In this episode, you'll learn what CTO coaching is, who it’s for, the impact it can have, and how to find the right coach for your goals. Adam Horner shares common CTO challenges, the skills needed to succeed at the executive level, and a framework for accelerating leadership growth.

Build your own CTO Playbook at www.theCTOplaybook.com — the leadership platform built for the full CTO journey. Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction  

[02:10] Common struggles CTOs face  

[03:45] How coaching provides clarity and accountability  

[05:00] My own CTO journey and early challenges  

[06:30] The impact of not having a coach  

[08:15] Five common CTO archetypes  

[08:30] The firefighter CTO  

[09:50] The senior developer turned CTO  

[11:00] The seasoned technologist ready to lead  

[12:20] The plateaued CTO  

[13:30] The rocket ship CTO  

[15:00] The challenge of getting stuck in execution  

[16:20] Story of a CTO who shifted from feature delivery to strategic leadership  

[18:00] What makes my coaching different  

[19:45] The CTO maturity model  

[21:00] Skills that CTOs often lack compared to other executives  

[22:30] The importance of communication, finance, and strategy  

[24:00] Coaching vs. teaching vs. mentoring  

[25:30] The real cost of not investing in coaching  

[27:00] Story of a CTO who resisted coaching and almost lost his role  

[29:30] What happens when CTOs invest in coaching  

[30:45] How coaching builds confidence and influence  

[32:00] The impact of coaching on stress and burnout  

[33:15] How to know if coaching is right for you  

[34:30] When is the best time to get a coach  

[35:45] How to find the right CTO coach  

[36:30] Step-by-step playbook for choosing a coach  

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube, and explore coaching, cohorts, and how you can stay up to date at theCTOplaybook.com, helping you build your own playbook for your path at your pace.