The path to vCTO

I’m moving into a new role at Node4, as a vCTO (the “v” is for virtual). It formalises the type of work I’ve found myself doing more of over time — working with clients to shape technology decisions, connect ambition to outcomes, and make sense of increasingly complex landscapes. The change of role adds increased focus (and accountability). It’s also prompted me to look back at where that started. A conversation at the wrong time In May 2017, I pitched to the founding directors at risual and asked to be their CTO. I understood what the role required. What I hadn’t fully grasped was the context we were operating in. 2017 was a difficult year, and any non-billable role was an overhead that had to be justified very carefully. I was thinking with an enterprise mindset in a small to medium-sized business and, in doing so, showed that I wasn’t ready. Becoming part of a larger organisation When risual was acquired by Node4, we became part of a much larger organisation with an established…