summary

In this episode, Philipp Deutscher interviews Lusine Khachatrian, a CTO and tech leader, about her journey to becoming a leader in the tech industry. They discuss the responsibilities of a CTO, the importance of a business understanding, and the skills and qualities needed to be a successful leader. Lusine emphasizes the need for curiosity, communication, empathy, and ownership. She also highlights the importance of building a network and seeking mentorship. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring tech leaders.

keywords
CTO, tech leader, journey, responsibilities, business understanding, skills, qualities, curiosity, communication, empathy, ownership, network, mentorship, inspiration

takeaways

• Becoming a CTO requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a business understanding.
• Communication, curiosity, and empathy are essential qualities for a successful tech leader.
• Building a network and seeking mentorship can provide valuable support and guidance on the path to becoming a CTO.
• Ownership and taking responsibility for overcoming challenges are key to achieving goals and driving success.

titles

• Skills and Qualities of Successful Tech Leaders
• The Journey to Becoming a CTO: Insights from a Tech Leader

Sound Bites

• "I think it's all about how you are building network within company, within just community and tech industry, etc."
• "I think what is important is just to make sure you are able to identify those great technical experts and hire them and bring them to the team and keep them motivated."
• "I would say probably ownership. Whatever you do, does, it doesn't matter if it is within your scope, out of your control or whatever. If you have a goal or assignment, just taking that full ownership of overcoming the challenges and communicating with other teams as well to make sure that you are able to achieve goals, which are important for your business."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to the Becoming CTO Secrets podcast series

02:57
Motivation to pursue a leadership role in technology

04:00
Defining the role of a CTO or leader of engineering teams

05:46
Prioritizing responsibilities as a CTO or tech leader

07:57
Building connections and being a translator

10:05
Challenges and mistakes on the journey to becoming a CTO

12:53
Learning and seeking mentorship

14:44
The importance of the journey and personal growth

16:33
Recognizing the importance of looking beyond the company

18:58
Building and leading high-performing engineering teams

21:20
Measuring engineering performance and outcomes

23:49
The role of a CTO in fostering a positive company culture

26:09
Dealing with imposter syndrome and closed mindset

28:44
The future of the CTO role and integrating emerging technologies

31:57
Skills and qualities for aspiring leaders and CTOs

36:00
Overcoming challenges and recognizing achievements

39:40
Personal value of ownership