A CTO is there to make sure technology services the company, employee and client to its maximum, not getting in the way, opening up new opportunities.
There is a great phrase from HBO’s Succession series, when Roman is anointed as the COO he says “Chief Operating Officer. Waystar Royco. If it operates, I chief it.“. He has no clue what the role entails and in the context of the series just wants a “C” level title to stay relevant in the family business.
The sentiment can be applied to our CTO world – many are anointed with no real clue what the responsibilities are going to be. It is one of those titles that doesn’t have as clear a definition as, say, the more traditional CEO or CFO roles.
This is what makes it exciting – it is what you want it to be. I often encounter many people who are their organization’s first ever CTO – they get to define the standard and what will be expected from here on in.
This is why I spend a whole chapter, in my Think like a CTO book, defining what a CTO is, laying down the framework to determine if one is even needed, and if so, what should the responsibilities be. It is a good read for both technologist and the CEO that is trying to make the decision if now is the time to invest in this role.
So in the spirit of Roman, I have paraphrased his words to:
“Chief Technology Officer. If it technologies, I chief it“
Alan Williamson 