The CTO Lens

London Tech Leaders

A fresh look at what it really means to lead technology in today’s fast‑changing world. Hosted by seasoned CTO and thinker David Crawford, and co‑host, experienced product leader Sophie Valentine, The CTO Lens blends candid conversations with industry leaders, covers the latest tech news, and includes a whole host of personal insights and practical leadership lessons for the modern technology executive. From navigating roles, to understanding team culture, AI, tech strategy, and real‑world challenges, each episode offers both depth and everyday relevance. Whether you’re a current senior leader or aspiring to this role, The CTO Lens gives you perspectives that cut through noise - with clarity, humour, and a human touch.

  1. 2D AGO

    Season 2: Episode 8 - Incident Response

    In this week's episode of the CTO Lens Podcast, Sophie and David discuss various topics including AI training initiatives, Apple's sales trends, digital sovereignty, and the future of driverless cars. They also delve into the importance of incident management and organisational culture with guests Joe and Hamid from Uptime Labs, also sharing personal experiences of IT outages. The conversation emphasises the need for resilience in tech organisations and covers the metrics that can help measure success in incident management. The episode concludes with a product angled mid-episode game (titled ‘Tech to the Top’). Find out more about Uptime Labs: https://uptimelabs.io/ Link for London Tech Leaders Upcoming Events:https://luma.com/londontechleaders?k=c

    1h 4m

  2. JAN 27

    Season 2: Episode 7 - Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff vs the Devil’s in the Detail

    In this week’s episode of The CTO Lens Podcast, Sophie and David cover a wide range of topics. They dive into the challenges facing the gaming industry, youth social media regulations, and discuss the balance between big-picture thinking and attention to detail in leadership during our leadership focused segment.  The episode concludes with the mid-episode game (titled ‘Tech to the Top’) and a disaster diary, where the hosts reflect on whether Agile is still working? Link for London Tech Leaders Upcoming Events: https://luma.com/londontechleaders?k=c

    1h 5m

  3. JAN 21

    Season 2: Episode 6 - Women in Technology Leadership: Have We Seen Any Progress?

    In this week’s episode of the CTO Lens podcast, hosts Sophie Valentine and David Crawford delve into various topics, starting with the internet outage in Iran, AI generated singers and a discussion about Elon Musk's relationships and the implications of AI in our daily lives. Sophie and David then welcome guest Hema Purohit, who brings her extensive experience in technology and leadership development to the conversation. Hema discusses her Leadership Essentials masterclass, emphasising the importance of visibility versus volume in career advancement for women. She highlights the need for women to take on riskier projects and build relationships with senior leaders to enhance their visibility and career prospects. The episode concludes with the mid-episode game (titled ‘Tech or Fake’ and a disaster diary, where the hosts reflect on the build vs. buy dilemma in tech, providing insights on making informed decisions in product development. Find out more about Hema here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hemapurohit/

    1h 6m

  4. JAN 13

    Season 2: Episode 5 - The Art of Communicating + AOREN Framework

    In this episode, Sophie and David discuss the latest developments in technology, including Nvidia's new AI platform for self-driving cars, the implications of ChatGPT in healthcare, and Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI.  Furthermore, the hosts discuss essential communication skills for modern leaders, emphasising the importance of active listening, empathy, and understanding different communication styles. They explore the challenges of communicating in a tech-driven environment, particularly with neurodiverse teams. Guest Ben Pearce shares insights on storytelling and frameworks for effective communication, highlighting the need for clarity and flexibility in interactions.  Finally, David and Sophie take part in the weekly mid-episode game (titled ‘Name That UK Tech City’) and also explore the challenges of transitioning into leadership roles and the importance of vulnerability in fostering team cohesion.  You can find out more about Ben Pearce here: https://www.elevatedyou.live/ctolens

    1h 26m

  5. JAN 6

    Season 2: Episode 4 - Project Tech Rescue

    In this engaging conversation, Sophie Valentine and David Crawford reflect on their Christmas and New Year experiences, discussing the transition back to work and the challenges of disconnecting during the holidays. They delve into tech trends from 2025 and predictions for 2026, particularly focusing on the evolving landscape of AI and consumer technology. David and Sophie also discuss the evolution of IoT and health technology, emphasising the potential for innovative applications in health and communication. They explore the challenges of project management, particularly the early signs of project failure and the importance of communication in addressing these issues. The conversation highlights the need for transparency and proactive measures to ensure project success, ultimately advocating for a culture of open dialogue and accountability in teams. They also play the weekly mid-episode game, titled this week as 'The Resolution Race'!

    59 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    Season 2: Episode 3 - Sitting Down with Your Younger Self

    In this episode, David and Sophie discuss their Christmas preparations, share technology news highlights, and delve into the importance of giving advice to one's younger self. They also take part in the weekly 'Mid Episode Game' titled 'Guess The Year' and conclude with the 'Disaster Diaries' segment, which sparks conversation on the significance of team culture and the common struggles faced by new leaders in tech.

    55 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Season 2: Episode 2 - Climbing the Tech Ladder

    In this episode of CTO Lens, hosts David Crawford and Sophie Valentine discuss personal updates, technology news, and the transition from CTO to CEO with guest Hywel Carver. They explore the challenges of maintaining a strong security culture during rapid growth, the importance of empathy in leadership, and the balance between innovation and security. The episode also features insights from a listener's disaster diary about security breaches and the need for organisational accountability.

    58 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Season 2: Episode 1 - 'Before You Say Yes'

    In this episode of CTO Lens, David Crawford and new co-host Sophie Valentine discuss the evolution of the podcast, play a fun game of 'Two Truths and a Lie', and dive into the recent tech budget and its implications for startups. They also explore key questions to ask CEOs during interviews for CTO roles, emphasizing the importance of understanding company challenges, team dynamics, and the role of technology in business. In this episode, the hosts engage in light-hearted discussions about Christmas traditions, travel plans, and the excitement of new car ownership. They introduce a fun mid-episode game that tests their knowledge, followed by a serious conversation about the challenges of explaining AI to non-technical board members. The conversation emphasises the importance of empathy, collaboration, and effective communication in technology leadership.

    59 min
See All (17)

About

A fresh look at what it really means to lead technology in today’s fast‑changing world. Hosted by seasoned CTO and thinker David Crawford, and co‑host, experienced product leader Sophie Valentine, The CTO Lens blends candid conversations with industry leaders, covers the latest tech news, and includes a whole host of personal insights and practical leadership lessons for the modern technology executive. From navigating roles, to understanding team culture, AI, tech strategy, and real‑world challenges, each episode offers both depth and everyday relevance. Whether you’re a current senior leader or aspiring to this role, The CTO Lens gives you perspectives that cut through noise - with clarity, humour, and a human touch.

Information

  • Creator
    London Tech Leaders
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 London Tech Leaders
  • Show Website
    The CTO Lens