CTO Excellence in 100 Days: Becoming the Leader Your Company Deserves

by Etienne de Bruin

As chief innovator and problem solver, the CTO’s value far exceeds technology skills. The CTO must lead as a highly visible, first-class citizen of the C-suite. Still, many technology experts operate in a reactive, support-oriented style, struggling to command respect or assert influence—let alone executive presence.

Whether setting the tone as a new hire or looking to redirect or revitalize an established role, one hundred days are all you need to secure long-term success. In CTO Excellence in 100 Becoming the Leader Your Company Deserves, Etienne de Bruin offers actionable guidelines on how to lead both your company’s technology strategy and the people behind it.

The work begins with assessing whether you’re in the right place. Next, Etienne’s methodical approach helps you build trust and visibility through effective communications and a strategic quick win, introduce your company’s technology vision, and navigate challenges—from engaging stakeholders to managing conflict—all within that vital one-hundred-day period.

Genres: Leadership

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Benjamin Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some great Engineering Manager books that have come out in the past few years, but this is the first one I've seen related to the CTO role. Overall, I really enjoyed the format of the book and it provided me with a lot of thought-provoking and inspiring information. The book also really highlights the heightened importance of collaboration, listening, and business understanding that a well-rounded CTO/VP needs in today's market, as opposed to simply a solid technical foundation (which is also important).

Thank you Etienne for your contribution to an under-documented discipline!

[Reme Le Hane · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book provided a lot of information that may be useful to some, the core target market of this book seems to be existing CTOs likely those who inherited that role in a startup space.

The core topics cover things around finding your next role as an existing CTO, how to work though your first 100 days and then covers topics on basic leadership which anyone who went from dev to CTO by working through a career progression would already know as they’d have spent many years in roles like team/technical lead and even head of engineering.

As someone on that path having been a developer for over a decade, a team lead working towards HOE and then CTO, this book provided almost no value, nothing for the first 100 days would be useful as when the time comes I’d have been with the company for 3+ years, everything on he short chapter on leadership skills really are just the basics and at best the bare minimum a normal leader should be doing, and far too little and simple for someone in such an important position.

Maybe I was mislead by the title, but “Becoming the leader your company deserves” does not really scream job hunting.

If your someone like me looking to better understand the role as a hole, get a better understanding of what to look towards/forward to should you have your eyes set on moving up the ranks, then this book if not for you. You’d be better off reading “Think like a CTO” by Alan Williamson.

[Shantell Hausleitner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pragmatic and Practical - a must read even for seasoned professionals

The book is an easy read with practical tips and tricks for setting yourself up to succeed as a CTO. Etienne's stories and experiences are relatable and serves as a reminder that whatever life throws at you, you can learn from it. I definitely recommend that you read this book and refer back to it frequently!

[Özgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on your scope as a CTO (range: startup -> enterprise) the amount of benefit you will receive will vary. Overall good and practical advice for starters, good refresher for growing and succession planning material for the long tenured battle hardened executives out there. Enjoyed it overall.

[Tõnu Vahtra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was expecting something more strategic, but this feels mostly a career development book (from applying to CTO role to making your appearance more likable). The book covers mostly the softer side and has very limited focus on the technology or strategy side.

[Florian · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Book I read specific for CTOs. I can relate a lot. It condenses a lot about technology, leadership and self development.

[John Puopolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Book for Aspiring & Practicing CTOs

I have been a software engineer, architect, VPE and CTO is companies ranging from start-ups to large public companies. I wish I had this book 15 years ago, as I had to learn many of its lessons the hard way - through many attempts and many failures.

While no one book is a recipe for guaranteed success, I think Etienne does a great job at describing a framework for avoiding major mistakes and ultimately succeeding as a valuable member of a C-suite team.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I find my old notes on this, I'll add them here, but for now: This was a good way to frame my thinking about what my boss (or their boss) is thinking, so that I can better line up my strategy with that.