In this episode, I sit down with Wade Bruce, CTO of Fetch, to explore his journey from engineer to CTO. We dive into what it takes to grow into a leadership role, how to create influence, and why focusing on value over titles leads to career progression. Wade shares his unique perspective on filling gaps within a company, playing "free," and embracing challenges without the fear of failure.

If you're in tech and aspiring to level up your career—whether you're an engineer, manager, or founder—this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

Key Takeaways:

🚀 Fill the Need First: Wade emphasizes solving problems and adding value over chasing titles. Career growth happens naturally when you focus on execution.

🎯 Play Free & Fearless: Don't let fear dictate your decisions. Trust your skills, take risks, and focus on the impact you can make.

📈 Growth is the Key Metric: Your success is determined by how much you’re evolving. Stagnation—not failure—is the real career risk.

🤝 Surround Yourself with the Right People: No one knows everything—find experts, delegate, and learn from those around you.

🏆 Culture Matters: Choose environments that encourage big swings and innovation, not ones that penalize failure.

Timestamped Highlights:

⏳ [00:01:00] – Wade’s journey into Fetch and the startup world

⏳ [00:03:00] – Did Wade plan to become CTO? (Hint: It wasn’t the goal)

⏳ [00:05:00] – Why stepping "back" into engineering helped his career move forward

⏳ [00:08:00] – The secret to getting promoted: Solve problems before aiming for titles

⏳ [00:11:00] – The trust factor: How adding consistent value creates opportunities

⏳ [00:14:00] – Transitioning into leadership: Delegation, influence, and playing at the right level

⏳ [00:17:00] – Why Fetch’s culture of big swings and learning from failure works

⏳ [00:20:00] – Advice to early-career engineers: How to accelerate your trajectory

⏳ [00:22:00] – Wade’s final thoughts and how to connect with him

Quote from the Episode:

"Job security is really just your ability to get your next job. Focus on growth, solving problems, and being valuable—everything else will follow." – Wade Bruce

Connect with Wade Bruce:

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-bruce-39359a33/

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