I was intrigued by a recent article I read, titled “Forget the tech: the new rule of CTO success.” (https://www.raconteur.net/leadership/cto-success-collaborate). The article argues that the role of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) has significantly evolved beyond just being a resident tech expert. In today’s fast-paced digital transformation era, a CTO’s success hinges on their ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate effectively within an organization.
What struck me most about the article was the emphasis on strategic relationships within the C-suite. According to Jaco Vermeulen, a portfolio CTO, the modern CTO’s role is to translate business strategy into technology, focusing on implementing it at the right time and cost. This shift from a purely technical role to a more strategic one resonates with the changing dynamics in technology leadership. James Absalom’s insight that 90% of a CTO’s time is spent on influencing strategy and driving organizational change further highlighted the importance of leadership skills in this role.
The article also delves into the crucial relationships a CTO must develop, particularly with the CEO, CHRO, and CFO. Each of these relationships brings a unique perspective and value to the CTO’s role. For instance, partnering with HR can provide insights into the organizational culture, which is vital for implementing technological changes. Collaborating with the CFO helps in translating technical value into financial benefits, making the technology investments more relatable and justifiable. Most importantly, the alignment with the CEO ensures that the technology strategy mirrors and supports the broader organizational strategy. This puts the CTO/CIO exactly where I always pictured it: in the very heart of the organization…
The role of a CTO is no longer confined to managing the IT department but has expanded into being a key player in shaping the business’s future. It underscores the fact that in the modern business landscape, technological leadership is as much about enabling and empowering people and processes as it is about understanding and implementing technology. Today’s CTO is as well a skilled leader, a seasoned negotiator, a brilliant people manager and a thoughtful “long-game” politician…
No pressure 😊