The CTO Podcast

Etienne is very happy to be sitting down with Matt Van Itallie, founder of Sema, a company that develops software to help engineering leaders manage AI in software development. As they delve into their shared experiences of learning to code on vintage machines, they explore Matt's journey from studying philosophy to founding Sema.The conversation takes a philosophical turn, discussing pragmatism in decision-making and the importance of clarifying outcomes, and Etienne and Matt also dissect the complexities of C-suite dynamics and the challenges of resolving conflicts within leadership teams. Matt shares insights on the significance of developer retention and the metrics that matter most on a CTO dashboard, and the discussion touches on the art of listening, empathy, and the power of effective communication within organizations.As they plan a session on pivot tables, Matt also emphasizes the value of community, highlighting the support and inspiration found in groups like 7CTOs. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership, problem-solving, and the human side of technology!Time Stamps:[2:09] - Learn how Matt’s academic journey expanded with a focus on law's evolution and late 19th-century pragmatism.[4:56] - Matt argues that our brains seek to make sense of things.[7:24] - Etienne reflects on navigating conflicting perspectives among C-Suite members, highlighting the challenge of coherence.[10:23] - Focus on critical outcomes, not just outputs.[12:25] - Matt emphasizes fostering understanding through clarifying outcomes and promoting inclusive dialogue and contributions.[15:58] - Matt suggests identifying underlying causes of communication issues and resolving conflicts promptly for organizational success.[16:40] - Hear how Matt prioritizes organizational goals over personal interests, advocating for a values-based decision-making approach.[18:46] - Matt explains how Sema goes about making decisions pragmatically.[21:07] - The opposite of pragmatism might be scrutiny, but pragmatism focuses on moving forward effectively.[24:45] - Mastering pivot tables symbolizes problem-solving prowess, transforming decision-making with raw data access.[28:03] - Discover how pivotal moments led to Sema's inception in 2015, spurred by tech challenges and leadership insights.[30:50] - Matt explains how, inspired by a Bloomberg article, he delved into tech research in 2015, seeking innovation.[32:25] - Matt pursued tech research, seeking licenses from 250 professors; one acceptance birthed Sema.[34:40] - Matt discusses developer retention, a pivotal metric, and how it holds 25 points on Sema's 100-point scale.[37:40] - Etienne shares a story in which a key developer's silence flagged a possible departure, highlighting the important role of product vision clarity.[39:16] - Matt asserts that effective people management discerns subtle shifts in participation, vital for organizational success and cohesion.[41:49] - Matt encourages us to prioritize listening qualitatively to one's team before relying solely on data-driven tools.[43:44] - Etienne agrees, adding that mastering listening is as complex as it is crucial, often underestimated despite its profound impact.We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials VideoContact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Matt: Sema Website / LinkedIn / XSchedule a meeting with Etienne on CalendlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

Etienne sits down with Krijn van der Raadt, a seasoned CTO with a rich history of steering both startups and established tech giants toward successful exits. Krijn, now a fractional CTO and advisor to startups, shares insights gained and collaborative problem-solving experiences with fellow CTOs. They explore the challenges of transitioning from a technical role to a leadership position and the common pitfalls faced by startups when scaling their engineering teams.Dive into the conversation as Krijn reflects on his journey from Great Call to Health App Folio, discussing leadership styles, organizational structures, and the Goldilocks rate of growth. The episode unfolds with a fascinating discussion on managing budgets in different scenarios, exploring the nuances of constrained vs. surplus spending and the impact on team motivation.Krijn also sheds light on his passion for preparedness and frugality, drawing parallels between his Dutch background and his approach to leadership. Etienne and Krijn delve into the significance of scarcity as an inspiration for quality work, touching on the dynamics of team motivation and purpose.The episode takes a turn into the realm of simulations and imagination, where Krijn recommends Jane McGonigal's Imaginable. Discover how the lessons from simulations can transform leadership approaches, enhance team collaboration, and prepare for unforeseen challenges.Krijn wraps up with insights into tools like ChatGPT and Jupyter notebooks, offering practical tips for effective utilization. Tune in to explore the multifaceted world of leadership, technology, and the human element with Krijn and Etienne in this engaging and insightful episode.Time Stamps:[2:57] - Krijn highlights the challenges of evolving from a founding engineer to an effective CTO in startups.[4:33] - Etienne and Krijn discuss the fascination of transitioning from a technical role to a leadership position.[6:46] - Krijn shares his experiences with constrained spending and the motivation it provides for quality work.[9:11] - The discussion turns to the impact of excessive funds on team motivation and product success.[11:37] - Krijn relates his passion for preparedness, fiscal responsibility, and strategic planning.[13:19] - Krijn reflects on Jane McGonigal's Imaginable and its influence on leadership and team collaboration.[17:39] - Etienne delves into the importance of bringing stakeholders along through scenario painting.[20:53] - Listen as Krijn highlights the value of ChatGPT and AI tools in enhancing productivity and problem-solving.[23:19] - Krijn advocates for the widespread adoption of tools like Copilot and ChatGPT for increased productivity.[26:23] - Krijn explores the role of a Python library.[29:05] - Krijn shares his concern about the prevalence of poor leadership and the need for sincerity and humility.[30:49] - Etienne reflects on the challenges of leadership and the importance of staying connected to the purpose.[33:51] - The discussion touches on the disconnect between leadership positions and the tactical understanding required.[36:09] - Etienne discusses the importance of recognizing and reconciling different perspectives within the organization.[38:35] - Krijn emphasizes the significance of leaders inspiring trust through sincerity, humility, and a lack of ego.Resources and Links Mentioned:leadcto.comJane McGonigal - ImaginableWe have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials VideoContact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteSchedule a meeting with Etienne on CalendlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

Kevin Goldsmith, a seasoned CTO, mentor, and principal at Nimble Autonomy, joins the conversation today as we discuss Kevin's journey in technology leadership across the US, Sweden, and the UK, touching on his experiences and the release of his new book, It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012 to 2022.The discussion covers technology adoption, with a focus on ChatGPT and its recent Teams product. Kevin reveals how his team embraced ChatGPT, its role in policy creation, and the advantages of the Teams program for collaborative work. The conversation unfolds into a deeper exploration of the evolving role of CTOs, the future landscape for aspiring leaders, and the potential impact of advanced tools on development processes.Kevin, in addition, sheds light on the creation of his book, sharing insights into the inspiration behind the title It Depends and the unique approach that he took in preserving the original context of his blog posts. He touches on the audiobook creation process and the decision to self-release, emphasizing accessibility and convenience for readers.Kevin also offers us a glimpse into his vision for the future, both in terms of technology leadership and the evolving capabilities of generative text generators like ChatGPT. The candid and insightful conversation provides listeners with a multifaceted view of technology, leadership, and the intricate balance between innovation and the human touch, and you won't want to miss this conversation.Time Stamps:[00:33] - Kevin Goldsmith joins us today![03:42] - Kevin candidly shares that after years of struggling to quit smoking, he successfully quit when his child was conceived.[04:45] - Armed with a PhD in neuroscience, Kevin quit smoking cold turkey after moving to Europe.[07:38] - Having faced the challenge of using smoking breaks to clear his mind, Kevin now copes differently.[09:27] - Reflecting on sixteen years without smoking, Kevin recalls a unique experience at Microsoft leveraging smokers' restlessness.[11:32] - Kevin admits that, even in his pre-smoking days, he sometimes consciously chose to smoke influenced by the band scene that he was part of.[13:05] - Eager to explore new technologies, Kevin's team embraced ChatGPT, finding it to be a valuable and helpful tool.[15:42] - Kevin shares how ChatGPT has been a valuable tool for writing policies, streamlining their creation.[17:44] - Opting for efficiency in creating his book's index, Kevin used ChatGPT to automate the process.[19:03] - Kevin reflects on his role as a CTO, valuing his longevity.[20:29] - Kevin finds the diverse career paths of CTOs fascinating, noting the changed landscape enabling quicker advancements.[23:39] - Reflecting on the evolution of the CTO role, Kevin sees a richer learning landscape today.[27:42] - Kevin likens tools like ChatGPT to skilled interns, adept at routine tasks, but not for inventive or complex challenges.[29:57] - Despite excitement and venture capitalist interest, some ideas have never materialized or panned out.[32:57] - Kevin discusses how the new product, akin to ChatGPT+, offers additional features like admin interface, privacy settings, and team chat sharing.[35:09] - Kevin encourages using ChatGPT to seek code suggestions and streamline tasks, emphasizing its value despite initial skepticism.[39:29] - Preserving the original context of blog posts, Kevin's book, It Depends, explores timeless tech leadership themes.[41:01] - The book's title reflects Kevin's philosophy on nuanced technology leadership, emphasizing decision-making that depends on context.[43:42] - Kevin shares what inspired the idea behind his book.[46:39] - Kevin currently uses Podbean for his podcast but is contemplating self-hosting for a more contextual and enjoyable experience.[50:22] - Kevin reveals where It Depends can be purchased.[53:10] - Listeners are advised not to edit their own audiobook if they aren’t familiar with the process.Resources and Links Mentioned:It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012-2022 (Book)It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012-2022 (Podcast)Contact Etienne: Website / LinkedIn / X / The CTO Podcast WebsiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

Just use Flutter -- Stephan Schmidt // Amazing CTOThis episode we discuss why you should just use Flutter instead of native apps, what Local AI means and why the Amazon CEO wants to get people back in the office - and how this is relevant for every CTO. Find out more as Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO, discusses the future of CTOs. Show Notes.Connect With: Stephan Schmidt: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterThe CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterAmazing CTO Newsletter WebsiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

The number of posts and votes on Stack Overflow is dropping, perhaps eaten by AI. Do they have an endgame strategy? Also, a new hacking attack via NPM, every CTO needs to be aware of that. And how diverse teams require more effort but are worth it. Find out more as Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO, discusses the future of CTOs with AI. Show Notes.Connect With: Stephan Schmidt: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterThe CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterAmazing CTO Newsletter WebsiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

What is the greenest programming language? More and more CTOs are getting asked about the CO2 and energy footprint of their operations. They start by calculating their AWS energy usage, but do you need a greener programming language? Will the CEO of the future tell developers which programming language to use? Find out more as Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO, discusses the future of CTOs."Connect With: Stephan Schmidt: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterThe CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

More and more work will go into training models than programming, development teams are going to be leaner, and AI will not create software, it is the software. If you haven't started doing something with AI, you're too late for the game. How do you apply it to your business? Find out more as Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO, discusses the future of CTOs with AI. Show NotesConnect With: Stephan Schmidt: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterThe CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

There is a business vision and a business strategy, a product vision and a product strategy, and then a tech vision and a tech strategy. The business vision, the product vision, and the tech vision need to be aligned. What is your tech vision and strategy, and how do you create one? Find out more as Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO, discusses vision, strategy, and alignment. Show NotesConnect With: Stephan Schmidt: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterThe CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

🔴 https://7ctos.com for CTO Coaching with Peer groups 🗞️ https://www.amazingcto.com/cto-newsletter Newsletter for CTOs🎙️ And for more episodes check out https://ctopod.com🔔 Subscribe for regular updates https://www.youtube.com/@7CTOs#CTO #CTONews 👑Threads passes 30M sign-ups in less than 24 hours ➡️ http://www.amazingcto.com/newsletter/nl-53.html#threads👑 Stability AI CEO: There Will Be No (Human) Programmers in Five Years➡️ http://www.amazingcto.com/newsletter/nl-53.html#stability-ai-ceo-there-will👑 Boss such a tyrant you need a job quitting agent➡️ http://www.amazingcto.com/newsletter/nl-53.html#boss-such-tyrant-you-need👑 Automatically migrate code to another language with ChatGPT➡️ http://www.amazingcto.com/newsletter/nl-53.html#0xpaynegptmigrateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com

How do you start using AI in your organization? A bad reason to use AI is that you have this intellectual curiosity, which is great to have, but it's not a good enough reason to start using AI. How do you, as CTO, present the advantages of mining your data? How do you know if you have enough data or whether you should be programming or training? Listen to Ksenia Palke, Director of AI at Airspace, as she discusses building organizational trust in AI. Show NotesConnect With: Ksenia Palke: Website // LinkedIn The CTO Podcast: Website // Speaker ApplicationEtienne de Bruin: Website // LinkedIn //  TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com