The CTO Podcast
340 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratingsThe CTO Podcast explores the worlds of Chief Technical officers as they manage the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of technologists in the C-suite. Hosted by Etienne de Bruin, founder of 7CTOs and author of CTO Excellence in 100 Days: Becoming the leader your company deserves.
www.ctopod.com
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Episodes
Running a Dev Shop Agency, with Ryan Vice
November 27, 2018 16:17 - 38 minutes - 70.4 MBWhat makes a great dev shop agency? Someone who knows what it takes and is running a dev shop agency of his own is Ryan Vice. Ryan is the founder of Vice Software. His passion is dev and he’s fully immersed in the world of scoping projects, devving them and giving his clients what they want. On today’s CTO Studio, Ryan explains how Vice Software got started, why empathy is so critical as a CTO or other tech leader and his personal recommendations for running a dev shop agency. In this e...
Software Development: From Servant Leadership to Afghanistan, with Aaron Longwell
November 20, 2018 19:33 - 37 minutes - 68.9 MBServant leadership is a term that gets used a lot, but what does it mean in the software development world? Here to tell us is Aaron Longwell. Today Aaron is a consultant who recently wrote a blog post on why software development requires servant leadership. The article was so popular it made it to the top of Hacker News. Aaron tells us the story behind that event, plus the software project he’s working on for the legal system in Afghanistan. You’ll hear the details on those topics and mor...
How CTOs Can Harness the Power of Branding , with Timothy Maurice
November 13, 2018 12:37 - 46 minutes - 85.7 MBDid you know Nelson Mandela rebranded his image? He did. You’ll hear that story as well as how CTOs can harness the power of branding from our guest today, Timothy Maurice. Timothy is an American living in South Africa, and that is where we begin our conversation on this edition of CTO Studio. He explains he dated one of Nelson Mandela's granddaughters for 10 years, and having access to Nelson Mandela and people like him has influenced his time in South Africa and were the reason he ultima...
The Startup World of Europe, with Duncan Davidson
November 06, 2018 16:25 - 1 hour - 118 MBWhat is the startup world of Europe like? How does it differ from the tech startup scene in the U.S. and how is it similar? Duncan Davidson can tell you and he does on today’s episode of CTO Studio. Duncan is the CTO in Residence at Microsoft for Startups Europe. On this show, we dive into the European tech world as well as his Apache Ant creation. We also discuss which city is at the heart of the tech scene in Europe, what the general consensus is on Silicon Valley and a whole lot more. J...
The Startup World of Europe, with Duncan Davidson
November 06, 2018 16:24What is the startup world of Europe like? How does it differ from the tech startup scene in the U.S. and how is it similar? Duncan Davidson can tell you and he does on today’s episode of CTO Studio. Duncan is the CTO in Residence at Microsoft for Startups Europe. On this show, we dive into the European tech world as well as his Apache Ant creation. We also discuss which city is at the heart of the tech scene in Europe, what the general consensus is on Silicon Valley and a whole lot more. J...
Using Social Media to Connect With Your Users, with Bill Vieux
October 30, 2018 11:27 - 34 minutes - 63.6 MBSocial media is an everyday part of our lives, and there are some major advantages to using social media to connect with your users. Here to explain those advantages and the best ways to tap into your marketplace via social media is Bill Vieux. Bill is the CTO of Casual Fridays and the co-founder of Tack. On today’s CTO Studio, he tells us what each of his companies provide for their clients, some simple tools to help you better reach your existing loyal users and personalize your connecti...
The 5 S’s of A Lean Workplace, with Ken Cone
October 23, 2018 16:26 - 48 minutes - 88.9 MBLean principles aren’t necessarily new, but someone who has been applying them with great results is Ken Cone. Ken is the CTO and co-owner of Radeus Labs in San Diego, and today he shares with us the 5 S’s of a lean workplace and how his company uses them. On today’s CTO Studio, Ken also tells us where he went to school to hone his tech skills, and where his initial love of technology began. You’ll get to hear all of that and more on this show! In this episode, you’ll hear: What is pee...
How Teams Can Collaborate Effectively, with Woody Zuill
October 16, 2018 18:15 - 42 minutes - 78.4 MBOne of the most important aspects of a company is its team and finding how teams can collaborate effectively. It’s a common approach to separate people into teams and tasks, but is that the most efficient way to accomplish your goals? Here to tell us is Woody Zuill. Woody is one of the original founders of Mob Programming, taking a “whole team” approach to teamwork in software development. He’s also been programming for 35+ years and has 15+ years as an Agile coach. He knows what constitut...
Aligning Technology and Your Vision, Mission and Values, with Chris Doig
October 09, 2018 13:04 - 39 minutes - 72.5 MBWhy does aligning technology and your vision, mission and values matter to the success of your business? Chris Doig is here to tell us. Chris’ company, Wayferry, specializes exclusively in software evaluation. Based on their research and data analysis they help companies select the right software to align with the clients’ needs, values, mission and vision. On this episode, Chris explains how Wayferry began, how they work with their clients and what his book is all about. Join us to hear...
Technology and The Ethics of Data Collection , with Fabrice Gould
October 02, 2018 14:38 - 44 minutes - 81.2 MBWith Europe’s GDPR and Facebook and Cambridge Analytica in the news of late, technology’s role in data collection and the ethics of it is a hot topic. Joining us to share his considerable expertise is Fabrice Gould of Diggen. Fabrice has long had a love of data integration, and all of his startups are steeped in that passion. You’ll get a taste of that passion today; you’ll hear him explain what a data service provider actually is, how his company helps other companies stay compliant in t...
How GoFundMe Was Built, with Andy Ballester
September 25, 2018 10:51 - 46 minutes - 85.7 MBToday everyone knows about crowdfunding websites, but how was GoFundMe built? It was one of the first of its kind and today you’ll hear the story of its inception, formation and reformulation and its tremendous growth. Joining us for this edition of CTO Studio is Andy Ballester, one of the co-founders of GoFundMe. Today Andy and his co-founder Brad Damphousse sit on the board of GoFundMe, but our discussion will take you back to the beginning when it was just Andy and Brad and an idea. Lis...
Understanding AGI, AI and Machine Learning, with Alex Bates
September 18, 2018 17:35 - 28 minutes - 52.5 MBWhat are the differences between AGI, AI and machine learning? Our guest today knows the answer to this question, and much more about each of these fascinating areas of tech today. Alex Bates, CTO of MTell, joins us to share his experiences in the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence. You’ll hear us discuss the differences between artificial intelligence, artificial general intelligence, and machine learning along with what’s next in these areas. Listen in for that and mor...
Is There a Genuine Need For Your Idea? with Vidya Dinamani
September 11, 2018 14:11 - 45 minutes - 83 MBIs there a genuine need for your idea? Can you know the answer to this question before you write the first line of code, and how important is it to know? Yes and very says our guest for this episode of CTO Studio. Vidya Dinamani is the co-founder and principal of Product Rebels, a company that works with product leaders, founders and product teams at any level. She is also an advisor and partner with Lash, a start-up I have also joined as a partner and advisor. Today she explains why she...
Is There a Genuine Need For Your Idea? with Vidya Dinamani
September 11, 2018 14:11Is there a genuine need for your idea? Can you know the answer to this question before you write the first line of code, and how important is it to know? Yes and very says our guest for this episode of CTO Studio. Vidya Dinamani is the co-founder and principal of Product Rebels, a company that works with product leaders, founders and product teams at any level. She is also an advisor and partner with Lash, a start-up I have also joined as a partner and advisor. Today she explains why she...
Is There a Genuine Need For Your Idea? with Vidya Dinamani
September 11, 2018 14:07Is there a genuine need for your idea? Can you know the answer to this question before you write the first line of code, and how important is it to know? Yes and very says our guest for this episode of CTO Studio. Vidya Dinamani is the co-founder and principal of Product Rebels, a company that works with product leaders, founders and product teams at any level. She is also an advisor and partner with Lash, a start-up I have also joined as a partner and advisor. Today she explains why she...
Is There a Genuine Need For Your Idea? with Vidya Dinamani
September 11, 2018 14:06Is there a genuine need for your idea? Can you know the answer to this question before you write the first line of code, and how important is it to know? Yes and very says our guest for this episode of CTO Studio. Vidya Dinamani is the co-founder and principal of Product Rebels, a company that works with product leaders, founders and product teams at any level. She is also an advisor and partner with Lash, a start-up I have also joined as a partner and advisor. Today she explains why she...
How to Find The Best Employees in Tech Today, with Casey Kleindienst
September 04, 2018 14:40 - 52 minutes - 97 MBHave you interviewed and hired someone only to have it not work out soon after? How to find the best employees in tech today is a subject best answered by our guest, Casey Kleindienst. Casey is a Management Professor at Cal State Fullerton and a consultant to small and medium enterprises. Prior to these positions he worked in the private industry for over three decades in roles like Vice President of Operations and Director of Supply Chain Systems. Throughout his career he’s gained insight...
Why Creating Diversity in Tech Matters, with Alex Balazs
August 30, 2018 21:01 - 53 minutes - 97.8 MBThe topic of “why creating diversity in tech matters” is a popular subject, and it’s something I’m asked about frequently. To give his seasoned insight is Alex Balazs, our guest today. Alex has been with Intuit for 19 years, and is a Senior Vice President and Chief Architect. He’s also an advisory board member for Tech Women @ Intuit, a program dedicated to making Intuit the top choice for women technologists. He’s learned much from being involved in that program, along with his other resp...
How to Work With Your Product Manager, with Ryan Willemsen
August 21, 2018 11:36 - 43 minutes - 79.3 MBLearning how to work with your product manager as a CTO is a crucial responsibility, one that can mean the difference between success and failure. Joining us to share his insight into this role and how best to work with the team member in it is Ryan Willemsen. Ryan works as a product manager for Assurance, an insurance tech company. He’s also worked as a consultant in the field, and knows firsthand what CTOs can and should be doing with their product managers to ensure smooth operations fr...
Understanding AI, Machine Learning and Reasoning Computing with Khai Pham
August 14, 2018 15:54 - 32 minutes - 59.8 MBAI is a broad term used as an umbrella to encapsulate machine learning and more. To get a true understanding of AI, machine learning and reasoning computing I invited my friend Khai Pham to join us. Today on CTO Studio Khai and I talk about why we need more than machine learning, how he got into the field during medical school and what’s up next in the AI market. Khai is the expert in this field and he’s sharing his wisdom, insights and knowledge on this edition of CTO Studio. In this e...
The IT Challenges of Managing 400+ Retail Locations, with Yash Muralidharan
August 07, 2018 10:52 - 40 minutes - 74.3 MBAs the Vice-President of IT for Jenny Craig and Curves our guest for this show knows exactly how challenging it is to manage IT services for 400 retail locations around the world. Yashwant Muralidharan does this every day, and he shares the wisdom he’s learned with us on today’s episode. Specifically we talk about how they manage the shipping logistics for sending frozen meals to their customers around the world, why they chose cloud over data management centers and much more. Join us to h...
How Habits Determine Your Success, with Jeff Winkler
July 31, 2018 15:35 - 48 minutes - 89.5 MBHow habits determine your success is something our guest for today knows firsthand! Jeff Winkler is the co-founder of Origin Code Academy, an organization that helps students get the skills they need to start and succeed in software development. On today’s show we begin by talking about good habits, bad habits and affirmations. Specifically we dig into which books are most helpful, and what Jeff does to persevere in the face of the many challenges of an entrepreneur’s daily life. Join us t...
How to Evolve With Market Changes, with Benji Koltai #18
July 24, 2018 14:39 - 39 minutes - 73.1 MBThe market can change in the blink of an eye so how to evolve with market changes is a valuable tool to have in your repertoire. Our guest today has done just that and he’s here to share his wisdom. Benji Koltai is the CTO of Galley Solutions, a company that only exists because of what he learned from previous failures. Hear how it all began and how to evolve with market changes like Benji when you listen to this episode of CTO Studio. In this episode you’ll hear: What are ghost restau...
What It Means to be a Product Manager, with Jessica Sweeney
July 17, 2018 19:44 - 47 minutes - 86.8 MBAsk for a definition of the terms product manager and product management and you’ll get a different answer depending on who is answering the question! So what does it actually mean to be a product manager in the tech world? Here to tell us is Jessica Sweeney. Jessica is a product management and marketing executive in the B2B, IoT and SaaS industries. During her career she’s found what a good PM does and doesn’t do, and why sometimes CTOs fin...
How to Provide Solid Tooling as a CTO, with Aaron Contorer #16
June 26, 2018 12:59 - 45 minutes - 83.9 MBOne of the talks Aaron Contorer gave that I'll never forget is the talk in which he covered two topics: functional programming and how to provide solid tooling as a CTO. Those two topics are our focus for today’s show, and we waste no time jumping into the deep end! Aaron has a technical background and built his company, FP Complete, around those very same subjects. You’ll hear how and why he started that company and much more when you listen in to todayÃ...
The Importance of Psychology as a CTO, with Dr. Dan Stoneman #15
June 19, 2018 11:53 - 47 minutes - 87.9 MBMaking the leap from a technical role into the CTO position requires many things, and not everyone makes the jump. One man who has is our guest today, Dr. Dan Stoneman. Dan recently completed his doctorate in Organizational Industrial Psychology. He continues to learn and try to understand his world. Throughout the course of his career experiences, he’s learned the importance of psychology as a CTO and we get into why that is (and much more!) on today’s ed...
How to Get Company Buy-in When Re-engineering Platforms, with Matt Ferguson #14
June 12, 2018 17:19 - 53 minutes - 98.3 MBGetting your CEO and other leaders to buy into re-engineering platforms is no small feat, but our guest today has done it four times! Matt Ferguson of Zeeto tells us the ins and outs of company-wide agreement on major platform retooling. Matt is a former Montana native with a love of horses and math, the latter of which led him to into the tech world. Here about that transition and much more on today’s edition of CTO Studio. In this episode you’ll hear: ...
Launching Your Startup With As Little Code As Possible, with Kelly Abbott #13
June 05, 2018 15:47 - 50 minutes - 92.3 MBCan you be an effective CTO without coding? You can and the man to prove it is here for today’s show, Kelly Abbott. Kelly has held a variety of roles in the tech sector, including his current position of CTO of Tablecloth. Today we’ll talk about what career decisions led him to that role, why he suggested we work together the first time we met and whether or not we actually did! You’ll also hear what it’s like to be a non-co...
A Conversation With Mel Gordon, Founder & CEO of TapHunter #12
May 29, 2018 19:06 - 50 minutes - 93.1 MBOn this edition of CTO Studio, we meet Melani Gordon, CEO of TapHunter, a company she co-founded with Jeff Gordon, who is CTO. She tells us how she and Jeff have been successful at work and at home, what TapHunter does and what the current state of women in tech is. In this episode you’ll hear: Why you should set boundaries with your founder. The importance of body language, especially for women in tech today. How can you stop comparing yourself to others, and why sho...
How to Ask The Right Questions, with Bryan Hall #11
May 22, 2018 17:20 - 48 minutes - 89.3 MBAsking the right questions is crucial to almost everything we do, especially in our careers. When it comes to data this is also true. Rather than collecting as much data as possible and then looking for the stories within, start by asking the right questions and then gathering your data. On this edition of CTO Studio, our guest Bryan Hall will explain exactly why this approach is the most effective. Bryan and I will also talk about the due diligence involved with selling a company and how ...
How to Solve Problems With Technology, with Chris McCann #10
May 15, 2018 14:53 - 44 minutes - 81.8 MBChris McCann has always been interested in how to solve problems with technology and help people in the process. Growing up he had a penchant for technology from his early days of self-taught programming in high school. That love led him to the Air Force which led to him to become a test pilot, a career he had for over a decade. On this edition of CTO Studio, Chris explains how his love of technology and helping people has led his professional path over the years, what his latest project i...
When To Be Monolithic and When Not To Be , with Phil Borlin #9
May 08, 2018 17:50 - 32 minutes - 60.3 MBTo be or not to be monolithic, that is the question. Here with the answer is Phil Borlin of PluralSight and Veyo. Phil and I met a few years ago when he moved to San Diego to work with PluralSight. On this episode we discuss when to break up a monolithic app, why you should start that way but not stay and when self-contained systems are a good solution. Join us to hear the details on those topics and more on today’s edition of CTO Studio. In this episode youâ€â...
Why All Companies Need a Code of Conduct, with Daniel Norman #8
May 01, 2018 19:53 - 46 minutes - 85.7 MBWelcome to today’s edition of CTO Studio! Does your company have a code of conduct? Do you have a verbally understood code of conduct, or an actual written one that is in your workplace for everyone to see? Our guest today, Daniel Norman, explains why you need the latter and why it’s so important to the health and longevity of any company, including yours. Daniel is the current CTO of gudTech whose love for technology began when he was a kid with a Commodo...
Utilizing Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, with Michael Saul #7
April 24, 2018 17:57 - 43 minutes - 80.6 MBWelcome to another episode of CTO Studio! Today I’m sitting down to talk with my close friend and colleague, Michael Saul. Michael is the cofounder of 7 CTOs, and is a dear friend, partner, and mentor. On this episode, you’ll hear about how Michael came to be my work partner, as well as the value of emotional intelligence in the business world. You’ll also hear his advice for better communication among CEOs and CTOs, how his interest in em...
Being a Female CTO, with Sigalit Tsadok #6
April 17, 2018 14:40 - 44 minutes - 82.3 MBWelcome to another episode of CTO Studio! Today I’m sitting down to talk with my good friend Sigalit Tsadok, current CTO for the start up company Kelvi. On this episode, you’ll hear about Sigalit’s journey to working with Kelvi, as well as how she become interested in being a CTO. Today, you’ll also hear about why Sigalit would love to see more women in CTO positions, how computer science became her passion, and so much mo...
How to Transition from CTO to CEO, with Robert Swisher #5
April 10, 2018 18:47 - 44 minutes - 82.5 MBWelcome to another episode of CTO Studio! Today I’m sitting down to talk with my friend Robert Swisher, CEO of the new mobile app Frendli. Today, you’ll learn from Robert what the differences are between a CEO and a CTO, how to transition between the two, and how to successfully begin a new start-up. Today you’ll also hear the ups and downs of transitioning from one business model to another, why he wanted to employ different methods for ...
The Due Diligence Process and Handling Transitions, with Krijn van der Raadt #4
April 03, 2018 16:24 - 44 minutes - 81.5 MBWelcome to another episode of CTO Studio! Today I wanted to share my friend Krijn van der Raadt’s wisdom with you. Today Krijn (sounds like crime but with an “n†instead of an “mâ€ÂÂ) helps businesses maximize their exit strategy. But before starting this business he had several acquisition and due diligence experiences as a CTO. On this episode, you’ll hear what he’s learned about int...
A CTOs Role in Performance-based SEO, with Evaldas Alexander #3
March 27, 2018 15:13 - 34 minutes - 63.9 MBWe all know SEO is important, but what is a CTO's role? And what is still relevant in today's SEO and what is no longer good practice? Here to answer those questions is Evaldas Alexander. Evaldas is a CTO managing remote teams, including RankPay the first performance-based search engine service. On this episode, Evaldas and I talk about how he made the leap from developer to CTO and whether trust comes first or ownership, plus his insights on SEO today and his suggestions for your best...
Communicating a Vision, with Nichole MacDonald #2
March 20, 2018 16:54 - 51 minutes - 94.2 MBWelcome to this episode of The CTO Studio! We have a first today: our guest is our first non-CTO to join us! Nichole MacDonald is the founder and CEO of The Sash Bag, and is also in the process of creating an exciting e-commerce solution. I asked Nichole to be on this episode because she's the other side of our usual coin: rather than the usual CTO who tells us what they are doing and how they doing it, Nichole is here to talk about how she views the CTO role in her tech company. We dig in...
Building a Company Based On Service First, with Eric Weiss #1
March 06, 2018 19:33 - 41 minutes - 76.5 MBWelcome to the inaugural episode of The CTO Studio! Our special guest today shares his journey as a CTO and how that journey has shown him the importance of building a company based on service first. On this episode, Eric Weiss, former CTO of Rock My World Media, talks about the origins of his love for computers, the Internet and technology in general. We also discuss the creation of the Rock My Run app, when you need a chat bot (and when you don’t), and how to implement u...