In this episode, David and Sophie discuss their Christmas preparations, share technology news highlights, and delve into the importance of giving advice to one's younger self. They also take part in the weekly 'Mid Episode Game' titled 'Guess The Year' and conclude with the 'Disaster Diaries' segment, which sparks conversation on the significance of team culture and the common struggles faced by new leaders in tech.

In this episode of CTO Lens, hosts David Crawford and Sophie Valentine discuss personal updates, technology news, and the transition from CTO to CEO with guest Hywel Carver. They explore the challenges of maintaining a strong security culture during rapid growth, the importance of empathy in leadership, and the balance between innovation and security. The episode also features insights from a listener's disaster diary about security breaches and the need for organisational accountability.

In this episode of CTO Lens, David Crawford and new co-host Sophie Valentine discuss the evolution of the podcast, play a fun game of 'Two Truths and a Lie', and dive into the recent tech budget and its implications for startups. They also explore key questions to ask CEOs during interviews for CTO roles, emphasizing the importance of understanding company challenges, team dynamics, and the role of technology in business. In this episode, the hosts engage in light-hearted discussions about Christmas traditions, travel plans, and the excitement of new car ownership. They introduce a fun mid-episode game that tests their knowledge, followed by a serious conversation about the challenges of explaining AI to non-technical board members. The conversation emphasises the importance of empathy, collaboration, and effective communication in technology leadership.

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 9 features Sarah Greasley, former Group CTO at Direct Line and AWS EMEA Director, who shares insights from her nearly four decades in technology. She discusses what defines a modern CTO — from trust, curiosity, and vision to balancing technical depth with strategic and commercial awareness. Sarah explores how storytelling and relationship-building are key to influencing at the C-suite level, and reflects on the growing diversity of CTO roles, from startups to enterprises. She also opens up about her transition into a portfolio career, the realities of becoming a Non-Executive Director, and the importance of mentoring and growing future tech leaders.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign up for our Women+ Tech Leaders event happening on the 13th of November!

https://www.londontechleaders.io/event/women-tech-leaders-dealing-with-executives-technical-and-non-technical/?e=1

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 8 features Matt Watson sharing insights from over 20 years in technology leadership. As the founder and former CTO of VinSolutions, and now CEO and co-founder of Fullscale, Matt reflects on his journey from software engineer to founder and author of Product Driven. He discusses the four key types of engineering leadership—product, technical, strategy, and operations—and why understanding your strengths is crucial to becoming an effective CTO. Matt also explores the growing intersection between engineering and product thinking, how AI and low-code tools are reshaping these roles, and the importance of courage, vision, and listening to customers as technology leaders. His experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone aspiring to build scalable teams and bridge the gap between code, product, and business impact.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign up for our Women+ Tech Leaders event happening on the 13th of November!

https://www.londontechleaders.io/event/women-tech-leaders-dealing-with-executives-technical-and-non-technical/?e=1

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 7 of The CTO Lens features Stuart Coleman, CTO at 10x Banking, who shares his unconventional journey from physics lecturer to technology leader driving transformation in financial services. Stuart discusses why being an effective CTO isn’t about being the cleverest person in the room, but about connecting talented people, driving value, and fostering accountability. He reflects on the lessons learned through his rise at 10x — from knowing when to step in or step back, to developing commercial awareness and empathy as a leader. Stuart also opens up about a difficult moment early in his tenure that taught him the importance of communication, humility, and never losing sight of the individuals behind the technology.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign up for our Women+ Tech Leaders event happening on the 13th of November!

https://www.londontechleaders.io/event/women-tech-leaders-dealing-with-executives-technical-and-non-technical/?e=1

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 6 of The CTO Lens features Eleni Kelly, CIO of Pluxee UK, who shares her 20-year journey across public and private sector technology leadership. She explores how the CIO role has evolved from managing IT operations to driving revenue, resilience, and digital culture at the core of modern business. Eleni discusses the importance of commercial acumen, storytelling, and emotional intelligence in technology leadership, along with how trust and empathy shape high-performing teams. Reflecting on her experiences as a woman in tech, she offers practical advice on building confidence, influencing the boardroom, and leading with calm clarity.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign up for our Women+ Tech Leaders event happening on the 13th of November!

https://www.londontechleaders.io/event/women-tech-leaders-dealing-with-executives-technical-and-non-technical/?e=1

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 5 features Nick Drouet, CTO for Kyndryl UK & Ireland, who reflects on his 30-year journey from IBM engineer to enterprise technology leader. He shares how seizing unexpected opportunities shaped his career, the role of mentors in his development, and the importance of adaptability in a fast-changing industry. Nick explores how the CTO role differs across startups and enterprises, emphasising breadth of skills, curiosity, and humility as essential leadership traits. He also discusses the impact of AI on learning and decision-making, offers candid insights into his own mistakes, and highlights the responsibility of tech leaders to mentor and support the next generation.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign for our Leadership Summit happening on the 7th & 8th of October!

https://registration.londontechleaderssummit.io/ltl

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 4 features Meri Williams sharing their journey to becoming a CTO, discussing their early experiences in technology, the challenges they faced in leadership, and the importance of honing technical skills before moving into management. They emphasise the value of understanding both the technical and business sides of technology, and offers insights on career vectors and personal growth. Meri also opens up about their struggles with mental health and the lessons learned from their experiences, providing valuable advice for aspiring tech leaders.

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign for our Leadership Summit happening on the 7th & 8th of October!

https://registration.londontechleaderssummit.io/ltl

The CTO Lens with David Crawford is a podcast from London Tech Leaders that offers an inside look at the realities of modern technology leadership. Hosted by David Crawford — an experienced CTO and NED for some of the world’s leading enterprise organisations, the show explores the realities of driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering real business impact through technology. This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping modern technology leadership.

Each episode offers practical insights, candid discussions, and stories from the frontlines - from navigating board-level conversations to scaling engineering teams and embracing emerging tech. Whether you’re a CTO, senior tech leader, or an aspiring executive, The CTO Lens is your guide to the challenges and opportunities that define today’s tech landscape.

Episode 3 features Mal Minhas, a seasoned Chief Technologist, with his most recent role as the CPTO at Gumtree. In this conversation, Mal talks about his time at Symbian, explores the step up to managing managers & what the future of the CxO role might look like in an evolving technology landscape. 

London Tech Leaders is the UK’s leading community for senior technology leaders with over 2500+ members. Through regular events, exclusive dinners, women+ tech leaders series and thought-leadership content, we create a space where tech leaders connect, share real-world experiences, and tackle the challenges shaping the future of technology. It’s about building the kind of relationships that spark innovation, drive growth, and inspire fresh ideas across the industry.

Sign for our Leadership Summit happening on the 7th & 8th of October!

https://registration.londontechleaderssummit.io/ltl