Episode 35

full
Published on:

11th Mar 2025

CTOs Must Lead, Not Just Code

🎯 CTO Leadership: Beyond the Code - A Product-First Perspective

In this thought-provoking episode, Matt Watson challenges the common assumption that CTOs should be the best engineers on their teams. Instead, he presents a compelling case for why CTOs should primarily be product visionaries who can bridge business challenges with technological solutions.

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🔍 Key Discussion Points:

Why technical expertise alone doesn't define great CTO leadership

The critical importance of customer-centric problem-solving

Balancing technical knowledge with strategic business thinking

The distinct personality traits needed for effective CTO leadership


⏱ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Should CTOs be the best engineers?

00:45 - The product-focused CTO perspective

01:30 - Technology stack flexibility and problem-solving

02:00 - Leadership vs. technical expertise

02:24 - Final thoughts on customer-centric leadership



🎯 Ready to Transform Your Technical Leadership Journey?

Join our growing community of forward-thinking technology leaders who are reshaping the role of CTOs. Whether you're aspiring to become a CTO or looking to evolve your leadership style, subscribe now and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve. Share your thoughts in the comments: What qualities do you think make an exceptional CTO? Let's continue this crucial conversation about the future of technical leadership. 🚀

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About the Podcast

Product Driven
How to build better software and software teams
Building software products requires caring more about the product than it does the technology used to build the product. On this podcast, we discuss bringing a product driven mindset to every step of the product development process.

About your host

Profile picture for Matt Watson

Matt Watson