The CTO Playbook

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Your KPIs aren’t just underperforming—some of them are actively lying to you.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Lior Gerson, co-founder and CEO of Target Board, a company that's redefining how tech leaders track and prove their impact. With two decades of experience leading both e-commerce and SaaS companies, and advising giants like Macy’s and Sephora, Lior brings a brutally honest take on why most CTOs are flying blind when it comes to metrics—and how...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

"Compliance doesn’t make you good—so how do you really know if your tech team is any good at all?"



In this episode, Adam sits down with Andy Graham, former CTO with 30 years of M&A and enterprise tech leadership, and Dane Eldridge, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Stackup. Together, they’ve built a deceptively simple tool that’s flipping the script on how tech leaders assess their teams—and uncover hidden risks before they explode.

You’ll learn...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

"Most CTOs spend all their time chasing rabbits—and miss the real future right in front of them."



In this sharp, no-fluff episode, Adam cuts through the chaos CTOs face daily and reveals the underrated superpower every tech leader must develop: strategic foresight. Forget firefighting and sprint planning—this is about learning to think deeply and see the horizon others can’t. Adam shares why boredom (yes, boredom) might be your secret weapon for unlocking creativity and how slowing down can g...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

What if the most complex part of your backend system... just vanished?

In this episode, Adam sits down with Maxim Fateev, CTO and co-founder of Temporal, a platform quietly revolutionizing how distributed systems are built at companies like Stripe, Snap, and Netflix. With a career spanning Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Uber, Maxim brings a rare, battle-tested perspective to the chaos of modern infrastructure.

This conversation unpacks why the old way of building event-driven...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Most CEOs hire the wrong CTO—not because of a talent shortage, but because they don't know what they're actually looking for.



In this episode, Adam sits down with returning guest Warren Beazley—known across the UK tech scene as The CTO Recruiter. With nearly 30 years in the industry and a track record of 96%+ retention rates, Warren specializes in helping founder-led and investor-backed companies make one of the most pivotal hires in their org: a world-class CTO.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

What if the part of you causing burnout is the same one that got you where you are?

In this episode, Adam sits down with Rob Kalwarowsky—executive coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Capitalizing on Chaos—to explore how high performers can stop white-knuckling their leadership journey and start transforming from within. Rob has helped tech execs and founders all over the world how to fast-track deep change through his FIRE method, a unique four-step framework that rewi...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Ever wondered what it really takes to produce a high-quality tech podcast from scratch—while wrangling kids, late nights, and a studio in your basement?

In this rare behind-the-scenes solo episode of The CTO Playbook, Adam pulls back the curtain on the exact gear, workflows, and production team that bring each episode to life. You’ll get a candid tour of his setup—from boom mics and soundproofing hacks to lighting rigs, software automation, and the husband-and-wife editing duo wh...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Victor Nicollet is an expert in mechanical sympathy for software, focusing on how software design can better align with the hardware it runs on for smarter, faster systems.

In this episode, you're going to learn what mechanical sympathy is and why understanding your hardware can massively improve software performance, how to predict when software should be optimized instead of waiting for users to feel pain, why abstraction layers can hurt performance and how to navigate escape hatches when...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

In this episode, you'll learn how the rise of citizen builders is reshaping software creation, why leadership now demands alignment over control, how to measure real impact across teams, and what it takes to scale safely in a world of AI-assisted development.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[02:00] Overview of the 4-part structure in this episode

[02:54] Principle one: everyone can build — but can they build right?

[04:53] Principle two: redefining junior vs se...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Zacharias Beckman is a technology leader and creator of the Customer Obsessed Delivery Playbook.

In this episode, you're going to learn what the Customer Obsessed Delivery Playbook is and why having a checklist is critical for complex software projects, how event storming and steel threads can help prevent costly surprises in software delivery, how Zac used lessons from government projects, cruise lines, and iPhone launches to shape a better approach to technical delivery, why a visual “subway map” mode...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

In this episode, you'll learn how to win support for a tough proposal, avoid getting blindsided in meetings, use informal conversations to map your allies and blockers, and turn neutral teammates into advocates.

Timestamps: 

[00:00] Introduction

[01:04] A failed pitch story and key lesson

[02:18] The importance of having a playbook

[02:55] Why great ideas get shot down

[03:12] Stage 1: Test the waters

[04:40] How early insights shape your p...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Andre Louca is a former CTO who became the CEO of a deep tech startup focused on AI and computer vision. 

In this episode, you'll learn what it takes to move from CTO to CEO, how to set yourself up for success in the new role, what mindset shifts are needed to lead a company, and how to make tough decisions without losing trust.

Timestamps:

 [00:00] Introduction

[05:00] Un...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Eric Johannsen is an engineering leader, author, and father of triplets who has helped lead multiple startups to successful exits.

In this episode, you're going to learn what cultural transformation really means and why it matters, how to spot when company culture is blocking progress, how Eric won over skeptics during high-stakes mergers, how he overcame imposter syndrome early in his career, and the single biggest mistake he made during a transformation—plus what he learned from it.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Sarah Greasley is an IBM Distinguished Engineer turned CTO with over 40 years in tech, known for leading large-scale transformation projects at companies like IBM, Direct Line, and AWS.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to lead complex tech projects without getting lost in details, make tough calls when short-term goals clash with long-term needs, and understand why managing technical debt is a leadership issue, not just an engineering one. Sarah shares practical ways to align thousands of pe...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs

In this episode, you'll learn how to shift from one-on-one coaching to group leadership, how to reduce politics and knowledge gaps in large engineering teams, how to build a high-trust leadership environment, and how to implement an open-door policy for better team alignment.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction  

[00:45] What leading leaders means  

[01:30] Lessons from top CEOs on leadership  

[02:15] Defining a small engineering organization  

[03:00] Why politics emerge in growing teams  <...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Kevin Howren is the Chief Product and Technology Officer at NPACT, where he has led major organizational changes, doubling the customer base and scaling SaaS assets under management from $50 billion to over $100 billion.



In this episode, you're going to learn why managing change is more about people than processes, how to overcome resistance and build trust in an organization, the key to keeping momentum during long-term transformations, how to make tough personnel decisions while maintaining morale, and why knowing when t...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs! 



In this episode, you'll learn what CTO coaching is, who it’s for, the impact it can have, and how to find the right coach for your goals. Adam Horner shares common CTO challenges, the skills needed to succeed at the executive level, and a framework for accelerating leadership growth.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction  

[02:10] Common struggles CTOs face  

[03:45] How coaching provides clarity and accountability  

[05:00] My own CTO journey and early challenges ...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs! 

Dan Gwalter is a fractional consultant and former IT director who helps businesses navigate growth challenges.

In this episode, you're going to learn why Dan left a high-paying corporate job to build a career he actually enjoys, how to craft a strong personal brand on LinkedIn that attracts clients, why conversations—not sales pitches—are the key to building a thriving consulting business, the simple process Dan uses to keep a steady stream of clients without stress, and how h...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

In this episode, you'll learn how to structure effective one-on-one meetings with engineers, how to maintain alignment between individual performance and company goals, how to use a rolling agenda for tracking progress, and how to transition from weekly check-ins to quarterly and annual reviews seamlessly.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[00:38] Importance of one-on-one meetings for engineers

[01:22] How often should you meet with individual contributors

[02:14] Weekly vs. biweekly or monthly meetings<...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Matt Watson is the CEO of FullScale and previously bootstrapped an SaaS company to $35 million ARR before a $150 million exit.

In this episode, you're going to learn what skills CTOs need to become CEOs, why understanding sales and marketing is crucial for tech leaders, how to delegate effectively to focus on big-picture strategy, why communication and collaboration are key to scaling engineering teams, and what AI’s role is in shaping the future of software development.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Ritavan is a machine learning expert, author of Data Impact, and has worked in industries such as banking, energy, and real estate.

In this episode, you're going to learn how to avoid complexity traps in data-driven decision-making, how to leverage unique advantages to create real business value, why alignment across teams is critical for success, the importance of simplifying processes to reduce inefficiency, and the role of data in driving growth while maintaining focus on customer needs.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Daniel Jarjoura is the Managing Director at Avolta, specializing in helping engineering-led companies prepare for mergers and acquisitions.

In this episode, you'll learn the importance of building products that solve broad problems for developers, how to use open source as a growth tool while monetizing through premium services, why GitHub metrics can help predict future success, how to scale from a developer-led market to enterprise sales, and the 18-24 month process to plan for a successful M&A...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

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.

Dr. Georgios Christou graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a dual degree in Cognitive Science and Computer Science, he also has a Master’s and Ph...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Stephan Schmidt is a CTO coach and the author of “Amazing CTO”.

In this episode, you're going to learn why hiring the right people is the foundation of success and how to assess candidates effectively. Stephan shares his strategy for running weekly one-on-one meetings and why they should focus on alignment rather than status updates. You'll also hear about the importance of trust in leadership and practical ways to build it within your team. He explains why surprises unde...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

David Wascha is a seasoned product and tech leader with experience at Microsoft, MOO, Travelex and Zoopla.



In this episode, you're going to learn when to combine product and tech leadership roles and when not to, why the distinction between tech-enabled and deep tech businesses matters for leadership structure, how to avoid tension and misalignment between product and tech teams, the importance of representing and advocating for all functions as a leader, and practical strategies for new CTOs to bu...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

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.



Timestamps:

[03:48] Deciding when to hire

[04:27] Importance of employer branding

[05:32] Creating a role description

[06:13] Writing a job advert

[07:09] Talent sourcing strategies

[07:56] Using recruiters effectively

[08:48] The role of headhunters

[09:48] CV screening tips

[10:22] Benefits of group interviews

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Roman Labunsky is the co-founder and CTO of an early-stage cybersecurity startup based in Israel.

In this episode, you're going to learn how Roman's experience leading a military tech unit during wartime shaped his approach to building resilient teams and processes. You will discover strategies for managing onboarding and handovers under extreme constraints, the value of starting simple to scale effectively, and why clear communication and adaptability are key to succeeding in high-pressure environments.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

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.

Timestamps:

[00:50] Two CTOs prepare for a funding race  

[01:34] Rallying the team with bold demands  

[02:13] Adopting a steady approach with a coach’s advice  

[02:52] Rushing features led to technical chaos  

[03:29] AI assistant mocks poor p...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Alena Ipanova is an expert in cultural intelligence and intercultural leadership.

In this episode, you're going to learn what cultural intelligence is and why it matters for CTOs, how to assess and improve self-awareness as a leader, ways to bridge cultural differences within global teams, strategies for adapting communication styles effectively, and the importance of continuous learning and feedback in fostering inclusivity and collaboration.



Alena is an Intercultural Leadership and Team Development Trainer and Coach...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Adrian Stanek is a seasoned CTO and leadership mentor known for his practical insights on leading teams effectively.

In this episode, you're going to learn the four key traits that make a leader worth following, how to use credibility and vision to lead effectively, why dictating deadlines is a sign of poor leadership, how to handle resistance within a team, and the surprising reason why great leaders focus on enabling their teams rather than commanding them.

<...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

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.

Timestamps:

[04:45] The impact of mismatched communication cues  

[06:10] Understanding your audience as a technology leader  

[07:25] Why tone matters in delivering important messages  

[08:45] Using nonverbal cues like eye contact and body language  

[10:20] The role of empathy in effective communication  

[12:05] How listen...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Gareth Thomas is a seasoned CTO with over 25 years of experience building and leading tech teams.

In this episode, you're going to learn why Gareth decided to step away from coding to focus on leadership, his strategies for creating high-performing teams without burning out engineers, the biggest mistake tech leaders make when managing people, how empathy plays a crucial role in leading tech teams and why promoting from within can be a game-changer for scaling your business.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Zach Goldberg is a seasoned CTO and author of “The Startup CTO's Handbook”.

In this episode, you're going to learn the key lessons Zach gained from leading multiple startup engineering teams, common mistakes CTOs make when managing growth, how to build a culture of continuous learning and high performance, why external thought leadership matters for tech leaders, and much more.

Zach Goldberg is an executive coach, the author of the 10k+ GitHub star book...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Thorgeir Einarsson is a seasoned CEO and advisor who has helped hundreds of tech startups secure funding and navigate acquisitions.

In this episode, you're going to learn why CTOs play a crucial role in fundraising and M&A deals, common mistakes CTOs make that can kill a deal, the importance of transparency during technical due diligence, how AI is changing the expectations for tech leaders, and why a CTO’s communication skills are as important as their technical kn...

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.

Timestamps:

[02:19] Aligning the engineering strategy with company goals  

[06:00] Creating a roadmap for the engineering strategy

[13:40] Building a process roadmap  

[24:03] Prioritizing and executing the engineering strategy 

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and Y...

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.

Todd is an experienced CPTO now doing fractional work, startup advisory, and working on his own SaaS platform. Todd offers consulting services for businesses seeking responsible growth...

Magnus Lenngren is an engineering leader and a three-time unicorn builder.

In this episode, you'll find out how to scale remote-first engineering teams effectively, the key challenges leaders face when growing teams quickly, the biggest mistakes to avoid during hypergrowth, why strong company culture is critical in scaling, and how to keep employees engaged and productive in a remote setting.

Magnus is an experienced CTO and Director of Engineering, skilled at scaling engineering teams, especially in Fintech, with experience at Collector Bank, Klarna, and now Mews among others. Magnus...

Zoe Cunningham is a director at Softwire and author of Networking Know-How.

In this episode, you will learn what most people get wrong about networking and why it’s so misunderstood. Zoe talks about simple ways to build genuine connections without feeling awkward, how introverts can excel at networking with the right approach, how to prepare for networking events to make them more enjoyable, and why investing in networking now pays off in the long run.

Zoe Cunningham is an award-winning technology professional and currently a Director of Softwire Te...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

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.

Adem Bilican, is the co-founder and CTO at Relai, Europe's number one Bitcoin app. We provide an app for your mobile phone that users can use to easily buy and sell Bitcoin while keeping full ow...

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to learn more about how to be a great CTO!

In this episode, Adam discusses how CTOs can transition from firefighting to strategic leadership by following a structured, disciplined approach.

Timestamps:

5:19 Create time blocks for strategic work to avoid constant firefighting.

9:51 Build trust by empowering your team through delegation.

16:07 Focus on documenting why and how, not just what, to improve processes.

23:38 Block off time for your top priority and protect it fiercely.