As a CTO or senior technical leader, you’ve probably asked yourself at least once: Am I truly ready for the next level? Moving from being the go-to tech expert to a strategic executive is a significant leap—and one that requires more than just technical prowess. It demands an Executive Mindset. But what exactly does that mean? In our latest podcast episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Adelina Chalmers, a seasoned CTO Advisor, who shared her invaluable insights on how to cultivate this mindset and thrive as a leader at every stage of your career.
If you’ve been feeling like your role is evolving faster than you can keep up, or if you’re just curious about what it takes to succeed as a CTO in a larger organization, you won’t want to miss this episode. In this blog post, I’ll break down some of the key takeaways from our conversation and share the full video interview so you can dive deep into the strategies and advice that Adelina offers.
Video Interview
You can watch the video on YouTube or below:
The Journey from Coder to Executive
One of the first topics we tackled in the interview was the journey from being a hands-on coder to a strategic leader. This is a path many CTOs find themselves on, especially as their companies grow and their teams expand. Adelina laid it out clearly:
"The difference between a CTO in a startup and a CTO in a big company is profound. As you scale, you need to transition from producing code to producing results through your team."
It’s a shift that requires you to step back from the keyboard and start thinking about the bigger picture—how your team, your product, and your strategy align with the overall goals of the business. This transition isn’t always easy, especially if you’ve built your career on being the tech guru who can solve any problem. But as Adelina explains, it’s a necessary evolution if you want to succeed at higher levels of leadership.
What Is the Executive Mindset?
So, what exactly is the Executive Mindset, and why is it so crucial? According to Adelina, it’s about moving beyond the tactical, day-to-day concerns of coding and problem-solving and stepping into a role where you’re thinking strategically about the long-term success of your company. She puts it this way:
"A CTO with an executive mindset isn’t just focused on getting things done—they’re focused on getting the right things done, at the right time, for the right reasons."
This means understanding how your technology decisions impact the bottom line, how they align with business goals, and how they can drive the company forward. It’s about thinking like a business leader, not just a technical expert.
Scaling Through Others
Another key point Adelina emphasized is the importance of scaling yourself through others. As your team grows, you need to be able to delegate effectively, empower your engineers, and inspire them to achieve the vision you’ve set out. It’s no longer about how much code you can write, but how well you can lead others to write great code.
"The signs that you’ve scaled yourself through others," Adelina says, "are that you set a clear vision, you set goals to reach that vision, and you empower your team to come up with the solutions."
This can be a challenging transition for many leaders, especially those who have been used to being in the trenches with their team. But it’s an essential skill if you want to grow as a leader and help your team reach its full potential.
Self-Reflection and Continuous Learning
One of the most powerful takeaways from our conversation was the importance of self-reflection and continuous learning. Adelina encourages all CTOs to take a step back and really think about what they enjoy about their current role, what they’re good at, and where they might need to improve. She also stresses the value of getting feedback from others—whether it’s your peers, your team, or your superiors.
"Understanding yourself and where you excel is the first step toward finding the right opportunities and growing as a leader," she explains.
But self-reflection is just the beginning. Adelina also advocates for a mindset of continuous learning—always looking for ways to improve, whether it’s through formal education, mentorship, or simply being curious about the world around you.
The Importance of Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking is another cornerstone of the Executive Mindset. It’s about more than just making decisions—it’s about making decisions that will position your company for success in the long term. Adelina shares:
"Being strategic means always focusing on the outcome. It’s not just about building features—it’s about building the right features that will drive the business forward."
This is where many CTOs struggle, especially those who have come up through the ranks as engineers. It’s easy to get caught up in the technical details and lose sight of the bigger picture. But as a leader, it’s your job to keep that broader perspective in mind and ensure that your team’s efforts are aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
How to Develop Your Executive Mindset
So how can you start developing your Executive Mindset? Adelina offers several practical tips:
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Be Curious: Don’t just focus on your own department—get to know the other parts of the business as well. Understand how your work impacts the bottom line, and look for ways to align your efforts with the company’s overall strategy.
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Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from your peers, your team, and your superiors. This will help you identify areas where you can improve and give you a better understanding of how others perceive your leadership.
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Focus on Outcomes: Instead of just checking off tasks on your to-do list, focus on the results you’re trying to achieve. Make sure that everything you do is aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
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Invest in Your Growth: Whether it’s through formal education, mentorship, or simply reading up on the latest trends in your industry, always be looking for ways to improve your skills and expand your knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Making the leap from technical expert to strategic leader is no small feat, but it’s a journey that every CTO must take if they want to succeed at the highest levels. By cultivating an Executive Mindset, focusing on strategic outcomes, and continuously investing in your growth, you can position yourself—and your team—for long-term success.
I hope you find the insights from this episode as valuable as I did, and that you’ll take the time to reflect on your own journey as a leader. And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our channel for more interviews and advice from top industry experts. Also, you can reach for more advice from Adelina on her LinkedIn, website, and you can find her on Medium too.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the episode!
