In this episode, our host, TC Gill, sits down with Conlath Alcock, Client CTO at T-Systems, to explore how understanding an organization’s current state and learning from the past can set the stage for a strong foundation and successful transformation.

In this episode of CTO Confessions, host TC and Tim Vasil, CTO of LeanTaaS, explore humble leadership, discussing Tim’s journey from solo contributor to leading high-performing teams, his approach to feedback, building a human-centric culture, and knowing when to delegate.

In this episode of CTO Confessions, host TC Gill chats with Ivan Kusalic, CTO of green tech organization Enpal. Ivan’s diverse career has shaped his unique approach to tech leadership, rooted in curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to transparency and growth. He shares candid insights on leading in the renewable energy industry, inspiring tech leaders of all levels.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Curiosity and empathy: Drive innovation and connection.

Transparency: Encourage feedback and learning from mistakes.

Tech alignment: Bridge tech and business effectively.

Our Guest: Ivan Kusalic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikusalic/

Website: https://www.ivankusalic.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this episode of CTO Confessions, host TC Gill chats with Ivan Kusalic, CTO of green tech organization Enpal. Ivan’s diverse career has shaped his unique approach to tech leadership, rooted in curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to transparency and growth. He shares candid insights on leading in the renewable energy industry, inspiring tech leaders of all levels.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Curiosity and empathy: Drive innovation and connection.

Transparency: Encourage feedback and learning from mistakes.

Tech alignment: Bridge tech and business effectively.

Our Guest: Ivan Kusalic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikusalic/

Website: https://www.ivankusalic.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this episode, TC, our CTO Confessions host, and Skyler Nesheim, the CTO of Dwolla, discuss the strategies and mindsets that have propelled his career in the competitive and dynamic world of FinTech. A hidden world that we all use without knowing it.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Develop a framework to prioritize core, unique technology that drives your business while leveraging SaaS solutions for non-core needs to enable responsible, sustainable growth.

Utilize thoughtful questioning, such as "What problem are we solving?" and "What are we optimizing for?" to align teams, challenge assumptions, and drive better decision-making.

Emphasize the value of documenting decisions, potential second-order effects, and leveraging mental models to improve collaboration, knowledge sharing, and future problem-solving abilities.

Our Guest: Skyler Nesheim

LinkedIn: Skyler Nesheim | LinkedIn

Website: https://www.dwolla.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Hodges, the CTO of Live Oak Bank, a digital-only small business bank. Jeremy shares his passion for customer-centric technology, his approach to balancing innovation and compliance, and the importance of addressing organizational weaknesses. Hear how Jeremy cascades his audacious vision throughout the company and empowers his teams to drive real impact. This is a must-listen for any tech leader looking to elevate their leadership game.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Jeremy’s unwavering focus on delivering technology that truly serves the customer’s needs is a masterclass in putting the user first. His team’s deep dive into the voice of customer research – a model all tech leaders should emulate.

Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of banking is no easy feat, but Jeremy has found a way to enable his teams to innovate within the guardrails, keeping roadblocks at bay.

Jeremy’s willingness to confront the “shadows” in his organization, both at the individual and team level, demonstrates a level of self-awareness and courage that all leaders should aspire to.

Our Guest: Jeremy Hodges

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrmyhdgs/

Website: http://www.jeremyhodges.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this CTO confession session, we get insights from a VP of Engineering on Building High-Performing Teams. Join us as we dive into the mind of Farzona Pulatova, a seasoned tech leader who has navigated the industry’s complexities with grace and innovation.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

- Farzona emphasizes the importance of creating a transparent, empathetic work environment where teams are empowered to focus on what matters most, fostering high performance and innovation.

- Farzona's insights on ruthless prioritization and embracing change equip leaders with strategies to navigate uncertainty, modernize systems, and position their organizations for sustainable growth.

- Farzona's passion for mentoring women in tech and addressing systemic inequities inspires us to act and create a more inclusive, equitable future for underrepresented groups in the industry.

Our Guest: Farzona Pulatova

LinkedIn: Farzona Pulatova

Website: https://www.earnest.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this session of CTO Confessions, we get an unvarnished look into the trials, tribulations, and hard-won wisdom of a tech leader who’s stepped into the arena of huge challenges and turned things around.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

- Misha's key message is that mistakes and failures are inevitable, but they are also your greatest growth opportunities. Lean into the lessons your missteps can teach you.

- Misha emphasizes the critical importance of deeply understanding your customer's needs and designing intentional experiences rather than getting caught up in the latest shiny new technology.

- Misha advocates for creating a work environment that encourages small, low-risk experiments to test hypotheses and iterate rapidly towards product-market fit. Failure is fuel for progress.

Our Guest: Misha Makara

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishamakara/

Website: https://www.mishamakara.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

In this episode, our host, TC Gill sits down with Catherine Miller, the Chief Technology Officer of Flatiron Health. Catherine shares her passion for using data and technology to improve cancer treatment and drug development - a truly purposeful mission. We dive into Catherine's journey to the CTO role, the challenges of leading through different growth phases, and her authentic, empowering approach to leadership. If you're an aspiring tech leader, get ready for insights that will inspire you to make a real difference.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Passion for using technology can be a huge driver in improving lives, especially when it comes to innovation in healthcare.

Exploring different ways to navigate the evolving challenges of leading through startup growth and into a mature enterprise, with a critical focus on technical debt management.

The gifts that a transparent leadership style gives to your team members. How it becomes a model for others to emulate, invites autonomy while also providing clear direction and constraints.

Our Guest: Catherine Miller

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-miller-0177142/

Website: https://flatiron.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

Madalina Tanasie, CTO of Collibra, shares her insights on AI governance, data intelligence, and SaaS evolution. She highlights how advancements in AI have democratized technology and emphasizes the need for solid data governance. Tanasie also stresses the importance of meaningful work for engineers to drive innovation. Her perspectives offer valuable guidance in navigating the tech industry's rapid changes.

Key takeaways from the podcast are:

Embrace change and new technologies. Stay ahead by welcoming advancements, especially AI. Instead of fearing it, integrate AI into your operations enthusiastically and make it a core part of your strategy.

Connect work to meaningful outcomes. Ignite passion in your leadership and team. Ensure that engineering work is tied to meaningful customer results, keeping your engineers motivated and engaged.

Accept failure as part of the process. Focus on moving forward and view failure as a learning opportunity. Embrace setbacks as part of the journey to continuous improvement and problem-solving.

Our Guest: Madalina Tanasie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madalina-tanasie/

Website: https://www.collibra.com/

Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)