
The CTO Podcast
The CTO Podcast explores the worlds of Chief Technical officers as they manage the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of technologists in the C-suite. Hosted by Etienne de Bruin, founder of 7CTOs and author of CTO Excellence in 100 Days: Becoming the leader your company deserves. www.ctopod.com
Latest episodes

Jul 3, 2023 • 22min
How to Apply AI at Your Company -- Ksenia Palke // Airspace
As the CTO of your company, it is almost impossible to onlook or resist the urge to deploy AI in some form in your company. But before you make that move, is your company in the gray zone? Are you aware of ethical considerations and AI bias? Who should you hire first a data scientist or a data engineer? Listen to Ksenia Palke, Director of AI at Airspace, as she discusses applying AI in your company. 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

Jun 23, 2023 • 57min
Solo Projects // Reddit // Imaginary Problems // Estimation // GPT-4 Pitch Decks
Etienne and Stephan are at it again.00:00 Intro and Puppies!00:40 Andreas Kling Receives $100,000 To Build His Ladybird Browser 08:55 Reddit CEO Steve Huffman praises Elon Musk's cost-curring methods amid widespread protest19:44 Imaginary Problems Are The Root Of All Bad Software29:36 Estimation Isn't For Everyone44:08 GPT-4 Out Performs Humans In Pitch Deck SuccessCheck out 7ctos.comCheck out www.amazingcto.comAnd for more episodes check out ctopod.comSee 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

Jun 21, 2023 • 30min
How CTO's Should Rely on Automation Infrastructure -- Rob Hirschfeld // RackN
People should be automating as much as they can, but they don't have a lot of ground rules, benefits, or even KPIs that they can use to start knowing if they're automating well. Want to know more? Listen to Rob Hirschfeld, CEO and Founder of RackN, as he discusses how CTOs should rely on automation infrastructure. Show NotesConnect With: Rob Hirschfeld: 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

Jun 20, 2023 • 19min
The Role of DevOps in Building Startups -- Rob Hirschfeld // RackN
When you're building something that needs to run people's production data centers, or people start depending on your product, they don't want it to be an MVP; they want that DevOps discipline of building CI and CD systems, testing, security checks, and all those pieces. Want to know more? Listen to Rob Hirschfeld, CEO and Founder of RackN, as he discusses the role of DevOps in building startups. Show NotesConnect With: Rob Hirschfeld: 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

Jun 16, 2023 • 19min
Industry-Specific Applications of AI -- Sanjay Sehgal // MSys
The authentic use of AI in any industry is turning complexity into clarity. Many Ai tools are available, but not many takers because many people can't figure out how to use them in their environment. How should you be thinking about deploying AI in your industry? Listen to Sanjay Sehgal, CEO of MSys Technologies, as he discusses industry-specific applications of AI. Show NotesConnect With: Sanjay Sehgal: 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

Jun 15, 2023 • 18min
Ethics & Human-AI Partnerships -- Sanjay Sehgal // MSys
With AI development moving at a fast pace, there are concerns that people are at risk of crossing ethical lines. Some are wary that AI could even replace human connections. How exposed are you to AI, and what can you do to keep pace with such an inequitable partner? Listen to Sanjay Sehgal, CEO of MSys Technologies as he discusses ethics and human AI partnerships. Show NotesConnect With: Sanjay Sehgal: 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

Jun 9, 2023 • 16min
Focusing on Revenue Goals with Cross Functional Teams -- Ole Dallerup // Dreamdata.io
How do you focus on revenue when scaling and developing cross-functional teams? It starts by being able to measure and link your product's functionality, features, and usage to real revenue impact. And sharing that with the team who built them to give them accountability. When you do that and get your product usage data under control, each team understands well how to impact it. How do you do it? Listen to Ole Dallerup, CTO and Co-founder of Dreamdata.io, as he discusses how to focus on revenue goals and manage cross-functional teams. Show NotesConnect With: Ole Dallerup: 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

Jun 8, 2023 • 19min
Becoming a Tech Leader of a Fast-Growing Startup -- Ole Dallerup // Dreamdata.io
The path to becoming a tech leader at a fast-growing startup is multifaceted, so you have to be hands-on from the onset: from coding your product to raising and developing a team. As a CTO, you have your work laid out for you. How do you handle it all and become the CTO of your dreams? Listen to Ole Dallerup, CTO and Co-founder of Dreamdata.io, as he discusses becoming a tech leader at a fast-growing startup. Show NotesConnect With: Ole Dallerup: 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

Jun 6, 2023 • 22min
The Performance Boosting Power of Feedback -- Darva Satcher // GitLab Inc.
Feedback can be scary to give and receive, but it doesn't have to be because everyone needs it to improve and grow the company. See feedback as data and not a judgment about who or what is right or wrong. How do you deal with the emotions that come with feedback? How do you ask for feedback to get the data you need to boost performance? Listen to Darva Satcher, Director of Engineering of GitLab Inc., as she discusses the performance-boosting power of feedback. Show NotesConnect With: Darva Satcher: 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

Jun 5, 2023 • 18min
Unlocking the Power of the Skip Level Meetings -- Darva Satcher // GitLab Inc.
There's always some hierarchy in every organization, no matter how flat they try to keep things flat. The farther away people are from the center point, the harder it is to keep them glued. Skip levels are a way to keep people connected to the vision. What is it, and how does it work? Listen to Darva Satcher, Director of Engineering of GitLab Inc., as she discusses how to unlock the power of skip-level meetings. Show NotesConnect With: Darva Satcher: 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