The leader of your tech: What are the qualities of a good technology director?

Do you want to become a chief technology officer (CTO) or improve your company's technology strategy? Are you the head of a growing company that wants to ensure that its technology is up to the challenge? The person who leads your technology plays a critical role in the development and growth of your business. In a nutshell, here are the qualities of an excellent CTO.

In times of hypergrowth, the technological strategy of a scale-up is becoming more and more important for the entire company, whether it is marketing, sales, production or human resources. A CTO can therefore be one of the most important additions you will make to your team: he is both a technology specialist and has the ability to stay on the cutting edge of new technological trends, and a human relations specialist because he has the ability to inspire and lead a team to create added value through technology.

What does a CTO do exactly?

The CTO's main role is to develop and implement long-term technology goals in line with the vision, mission, and overall values of the company. By staying up to date with the latest trends, the CTO proposes the best possible technological solutions for business growth, establishing the basic architecture of the network, leading the teams that implement it, and managing user expectations.

Seven skills and characteristics of a great CTO

A successful CTO is both an IT professional and a leader, with a broad range of complementary skills in technology, strategic thinking, communication, and customer service. Here are the seven skills and characteristics of a great CTO:

1. Leadership

As a member of the executive team, a great CTO has leadership skills, including the ability to inspire their team, delegate responsibilities, and ensure positive technology transformation. A great CTO is as comfortable sitting at the same table as company executives as he is coding with developers and “geeks.” It makes sure everyone is on the same page and going in the same direction.

2. Technical knowledge

CTOs should have solid knowledge and years of experience in network architecture, data engineering, and software development and application, including operational factors and constraints, such as speed, security, security, compatibility, compatibility, scalability, and usability. In a fast-growing field, where new technologies appear almost daily, good CTOs are constantly on the lookout for the industry and are able to recognize the technologies that best meet the needs of their business.

3. Strategic thinking

Understanding how a particular technology will align with business goals and ensuring that it is implemented strategically and systematically is key to successful growth. One of the main qualities of a great CTO is the ability to anticipate future trends, to plan and to give direction to the business. It requires audacity, foresight, agility, and creativity, a person who can use technology to improve the organization and increase business.

4.Communication skills

Knowing how technology works is critical, but it's also important to be able to explain the value of technology to those who aren't as tech-savvy. A successful CTO is able to communicate clearly in technical terms to their technical team and in simple terms to technology users, whether they are CEOs and executives, employees, or customers.

5. A practical approach

A practical and collaborative approach goes a long way in ensuring a positive technology experience. A CTO works with several different people, in different departments and sectors, and must show understanding and empathy to guide their team in managing any challenges they may encounter at each stage of technological growth. These human qualities are just as important as technical qualities.

6. Education

An excellent CTO should have at least a background in a related field: computer science, engineering, or cybersecurity. He should have experience as an engineer or lead developer. CTOs are passionate and continue to learn beyond formal education, are eager for the latest technology, and have a knack for solving problems in the field.

7. The customer as a concern

In addition to being tech-savvy, a CTO should also have relational skills. A great CTO can anticipate customer challenges and needs, point out the various technology solutions available, and explain their benefits in simple terms. Open to customer feedback and continuous improvement, a CTO will guarantee your customers the best possible product and service, on time and on budget.

It's the combination of all of these skills and traits that makes a great CTO. While each CTO is different, ranging from highly technical to highly personal, they are an important addition to your team and will help you navigate the complexities of expansion, ensuring that your hypergrowth experience is simple and effective, and boosting productivity along the way.

Hear Chief Technology Officer Luis Amat talk about his role in this video.