In this episode, we explore how emotions and technology work together to support employee growth. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on what happens when technology meets emotions within the context of an organization. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Aligning executive vision with employee execution fosters a unified direction. - Unstructured company survey language reveals emotions and intent, now decipherable with technology. - Encouraging risk-taking empowers employees to experiment an...
Mar 07, 2025•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, TC Gill talks with engineering leaders Matt Culver & Nomaan Ahmed from Super.com about how data-driven decision-making shapes both engineering and company culture. They explore the role of data in leadership, team dynamics, and fostering a strong workplace culture. Key Takeaways: - Measuring the right things, even intangibles like happiness, helps build a strong organizational foundation. - Leaders must listen, adapt, and embrace feedback to avoid blind spots ...
Feb 20, 2025•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast What makes a great tech leader? Savas Karas, CTO of CAPREIT, believes it starts with kindness, support, and open feedback loops. In this episode of CTO Confessions, he shares how fostering a strong culture helps teams stay motivated, aligned, and unafraid of challenges. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - A shared vision keeps teams focused on meaningful goals. - Honest feedback leads to better decisions and stronger teams. - Embracing failure encourages innovation and growth. - Kindness build...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, our host TC Gill and guest Daniel Natic dive into the complex role of leadership in tech, exploring the balance between managerial expertise and deep technical knowledge. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Tech leaders must stay sharp. Keep up with trends, drive change, and understand your team’s decisions. - Treat tools as resources, set aside ego and focus on efficiency. - Challenge the status quo. Streamlining operations is key; change is inevitable, lea...
Feb 14, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, we explore the dynamic relationship between educational standards, student engagement and the role of artificial intelligence. Listen to Todd Ellermann’s perspective on how these elements intersect and how they are shaping the future of EdTech. Key takeaways - EdTech companies must understand state-specific standards to succeed in U.S. K-12 education. - Engaging students used to TikTok-like content is a growing challenge. - AI in assessments sparks debates on ...
Feb 07, 2025•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of CTO Confessions, our host, TC Gill, is joined by Yaron Inger, Founder of Lightricks, who reveals the unfiltered story behind scaling an AI-driven company. Yaron shares the lessons learned during their growth, emphasizing the importance of managing cashflow, deciding to change their business model and navigating all major growth challenges while staying humane and making difficult decisions. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Drive meaningful transformation by anchoring your...
Jan 24, 2025•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, our host, TC Gill, sits down with Conlath Alcock, Client CTO at T-Systems, to explore how understanding an organization’s current state and learning from the past can set the stage for a strong foundation and successful transformation.
Jan 10, 2025•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, host TC and Tim Vasil, CTO of LeanTaaS, explore humble leadership, discussing Tim’s journey from solo contributor to leading high-performing teams, his approach to feedback, building a human-centric culture, and knowing when to delegate.
Dec 27, 2024•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, host TC Gill chats with Ivan Kusalic, CTO of green tech organization Enpal. Ivan’s diverse career has shaped his unique approach to tech leadership, rooted in curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to transparency and growth. He shares candid insights on leading in the renewable energy industry, inspiring tech leaders of all levels. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Curiosity and empathy: Drive innovation and connection. Transparency: Encourage feedback and le...
Dec 20, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, TC, our CTO Confessions host, and Skyler Nesheim, the CTO of Dwolla, discuss the strategies and mindsets that have propelled his career in the competitive and dynamic world of FinTech. A hidden world that we all use without knowing it. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Develop a framework to prioritize core, unique technology that drives your business while leveraging SaaS solutions for non-core needs to enable responsible, sustainable growth. Utilize thoughtful questioning, s...
Nov 28, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Hodges, the CTO of Live Oak Bank, a digital-only small business bank. Jeremy shares his passion for customer-centric technology, his approach to balancing innovation and compliance, and the importance of addressing organizational weaknesses. Hear how Jeremy cascades his audacious vision throughout the company and empowers his teams to drive real impact. This is a must-listen for any tech leader looking to elevate their leadership game. Key takeaways from ...
Nov 15, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this CTO confession session, we get insights from a VP of Engineering on Building High-Performing Teams. Join us as we dive into the mind of Farzona Pulatova, a seasoned tech leader who has navigated the industry’s complexities with grace and innovation. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Farzona emphasizes the importance of creating a transparent, empathetic work environment where teams are empowered to focus on what matters most, fostering high performance and innovation. - Farzona's ins...
Oct 22, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this session of CTO Confessions, we get an unvarnished look into the trials, tribulations, and hard-won wisdom of a tech leader who’s stepped into the arena of huge challenges and turned things around. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Misha's key message is that mistakes and failures are inevitable, but they are also your greatest growth opportunities. Lean into the lessons your missteps can teach you. - Misha emphasizes the critical importance of deeply understanding your customer's nee...
Oct 17, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, our host, TC Gill sits down with Catherine Miller, the Chief Technology Officer of Flatiron Health. Catherine shares her passion for using data and technology to improve cancer treatment and drug development - a truly purposeful mission. We dive into Catherine's journey to the CTO role, the challenges of leading through different growth phases, and her authentic, empowering approach to leadership. If you're an aspiring tech leader, get ready for insights that will inspire you to...
Oct 02, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Madalina Tanasie, CTO of Collibra, shares her insights on AI governance, data intelligence, and SaaS evolution. She highlights how advancements in AI have democratized technology and emphasizes the need for solid data governance. Tanasie also stresses the importance of meaningful work for engineers to drive innovation. Her perspectives offer valuable guidance in navigating the tech industry's rapid changes. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Embrace change and new technologies. Stay ahead by we...
Aug 20, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI, joins CTO Confessions to discuss his career in AI and the future of generative models. Vijay shares lessons from early neural network research and his time at YouTube, where he helped build recommendation systems. He explains his role translating customer needs to product roadmaps and ensuring ethical, transparent AI development. The conversation explores AI's potential to enhance understanding of complex issues through multimodal interfaces. Vijay offe...
Mar 28, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this insightful episode of CTO Confessions, listeners are treated to an in-depth exploration of technology and leadership through the experiences of Andreas Westendörpf, CTO of Emma. His journey, from a budding software engineer to an influential technology leader, is a central theme. The episode covers the crucial role of good architecture, with a focus on the MACH Alliance's contributions to e-commerce. It delves into the significant impact of organizational structure on technology, advocat...
Feb 26, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC Gill converses with Adam Siegel, co-founder of Recurate, a trailblazing retail tech startup. Siegel discusses his transformative journey from early computer enthusiasm to pioneering sustainable solutions in the retail sector. Listen in as he shares insights on creating a remote-first, mission-driven company culture, the challenges of balancing product development with market demand, and his unique approach to tech leadership in the dynamic startup world. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - ...
Dec 20, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, TC engages with Rob Phillips, the Vice President of Software Engineering at UDig, a Richmond-based consulting company. Phillips delves into his journey from a passionate technologist in his youth to a seasoned leader in the tech industry. He shares valuable lessons on transitioning to senior leadership, the importance of understanding and articulating company problems, and the art of empowering teams for high performance. The conversation also covers the challenges of remote lea...
Dec 06, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join us in a compelling conversation with Robert Matsuoka, where he unveils his transformative journey from a tech-centric role to a strategic leadership position. In this episode of CTO Confessions, Robert delves into the art of delegation, the dynamics of building effective teams, and the criticality of nurturing talent. He also sheds light on managing remote teams and establishing meaningful rituals in today's distributed work environments. Packed with practical insights, this episode is a mu...
Nov 22, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this enlightening episode of CTO Confessions, Alessio Garofalo, the CIO/CTO of Oxagon at NEOM, delves deep into his multifaceted journey from the NATO military fields to the forefront of tech innovation. Drawing from his rich experiences in defense, tech giants like Amazon, and his entrepreneurial ventures, Alessio shares invaluable insights on leadership, adaptability, and the rapid evolution of technology. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Hands-On Leadership - Delving one level deeper ...
Oct 04, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Jones is a seasoned technology leader with a rich history in steering digital transformation and scaling platform businesses, especially within PE and PLC landscapes. As Chief Technology Officer at uSwitch, Michael was pivotal in navigating the company through three significant exits: an MBO to LDC, a £190m trade sale to Zoopla, and a monumental £2.2bn sale to Silver Lake under ZPG.
Sep 26, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, TC Gill welcomes Pierre Arman, a Partner – Global Tax SaaS Go-to-market Leader at EY, based in Dubai. Pierre dives deep into his role at EY, discussing the intricacies of tax technology, particularly in the realm of VAT and GST automation. As the conversation progresses, Pierre shares his insights on leadership, the importance of authenticity, and the challenges and rewards that come with leading a team. With a passion for practical solutions through technolog...
Sep 20, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, the conversation dives deep into the intersection of technology and the legal realm. Featuring insights from Alex Bazin, listeners are granted a look under the hood of the legal world, revealing the transformative effects of AI and tech innovations. Bazin's candid discussion offers listeners invaluable leadership insights and communication strategies. For those aspiring to climb the tech leadership ladder, this episode is packed with actionable advice, book re...
Sep 13, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this enlightening episode of CTO Confessions, TC Gill dives deep with Benny Keinan, VP of R&D at Windward, a tech veteran who's seen the evolution from Commodore gaming to leading the R&D at Windward, a maritime tech giant. Benny shares his passion for startups, the transformative power of APIs, and the importance of people in any tech journey. He emphasizes the strength in admitting what you don't know and the value of continuous learning. Join us as we sail through Benny's tech voyage and g...
Sep 06, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC Gill welcomed Jon Santee, Senior Director of Information Technology Operations at iRhythm Technologies with a unique journey from computer science studies to a passion-filled career in technology. Jon's approach to leadership is marked by his earnest desire to help others, a guiding principle that's shaped his professional growth. The conversation covers critical topics such as the evolving concept of work-life flow, the challenges of security in the ever-changing tech landscape, and the ofte...
Aug 23, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of CTO Confessions, TC Gill welcomes Casper Rasmussen, CEO, CTO, and co-founder of Monta, a company building software for electric vehicle charging. Casper shares his journey from gaming to programming, his passion for road biking, and the evolution of his leadership style. The conversation dives into Monta's growth, the challenges of onboarding customers, and balancing current problems with future planning. Don’t miss out on Casper's insights into transitioning from a technical ...
Aug 17, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this captivating episode of CTO Confessions, host TC Gill sits down with Paul Dorney, CTO at BOSSCAT an inspiring tech leader, to delve into a remarkable journey filled with startup experiences, both challenging and triumphant. Paul's unwavering passion for problem-solving and servant leadership shines through as he shares invaluable insights on building a collaborative and inspiring work environment. Join them as they explore how Paul's team at BOSSCAT is revolutionizing the home ownership e...
Aug 10, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast An episode which can be described simply as ‘enlightening’, TC Gill engages in a captivating conversation with Andrei Lopatenko, the VP of Engineering at Zillow, as they explore the critical elements of cultivating a culture of innovation and continuous learning in the realm of tech leadership. Andre shares his journey from an individual contributor to a tech leader, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and embracing challenges. Drawing from his experiences at Google, he highlights the signi...
Aug 04, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this captivating episode, TC Gill engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Nick Peddy, the Chief Technology Officer at CLEAR, exploring the dynamic realm of technology leadership and the intriguing biometric security industry. With a wealth of experience and wisdom, Nick delves into the essence of servant leadership, stressing the significance of trust, open communication, and cultivating team growth. Amidst the challenges of company growth and compliance, Nick shares valuable advice ...
Jul 27, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
