GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech The End of Engineering's Blank Check: Accountability in Software Leadership • Laura Tacho & Charles Humble
Dec 5, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Laura Tacho, CTO at DX and an expert in engineering leadership, shares her journey from engineering to executive roles. She highlights common leadership gaps in CTOs, especially in setting expectations without micromanaging. Laura introduces her innovative DX Core 4 framework for measuring developer productivity, emphasizing speed, effectiveness, quality, and impact. She discusses the importance of maintaining technical fluency as a leader, translating developer work into business value, and the thoughtful design of metrics to foster trust.
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Reframe Yourself As A Business Leader
- Think of yourself as a business leader, not just an engineering leader, when you move into a CTO role.
- Embrace the shift in identity and prioritize business outcomes over technical heroics.
Micromanagement Spiral Explained
- CTOs often under-practice setting clear expectations because they're afraid of micromanaging.
- That fear causes a 'micromanagement spiral of doom' where lack of clarity leads to intervention and repeated cycles.
Maintain Technical Fluency Without Coding Daily
- Keep your technical skills current through side projects, reading, and talks rather than daily production coding.
- Preserve enough technical fluency to evaluate designs, decisions, and team performance effectively.
