In this episode we're talking about being a CTO. People listening might have CTO career aspirations. A lot might report into a CTO, and others might be selling to CTO's. So we talk to David about all things CTO.
David Crawford has spent many years as a CTO. He's also been a CTO advisor and non-executive director. He often hosts London Tech Leader panels, and also hosts the "CTO Lens" podcast.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
David Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-crawford-13679a/
CTO Lens Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5aT2XrO7CTOCLPqKZmcnT9
Takeaways
The role of a CTO is complex and varies by organization.
CTOs are responsible for technology vision and strategy.
Understanding finance is crucial for technology leaders.
Soft skills in leadership are essential for success.
Performance management is a critical aspect of the CTO role.
Engaging with the business is vital for a CTO.
Career development requires curiosity and mentorship.
Fractional CTO roles are becoming more popular.
CTOs must balance technical knowledge with leadership skills.
Communication with non-technical stakeholders is key.
Keywords
CTO, CIO, technology leadership, fractional CTO, skills, career development, performance management, stakeholder management, communication, technology strategy
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EP67: First Recall = First Call - Neuroscience of Memory, Time and Persuasion with John K Coyle
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce and John Coyle explore the concept of becoming more memorable and the science behind how to do it. John shares insights from his experiences as an Olympic athlete and how understanding the nature of time can enhance our lives.
John is an Olympic silver medallist, best-selling author, keynote speaker and expert in Chronoception.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
John Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/
John's Website - https://johnkcoyle.com/
Takeaways
Memories are the currency of time.
The nature of time is not linear; we experience human time, not clock time.
Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.
Tiny moments often determine the trajectory of your future.
Routine is the enemy of time; break it to create memories.
To be memorable, recognize heightened circumstances as opportunities.
Design experiences that leverage risk, uniqueness, and emotional intensity.
Emotions drive human behavior; engage them to influence others.
When you have trouble, you might be solving the wrong problem.
Time and money are fungible; invest in creating memorable experiences.
Keywords
chronoception, memorable experiences, time perception, emotional engagement, storytelling, influence, personal growth, professional development, memory creation, human connection
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EP66: Speaking At My First Big Conference with Felicity Nyan
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce speak to Felicity Nyan, a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. She shares her journey from being a hesitant public speaker to successfully presenting at SQLBits, one of the largest data conferences in the UK. Felicity discusses why she wanted to speak at a conference, the challenges she faced, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Felicity Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
Oxford Microsoft Data Platform Group - https://www.meetup.com/oxford-microsoft-data-platform-group/
SQLBits - https://sqlbits.com/
Takeaways
Felicity Nyan shares her journey from a hesitant speaker to presenting at SQL Bits.
SQL Bits is a community-led conference that offers opportunities for all levels.
Preparation is key, but life can often get in the way.
Having a co-presenter can ease the pressure of presenting.
Start early on proposals and keep a record of ideas.
Practice makes perfect, but balance is important to avoid sounding scripted.
User groups are great platforms for practicing public speaking.
Engaging the audience is crucial for a successful presentation.
Technical issues can arise, so have backup plans in place.
Confidence can be built through small challenges outside of public speaking.
Keywords
public speaking, SQL Bits, data platform, conference presentation, Felicity Nyan, Microsoft, user groups, tech conferences, presentation tips, career growth
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EP65: Rethinking Goals. The Must Be a Better Way with Radhika Dutt
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce speaks with Radhika Dutt, a product leader and author of 'Radical Product Thinking.' They discuss the limitations of traditional goal setting and the negative impact of performance metrics on collaboration and motivation. Radhika introduces a new approach.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Radhika Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
OHL Toolkit - https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit
Takeaways
Goals create a burden and hinder curiosity.
Traditional goal setting is outdated and ineffective.
Puzzle setting and solving can drive better results.
Performance metrics can lead to 'performance theater.'
A clear vision is essential for effective goal setting.
OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) provide a framework for problem-solving.
Collaboration is eroded by competitive goal setting.
Feedback should focus on learning and adaptation.
Real-world examples demonstrate the effectiveness of puzzle solving.
Accountability should be based on problem-solving, not just metrics.
Keywords
goals, productivity, radical product thinking, performance management, puzzle solving, business results, vision, OKRs, objectives, hypotheses, learnings
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EP64: The Customer Connection Formula with Liping Huang
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce and guest Liping Huang discuss the importance of technical folks building rapport and relationships with customers. We chat through practical tips for establishing strong connections, the significance of empathy, effective communication, and that technical skills alone are not enough.
Liping Huang has huge experience working with customer in tech roles. She has been a solutions architect at Microsoft, solutions architect at Databricks and now runs Dataleaps.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Liping Linktree - https://linktr.ee/liping_dataleaps
Takeaways
Building rapport is crucial for success in customer interactions.
Technical knowledge is essential before engaging in pre-sales.
Empathy helps in understanding customer challenges and needs.
Effective communication involves making complex topics easy to understand.
Being likable and helpful fosters strong customer relationships.
Self-assessment is key to identifying areas for improvement.
Follow up on commitments to build trust with customers.
Creating reusable content can streamline customer interactions.
Understanding different audiences is vital for effective communication.
Continuous development is necessary to adapt to changing technologies.
Keywords
rapport, relationships, customer service, empathy, communication skills, technical skills, pre-sales, business relationships, customer interactions, professional development
Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight.
The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world.
If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party.
New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details.
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