The 3 Main Unexpected Tasks of a CTO ????
When you think about the role of a CTO (Chief Technology Officer), it’s easy to picture them diving into technical challenges, designing architectures, and leading engineering teams. While that’s all part of the job, some tasks you wouldn’t expect often take up a surprising amount of their time. These responsibilities go beyond coding and tech strategy—they’re about shaping the company’s future and solving problems in creative ways.
Here are the three main unexpected tasks I’ve experienced as a CTO:
1. Bridging the Gap Between Business and Tech
As a CTO, you’re not just the “tech expert”; you’re a translator. Your job is to bridge the communication gap between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders like investors, sales, and marketing.
Imagine you’ve just built a new feature—while engineers focus on how it works, stakeholders want to know why it matters. It’s your responsibility to reframe technical progress into business outcomes: How does this feature increase revenue? How does it improve user retention?
It’s a skill that takes time to master, but being able to speak both “languages” makes you invaluable to the company.
2. Talent Retention and Team Building
Hiring the right people is challenging, but keeping them engaged is even harder. Beyond leading technical projects, a CTO needs to:
It’s not uncommon for CTOs to spend as much time building a cohesive, motivated team as they do dealing with tech.
3. Risk Management (a.k.a. Playing the Bad Cop)
CTOs often need to make tough calls that might not always be popular. From scaling down a project because it’s unsustainable to halting a risky integration that excites other teams, you’ll frequently find yourself as the voice of reason.
For example, I’ve had to say “no” to product features because the timelines were unrealistic or because the resources would better serve more strategic goals. While this can create friction, balancing the excitement of innovation with calculated risk is a vital—and often overlooked—part of the CTO’s role.
Why These Tasks Matter
What makes these tasks unexpected is that they don’t feel “technical,” but they’re at the heart of building a successful company. A CTO isn’t just a tech guru—they’re a business partner, a people leader, and a strategist.
The reality is: If you don’t handle these responsibilities well, it doesn’t matter how brilliant your tech solutions are. Without alignment, a strong team, and careful risk management, even the best ideas can fall apart.
Are you a CTO or an aspiring one? What unexpected challenges have you faced? Let’s share and learn from each other’s journeys! ??