The CTO Growth Guide I Built for Myself (and You)
I’ve been in the tech leadership game for a while now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that scaling technology is as much about scaling teams as it is about the tech itself. As a passionate member of the belief in continual professional development, over the past year, I’ve been searching for a comprehensive CTO development program. As someone with an MBA, I was looking for something that went beyond the basics, something that offered real, actionable strategies for the unique challenges of scaling technology and teams.
What I encountered was a frustrating dichotomy: high ticket price Ivy League programs that primarily sell prestige and networking (valuable, sure, but not necessarily the specific knowledge I was chasing), or low-quality online courses that lacked depth and practical application.
Neither of those options felt right. I needed something that bridged the gap, something that provided real, actionable strategies for leading technical teams and scaling technology in today’s fast-paced SaaS world. So, I did what any self-respecting, slightly obsessive technologist would do: I decided to build it myself.
And I didn’t do it alone. Leveraging the incredible advancements of Google’s Gemini in 2024, and putting my prompt engineering skills to the test, I crafted a comprehensive course: “Scaling Technology & Teams: A CTO’s Guide to Growth.”
Initially, this was purely for my own professional development. I wanted a structured curriculum that covered everything from architectural patterns to leadership dynamics. But as I refined the content and saw the results, I realized this was too valuable to keep to myself. So, I’m sharing it with my network—completely free of charge.
Why create my own course?
I believe that effective professional development should be accessible, not only locked behind exorbitant tuition fees. I wanted to create a resource that provides tangible value, focusing on the practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive as a technology and product leader in today's demanding tech landscape.
What does the course cover?
This 12-hour deep dive is structured into three core modules, covering the essential pillars of CTO success:
Module 1: Architecting for Scale (3 hours): This module dives into the technical heart of scaling. We explore the fundamental principles of horizontal and vertical scaling, dissect the pros and cons of monolithic vs. microservices architectures, and delve into database scaling strategies and caching techniques. You’ll gain a practical understanding of how to design systems that can handle rapid growth and maintain peak performance. Key takeaway: You'll be equipped to make informed architectural decisions that support your company's growth trajectory.
Module 2: Building High-Velocity Product and Engineering Organizations (3 hours): Scaling technology is impossible without a high-performing team. This module focuses on building and leading effective product and engineering organizations. We cover principles of empowered product teams, Agile and Lean concepts, CI/CD pipelines, effective team structures and communication strategies, and the crucial topic of managing technical debt and maintaining quality. Key takeaway: You'll learn how to create a culture of speed, quality, and continuous improvement within your product and engineering organization.
Module 3: The Product Model for CTOs (2 hours): This module bridges the gap between technology and product strategy. Drawing from the work of Marty Cagan and SVPG, we explore the principles of modern product discovery and delivery. You'll learn how to foster empowered product teams, collaborate effectively with product managers and designers, implement continuous discovery practices, and measure product success. Key Takeaway: You’ll understand how to build high-impact products by fostering empowered product, engineering, and design teams, and aligning technical execution with product strategy.
Module 4: Leading Technical Teams & Communicating Vision (4 hours): This is where we focus on the “people” side of scaling. We explore different leadership styles, building trust and psychological safety within teams, resolving conflicts effectively, and motivating and empowering product managers, product designers and engineers. Crucially, we also cover strategic planning, aligning your product and technology vision with business goals, and communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Key takeaway: You'll enhance your leadership capabilities, learn to articulate a compelling technical vision, and become a more effective communicator and influencer.
What makes this course unique?
This isn't just theory. Each module includes practical exercises, real-world case studies, and curated resources (books, articles, videos, and podcasts) to reinforce learning and provide actionable takeaways. Because it was built with Google’s Gemini, I was able to iterate and refine the content based on specific prompts and feedback, ensuring a high level of relevance, clarity, and actionable insights.
This course is about empowering you with the practical knowledge and skills you need to excel as a CTO. It's the program I needed, born from a need for something better than the existing options. And now, I’m thrilled to offer it to you.
If you're ready to take your technical leadership to the next level, I encourage you to check out the “Scaling Technology & Teams” course. Let’s scale together!
