The CTO Playbook

Adam Horner
  • 5.0 (2)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The CTO Playbook

Join Adam Horner, a CTO with over 30 years in the tech industry, on The CTO Playbook — the podcast dedicated to helping CTOs excel. Perfect for CTOs and tech leaders navigating the complexities of their roles, each episode offers clear insights, innovative strategies, and practical advice from top leaders in tech. With Adam’s extensive experience mentoring engineers and tech leaders, and over a decade as a CTO, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to build and refine your own CTO playbook. Whether you're tackling complex projects, fostering innovation, leading teams, or shaping your company's tech strategy, this podcast is your go-to resource. Adam’s journey from engineer to strategic CTO was challenging. He learned through the school of hard knocks, making avoidable mistakes and facing countless challenges. Often out of his comfort zone and wishing for more guidance, he created this podcast to provide the support and advice he once lacked. Tune in for engaging interviews, leadership tips, and the latest in technology strategy. Each episode is designed to help you lead with confidence and level up as a CTO. Listen now to start your journey with The CTO Playbook and build your own playbook to excel in your role.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    26: Microsoft Insider Reveals The Biggest Leadership Mistakes with Dave Wascha

    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 build trust and effectively lead cross-functional teams. Timestamps: [08:23] Lessons learned from mistakes at Microsoft [11:00] Transitioning to product-focused roles [13:45] Adopting customer-focused strategies at Microsoft   [16:10] Moving to the UK and joining MOO   [17:32] Differences in product management between the US and UK   [19:08] Expanding MOO’s product lines and markets   [20:44] First combined product and tech leadership role   [23:13] When to combine product and tech roles   [24:35] Distinguishing between tech-enabled and deep tech businesses   [25:31] Avoiding tension between product and tech teams   [27:09] Challenges with re-platforming [29:12] Handling legacy systems and updates   [31:04] Balancing product and tech priorities   [32:27] The importance of titles and team representation   [34:16] Managing relationships with other executives   [36:25] Challenges of stakeholder management   [37:46] The cost of misalignment in leadership   [39:12] Tips for avoiding executive misalignment   [40:27] Building trust as a new tech leader   To learn more from Dave, connect with him on LinkedIn. Resources Mentioned: MOO | Website Photobox | Website Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    45 min

  2. JAN 7

    25: Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring and Onboarding

    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 [11:02] Designing coding assessments [12:08] Architectural and standards evaluations [12:46] Assessing cultural fit [13:16] The pressure release test [14:22] Crafting effective interview questions [14:57] Using situational achievement assessments [15:45] Typical interview stages [16:33] Selling the role during final interviews [17:38] Tracking candidate funnel metrics [18:16] Scoring and benchmarking candidates [18:59] Blind voting in group interviews [19:56] Enhancing candidate experience [20:45] Communicating rejection feedback [21:52] Tools for managing recruiting processes [22:28] Making and presenting job offers [23:39] Engaging new hires before start date [24:35] Structuring onboarding processes [25:58] Leveraging probation periods [26:54] The value of a coordinated recruiting approach [27:34] Investing in the recruiting process [28:04] Training teams on recruiting skills [28:51] Defaulting to no hire when unsure [29:20] Creating an amazing onboarding experience Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    30 min

  3. 12/31/2024

    24: War-Time Lessons Every Startup Leader Must Know with Roman Labunsky

    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. Roman is the CTO and co-founder of a cybersecurity startup specializing in third-party risk management. He is 40 years old, married and a father to a 2-year-old girl. Roman lives in Israel with his family and two dogs. He has been in the tech industry for over two decades, holding various engineering roles including software developer, team lead and software architect in both startups and enterprises across the security space. Between 2017 and 2023, he served as VP of R&D for a startup in the Kubernetes security space, where he led the company through growth and eventual closure when funding ran out. Over the past year, Roman co-founded and served as CTO of a technological military unit in the Israeli Defense Force. With the unit now firmly established, he is focusing on his startup.  Timestamps: [03:00] Roman’s journey into tech leadership [05:20] Building a new military tech unit [07:35] Early challenges in a high-stakes environment [09:56] Adapting to military operations during wartime [12:10] Overcoming bureaucratic barriers for faster delivery [14:54] Managing short-term volunteers effectively [17:07] Why traditional onboarding didn’t work [18:13] The role of documentation in smooth transitions [20:07] Setting a two-day onboarding goal [22:23] Standardizing processes for efficiency [24:18] The importance of automation for rapid delivery [26:30] Navigating bureaucracy as the war progressed [27:54] Conducting offboarding interviews for improvements [30:37] Challenges of leading large-scale projects [31:54] Starting simple with team structures [34:24] Avoiding imported processes and frameworks [35:10] The reality of rewriting code in early startups [36:58] Streamlining recruitment for large-scale hiring [39:26] Balancing risk and speed in recruitment [42:33] Choosing tools that teams will actually use [45:07] Delegating decisions to the teams [46:43] Fixing breakages instead of overplanning [48:12] Importance of communication for alignment Connect with Roman on LinkedIn. Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    50 min

  4. 12/24/2024

    23: Two CTOs Face Off in a Christmas Showdown

    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 planning   [04:04] Team fixes festive tech mishaps   [04:35] Holiday hackathon fails disastrously   [05:21] Leadership inspires calm and efficient teamwork   [05:58] Demo glitches with embarrassing bugs   [06:30] Smooth presentation wins investor funding   [07:28] Reveals coach’s lessons for steady progress   [08:24] Both CTOs learn valuable leadership lessons  Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    8 min

  5. 12/17/2024

    22: The Secret to Leading Diverse Tech Teams with Alena Ipanova

    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. She helps leaders and teams develop Cultural Intelligence, build inclusive workplaces, and create high-performing teams. With 15 years of experience and a background in psychology, coaching, and intercultural leadership, Alena combines research with best practices from her work across industries. Her goal is to support leaders and teams in developing a global mindset and an inclusive company culture. Alena’s work is centred on her clients' real needs. She aims to provide solutions that continue to help them long after each project ends. Alena approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by considering not only visible differences but also cognitive diversity, psychological safety, and practices that promote a sense of belonging and teamwork. In her personal life, Alena is an adventurous traveller and curious learner, always interested in people and cultures. She lives with her family in a new country each year. Timestamps: [03:00] What cultural intelligence means [05:10] Misconceptions about cultural differences [07:15] Challenges of working in multicultural teams [09:25] Why self-awareness is essential for leaders [12:40] How feedback improves self-awareness [15:30] Common pitfalls in cultural leadership [17:45] Differences between personal and organizational norms [20:20] Signs of poor cultural awareness in teams [22:50] Simple exercises for self-assessment [25:15] How the global disk assessment works [27:30] Bridging communication gaps in diverse teams [29:50] How team culture mapping improves dynamics [32:05] Building relationships through informal check-ins [34:15] Why curiosity matters in cultural intelligence [36:20] Adapting communication styles to different contexts [38:10] How to improve team meetings with better questions [40:05] Practicing and unlearning old communication habits [42:30] Importance of leaders modelling inclusive behaviour [44:15] Encouraging curiosity in diverse teams [45:45] How to leverage cultural diversity for better outcomes If you would like to connect with Alena you can book a call with her and follow her on LinkedIn. Resources Mentioned: Cultural Intelligence | Website Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    47 min

  6. 12/10/2024

    21: 4 Steps to Becoming a Leader Worth Following with Adrian Stanek

    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. Adrian Stanek is a veteran CTO with a 24-year track record in the tech industry, specializing in elevating SMBs and startups. His 15-year tenure as a strategic leader has been marked by cultivating modern engineering cultures and guiding companies into Cloud-Native practices. A mentor, senior consultant, speaker, and newsletter author, Adrian is a driving force in tech, passionate about continuous learning and the power of DevOps. Timestamps: [03:05] Adrian’s journey to becoming a leader [04:15] Why leadership roles often catch people by surprise [05:45] The biggest mistake new leaders make [07:10] The importance of learning from your team [08:30] How to recognize poor leadership habits [10:05] Why IT leadership structures are changing [11:30] The ideal team size for effective leadership [12:45] Balancing different leadership styles in teams [14:00] The challenges of managing hybrid and remote teams [15:20] How to spot when leadership is failing [17:00] Understanding the role of deadlines in leadership [18:45] Why leaders should focus on removing roadblocks [20:30] The difference between managing and leading [22:15] Dealing with dominant personalities in teams [24:00] Why strong personalities can benefit a team [25:40] How to create a positive team culture [27:05] Using credibility to build trust as a leader [28:45] Why role modelling is essential in leadership [30:20] How a clear vision motivates teams [31:55] The storytelling framework for leaders [33:15] Why leadership is about enabling others [34:40] Challenges leaders face with resistance [36:10] How to turn resistance into momentum [37:55] Why leadership must be consistent [39:30] The role of intrinsic motivation in team success [41:05] How to balance technical and leadership responsibilities [42:40] When to shift fully into a leadership role [44:15] Why CTOs must bridge business and technology gaps [46:00] The importance of aligning with your vision [47:30] How to create meaningful challenges for your team [49:10] Why effective leaders always prioritize clarity [51:00] Adrian’s advice for new CTOs Discover all of Adrian’s offerings by clicking here. Resources Mentioned: snackableCTO | Substack snackableCast | Spotify or Apple Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    55 min

  7. 12/03/2024

    20: How to Master Communication for Effective Leadership

    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 listening helps build trust with your team   [13:40] Tips for conducting successful one-on-ones   [15:00] Why asking open-ended questions improves feedback   [16:25] The importance of letting others speak first in meetings   [18:15] Encouraging silent team members to share their opinions   [20:05] Leveraging anonymous feedback tools for honest insights   [21:30] How survey tools can gauge team morale   [23:10] Common mistakes in team status meetings   [24:45] Benefits of asynchronous communication for status updates   [26:20] Choosing the right audience for your communication   [28:10] Effective strategies for communicating major changes   [30:05] Preparing for high-stakes meetings with agendas   [31:50] Using storytelling to make messages stick   [33:35] Building trust through transparency and honesty   [35:10] The impact of systemic communication in engineering   [36:45] Workflow communication tools for better project management   [38:30] Preparing your team for unexpected emergencies Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    41 min

  8. 11/26/2024

    19: Tech Leaders Need Empathy, Not Just Code with Gareth Thomas

    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. Gareth Thomas is a creative technology executive with deep expertise in both product strategy and engineering leadership, backed by extensive CIO/CTO and board-level experience. He has proven to have the ability to lead large, cross-functional teams and harness AI to drive innovation, accelerate product development, and scale businesses in high-growth sectors such as pharma, insurance, digital health, and financial services. Timestamps: [03:10] Gareth’s journey from software engineer to CTO   [04:23] Why he moved from coding to leadership   [05:54] How burnout shaped his approach to managing teams   [07:06] Creating high-performing tech teams without burnout   [08:31] The power of empathy in leading tech teams   [09:45] Why managing people is not taught to new leaders   [10:53] How to avoid common leadership pitfalls   [12:04] Navigating the loneliness of the CTO role   [13:20] Balancing the needs of the C-suite with engineering   [14:58] The “us vs. them” mindset in leadership   [16:15] Promoting from within to build strong teams   [17:34] Identifying key players early on   [18:45] Gareth’s method for assessing team satisfaction   [20:09] Spotting early signs of employee dissatisfaction   [21:35] Building trust with one-on-one conversations   [22:57] The importance of “fire jumpers” in tech teams   [24:10] How senior engineers solve complex problems   [25:33] The challenge of managing remote teams   [26:58] Bridging the gap between tech and business teams   [28:12] The value of experienced individual contributors   [29:44] Justifying high salaries for top engineers   [30:59] Why coding experience is critical for CTOs   [32:16] Problems with non-technical CTOs   [33:35] The intuition that comes with deep coding experience   [34:51] Building a company culture around mentorship   [36:05] Improving the interview process for better hires   [37:29] Reducing bias in hiring decisions   [38:47] Scaling teams while keeping a flat structure   [39:58] Using empathy to retain top talent   [41:22] Rethinking hiring strategies in tech   [42:38] Advice for new CTOs facing leadership challenges   [43:55] The rise of the individual contributor role   [45:10] Creating clear career progression paths   [46:28] Empowering engineers with ownership   [47:40] Leveraging internal promotions for growth   [48:59] Gareth’s thoughts on leadership training   [50:15] Aligning tech goals with business strategy   Want to hear more from Gareth? Check out the Tech-Captains Podcast. Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join Adam Horner, a CTO with over 30 years in the tech industry, on The CTO Playbook — the podcast dedicated to helping CTOs excel. Perfect for CTOs and tech leaders navigating the complexities of their roles, each episode offers clear insights, innovative strategies, and practical advice from top leaders in tech. With Adam’s extensive experience mentoring engineers and tech leaders, and over a decade as a CTO, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to build and refine your own CTO playbook. Whether you're tackling complex projects, fostering innovation, leading teams, or shaping your company's tech strategy, this podcast is your go-to resource. Adam’s journey from engineer to strategic CTO was challenging. He learned through the school of hard knocks, making avoidable mistakes and facing countless challenges. Often out of his comfort zone and wishing for more guidance, he created this podcast to provide the support and advice he once lacked. Tune in for engaging interviews, leadership tips, and the latest in technology strategy. Each episode is designed to help you lead with confidence and level up as a CTO. Listen now to start your journey with The CTO Playbook and build your own playbook to excel in your role.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Horner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024
  • Show Website
    The CTO Playbook

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