO, Travelex and Zoopla.  Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn when to combine product and t...

In this episode, you'll learn how to streamline your recruiting process, craft compelling job ads, evaluate candidates effectively, and create an exceptional onboarding experience. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impac...

Roman Labunsky is the co-founder and CTO of an early-stage cybersecurity startup based in Israel. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn how Roman's experience leading a military...

In this episode, it’s a CTO Christmas Tale! You'll learn the importance of steady leadership, how to manage tech debt effectively, the risks of rushing features, and why balanced teamwork leads to success. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confid...

Alena Ipanova is an expert in cultural intelligence and intercultural leadership. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn what cultural intelligence is and why it matters for CTOs...

Adrian Stanek is a seasoned CTO and leadership mentor known for his practical insights on leading teams effectively. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn the four key traits th...

In this episode, you'll learn how to communicate effectively as a CTO, master nonverbal cues, build trust with your team, and handle crises with clear communication. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. Timestamps:...

Gareth Thomas is a seasoned CTO with over 25 years of experience building and leading tech teams. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn why Gareth decided to step away from codi...

Zach Goldberg is a seasoned CTO and author of “The Startup CTO's Handbook”. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn the key lessons Zach gained from leading multiple startup engin...

Thorgeir Einarsson is a seasoned CEO and advisor who has helped hundreds of tech startups secure funding and navigate acquisitions. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you're going to learn why CTO...

In this episode, Adam talks about how to create a strong engineering strategy and prioritize creating roadmaps that align with company goals while effectively communicating your strategy to the entire team. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confi...

In this episode, Adam and Todd talk about why tech and product leaders need to expand their roles in today's market, why many startups struggle with tech debt and product debt, how AI is reshaping the responsibilities of engineers and CTOs, what the future holds for fractional CTO roles, and what Todd thinks about the shifting demands on tech leaders and the future of the CTO role. Build your own...

Magnus Lenngren is an engineering leader and a three-time unicorn builder. Build your own CTO Playbook at www.theCTOplaybook.com — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you'll find out how to scale remote-first engineering teams effectively, the key challenges leader...

Zoe Cunningham is a director at Softwire and author of Networking Know-How . Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. In this episode, you will learn what most people get wrong about networking and why it’s so misunders...

In this episode, Adam interviews Adem Bilican, the CTO at Relai, the App, about Bitcoin's value and its potential as a global currency. Adem discusses the technological advancements in Bitcoin, such as the Lightning Network, and offers insights into overcoming barriers to adoption. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO jo...

In this episode, Adam discusses how CTOs can transition from firefighting to strategic leadership by following a structured, disciplined approach. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact. Timestamps: 5:19 Create time bl...

In this episode, Adam interviews Dipak Mistry, a senior architect with 25 years of experience. Dipak shares his structured approach to presentations, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, conflict and resolution, and a clear narrative to make technical information more relatable and engaging. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built fo...

In this episode, Adam interviews Carol Palombini, a psychologist and leadership coach specializing in psychological safety. Carol offers insights on how fostering psychological safety can drive team innovation and what leaders can do to create safe, effective work environments. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journe...

In this episode, Adam dives into the challenges of transitioning from a technical leader to a strategic CTO, outlining a five-step playbook to help navigate this journey successfully. He also shares insights on overcoming common obstacles and embracing a leadership mindset. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. C...

In this episode, Adam interviews Daniel Walters, a seasoned CTO coach and consultant. Daniel shares his experiences on leading change within organizations, focusing on collaboration, dynamic reteaming, and the emotional impact of restructuring. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and communit...

In this episode, Adam interviews John Broome, a seasoned product leader with over 20 years of experience. John shares insights on generative AI, collaboration between CTOs and CPOs, and the importance of being customer-centric in product management. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and com...

If you are finding this podcast helpful, please rate and review so other CTOs can join the conversation. In this episode, Adam explores the different types and stages of a CTO's journey, offering insights and practical strategies to help you identify your strengths and align with your organization's needs. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform...

In this episode, Adam speaks with Andy Skipper, the founder of CTO Craft and a seasoned CTO coach. Andy delves into the benefits of coaching for new CTOs, the growth of the CTO Craft community, as well as offers advice for navigating leadership challenges. Build your own CTO Playbook at  www.theCTOplaybook.com  — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast,...