The CTOx Podcast

CTOx
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For technology leaders that are navigating the fractional CTO landscape

  1. FEB 12 · VIDEO

    Scaling is Soil, Not Force: Creating Environments Where Growth is Inevitable

    What if scaling isn’t about pushing harder—but about designing better conditions? In this episode, Lior unpacks the powerful idea that growth should be inevitable, not forced. Using metaphors like soil, aquariums, and sprinkler systems, he challenges leaders to stop chasing one-time wins and start building repeatable, regenerative systems. From shifting your mindset from annual goals to monthly velocity, to addressing risk and operational bottlenecks before scaling, this conversation reframes how Fractional CTOs and tech leaders think about sustainable growth. If you want to move from firefighting to system design—and build businesses that thrive without constant heroics—this episode offers a practical blueprint for long-term, reliable scale.   You’ll learn: Why focusing on velocity (monthly, repeatable outcomes) is more powerful than chasing big annual goals How to identify and eliminate risk and bottlenecks before adding scale The difference between one-time wins and truly repeatable growth systems How to move from firefighting problems to installing “sprinkler systems” in your organization Why leaders must shift from control and heroics to designing resilient, regenerative systems   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    37 min

  2. JAN 16 · VIDEO

    The Apple Tree vs. Summer Corn: Choosing Long-Term Over Short-Term CTO Wins

    In this episode, Lior Weinstein breaks down a powerful metaphor every Fractional CTO needs to understand: planting apple trees versus harvesting summer corn. Through real-world stories and hard-earned lessons, Leor explores the tension between short-term cash flow and long-term compounding opportunities. He explains why trust, reputation, and alignment are the true assets that create durable success—and how chasing only quick wins leads to exhaustion. From structuring advisory work and upside compensation to using generosity as a strategic advantage, this conversation offers a grounded framework for balancing immediate income with future leverage. If you’re building a fractional practice and want results that last beyond the next contract, this episode reframes how to think about growth, timing, and value creation.   You’ll learn: How the “apple tree vs. summer corn” metaphor applies directly to Fractional CTO work and income stability Why trust and reputation compound into long-term opportunities that outlast any single trend Practical ways to balance short-term cash engagements with long-term upside and leverage How timing—not just good ideas—determines whether opportunities succeed or fail Why over-giving builds stronger alignment, referrals, and future deal flow   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    21 min

  3. JAN 8 · VIDEO

    Freedom of Relationship: Designing a Business Around People Who Give You Energy

    In this episode, Lior and Marissa explore the idea of freedom of relationship—an often-overlooked lever in building a sustainable fractional CTO practice. The conversation reframes freedom beyond time and money, focusing instead on the energy exchanged with clients, partners, and collaborators. Leor shares how intentionally choosing who you work with can dramatically impact performance, health, and long-term fulfillment. From spotting early warning signs in client behavior to designing contracts and systems that preserve optionality, this episode offers a practical lens for leaders who want to build businesses around people who energize rather than drain them.   You’ll learn: What “freedom of relationship” really means for fractional CTOs and founders How energy—not credentials or revenue—becomes the ultimate filter for clients Early behavioral signals that indicate a draining or misaligned relationship Why flexible contracts and exit ramps protect long-term freedom Practical steps to address or exit unhealthy professional relationships   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    15 min

  4. 12/18/2025 · VIDEO

    Scaling Up, Scaling Down, and Rolling Off: How to Rebalance Your Client Portfolio with Intention

    In this episode, the conversation focuses on how Fractional CTOs and independent tech leaders can intentionally rebalance their client portfolio as their business evolves. Rather than defaulting to reactive decisions, the discussion explores when to scale up, when to scale down, and how to roll off clients without damaging relationships or income stability. You’ll hear practical guidance on assessing client fit, recognizing early signals that an engagement has run its course, and making space for better-aligned opportunities. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, under-leveraged, or unsure which clients to keep versus let go, this episode provides a clear framework for making those decisions with confidence.   You’ll learn: How to evaluate your current client mix through a leverage and energy lens When scaling up a client relationship makes sense—and when it doesn’t Clear signals that indicate it’s time to scale down or roll off a client How to exit engagements professionally without burning bridges How intentional portfolio management creates long-term stability and growth   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    11 min

  5. 12/11/2025 · VIDEO

    Boundaries That Build Trust: Serving Clients Without Feeling Like You Have 10 Hungry Children

    In this episode, Marissa and Lior dig into one of the hardest parts of running a fractional CTO practice: setting boundaries that actually build trust instead of eroding it. They unpack why overwhelm is usually a systems problem, not a capacity problem, and how saying “yes” to everything quietly turns you into a glorified gopher instead of a strategic leader. You’ll hear concrete examples of reshaping communication expectations, eliminating low-value standing meetings, defining personal non-negotiables, and knowing when a client has crossed a line enough times to become a former client. If you’ve ever felt like every client is a hungry child tugging at your sleeve, this conversation will help you design a calmer, more intentional practice.   You’ll learn: Why clear boundaries are essential to being seen as a leader instead of a doer across multiple clients. How to treat overwhelm as a signal to improve planning, meeting cadence, and alerting systems—not work more hours. The most common boundary mistakes fractional leaders make, from saying yes to everything to overcommitting on communication. How to respond when clients repeatedly cross boundaries, including defining non-negotiables and gracefully ending engagements. Practical first boundaries to set—like cancelling standing meetings and dropping “guaranteed” response times—to quickly relieve pressure.   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    19 min

  6. 12/05/2025 · VIDEO

    Think About How You Think: Philosophical Tools for CTOs

    In this episode, Marissa and Lior zoom out from tools and tactics to examine your real leverage as a leader: how you think. They unpack the idea of treating your mind as an operating system, exploring epistemology, mental models, and the tiny shifts in thought that compound into huge differences in outcomes. Through concrete examples from fractional CTO work—like moving from being in control to truly being in charge, integrating head, heart, and gut in hiring, and handling uncertainty with principles rather than panic—you’ll get practical ways to audit your decisions, realign your time with what you actually want, and upgrade the thinking that drives every action you take as a technologist and fractional CTO today.   You’ll learn: How to observe your own thinking retrospectively so you understand how you’re coming to conclusions as a leader. The difference between being “in control” and being “in charge,” and why great CTOs need to get out of the driver’s seat to scale. How to integrate brain, heart, and gut intelligence—especially in high-stakes hiring and firing decisions. How to handle risk vs true uncertainty by relying on principles and structure instead of chasing perfect data. A simple cadence to review your goals, calendar, and actions so you can continuously upgrade your “mental code.”   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth #DecisionMaking #MentalModels #CTOxPodcast

    17 min

  7. 11/20/2025 · VIDEO

    Fail Spectacularly: Why Owning Your Screw-Ups Builds Trust

    In this episode, Marissa and Lior reframe failure as a core leadership asset, not a personal defect. They explore why the leaders people trust most aren’t the ones who never mess up—but the ones who own their decisions, explain their intent, and stay honest about what went wrong. You’ll hear how “failing spectacularly” in front of your team creates psychological safety, invites shared learning, and actually strengthens your reputation over time. They unpack practical ways to separate your self-worth from your business outcomes, run healing retrospectives, and decide when to push through, pivot, or walk away from stalled initiatives.   You’ll learn: How admitting mistakes openly can deepen trust with clients, teams, and partners instead of damaging your reputation. A practical way to talk about failure using intent, ownership, and clear “here’s what I’d do differently next time” framing. How to run team retrospectives that turn “colossal cascading failures” into shared insight and systemic improvements. Why underestimating the necessary volume and consistency of effort leads many Fractional CTOs to quit too early. How to create an environment where mistakes are expected, processed together, and used to drive progress rather than guilt.   If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    33 min

  8. 11/13/2025 · VIDEO

    Habitats for Inspiration: How to Stay Inspired as an Entrepreneur

    In this episode , Marissa and Lior unpack what it really means to build a “habitat for inspiration” as a founder, rather than chasing rare, one-off moments of motivation. They explore how your everyday environment, community, and business model can either fuel creativity or quietly drain it, and why protecting your energy is a core leadership skill, not a luxury. You’ll hear stories about curating the people around you, shifting your physical space, aligning work with your passions, and knowing when to hit the reset button before inspiration turns into obligation—all so you can stay curious, energized, and effective long after the startup honeymoon phase fades, with practical habits you can start applying in your week immediately.   You’ll learn: How to rethink inspiration as a daily habitat you intentionally design, instead of something that only happens on rare retreats or vacations. How to tune your environment—desk, quotes, music, temperature, and sensory cues—so it naturally nudges you into creative, idea-generating mode. How curating a community of proactive, open-minded people expands your sense of what’s possible and makes momentum contagious. How to avoid the trap of hubris by seeking perspectives outside your bubble and using conversation to unlock stuck problems. How to align your business model with your passions, filter out energy-draining work, and use audits and resets before inspiration turns into obligation. If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.   🔔 Subscribe for more insights on tech leadership.   #FractionalCTO #Leadership #Hiring #TechLeadership #StartupGrowth

    25 min
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About

For technology leaders that are navigating the fractional CTO landscape

Information

  • Creator
    CTOx
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The CTOx Podcast