The CTO (Chief Technology Officer) role is a highly complicated one situated at the intersection of technological and management elements. In startups, the technology professionals acting as CTOS (Chief Technology Officer) play active roles in more than one critical subject.
In the startup ecosystem, the expectation of an enterprise from the CTO role can be different from the expectations of another enterprisee. Which competencies must a CTO have, remembering that this is a role where different expectations such as commercial focus, management of the recruitment of engineers within the company, being responsible for cyber-security and team management intersect?
Let’s take a look at the 4 core competencies sought in CTOs concerning which we have great experience in the Turkish startup ecosystem:
Commercial Focus: Technological vision and commercial focus are a must for a startup company to be successful. When developing a product, it is necessary to finely determine the target audience and the end-users. Having the end-user in mind, focusing on the usability and profitability of the product and being able to coordinate the operational and technical teams for this purpose as well as not distancing the teams from the commercial focus is an important competency sought in** CTOs**.
Leadership and Mentorship: Leadership and mentorship are among the top of the list of the competencies that CTOs must possess. As a leader, the CTO must lead its team to constant development, change and evolution so that the company progresses over a certain standard. A CTO, who has leadership capabilities, believing in his/her team, is inspired and goes after this vision for the purpose of realizing the projects is closely associated with the success and sustainability of the company. The persons in the CTO position having strategies concerning how to develop their teams technically and professional ensures that the startup company moves ahead in a sound manner. The mentorship that the technology teams in the startup will receive from the CTOs is of importance for them to move rapidly towards the right target.
Development Management: The people in the CTO position must be able to develop the company and the team working in association with them in the technological and professional senses. They monitor the areas that their team competes in terms of technology and establish strategies to come to the forefront in these areas with the technological vision they have as well as monitoring the development of their teams. The CTO must define what success is for his/her team concerning his/her field in accordance with the expectation of the startup company, show the way that leads to success and provide the supporting elements that his/her team requires.
Motivation Management: The CTOs must be able to motivate their teams so that the companies can move rapidly towards their targets. As a result of motivation management, the technology professionals working under the CTOs complete the work they perform with a greater enthusiasm and with professional satisfaction and act meticulously concerning the carrying out of the work as a result of the communication and motivation relationship established correctly with the operational and commercial team carrying out the business side at the startup.
Let’s take a look at the 4 core competencies sought in CTOs concerning which we have great experience in the Turkish startup ecosystem:
Commercial Focus: Technological vision and commercial focus are a must for a startup company to be successful. When developing a product, it is necessary to finely determine the target audience and the end-users. Having the end-user in mind, focusing on the usability and profitability of the product and being able to coordinate the operational and technical teams for this purpose as well as not distancing the teams from the commercial focus is an important competency sought in** CTOs**.
Leadership and Mentorship: Leadership and mentorship are among the top of the list of the competencies that CTOs must possess. As a leader, the CTO must lead its team to constant development, change and evolution so that the company progresses over a certain standard. A CTO, who has leadership capabilities, believing in his/her team, is inspired and goes after this vision for the purpose of realizing the projects is closely associated with the success and sustainability of the company. The persons in the CTO position having strategies concerning how to develop their teams technically and professional ensures that the startup company moves ahead in a sound manner. The mentorship that the technology teams in the startup will receive from the CTOs is of importance for them to move rapidly towards the right target.
Development Management: The people in the CTO position must be able to develop the company and the team working in association with them in the technological and professional senses. They monitor the areas that their team competes in terms of technology and establish strategies to come to the forefront in these areas with the technological vision they have as well as monitoring the development of their teams. The CTO must define what success is for his/her team concerning his/her field in accordance with the expectation of the startup company, show the way that leads to success and provide the supporting elements that his/her team requires.
Motivation Management: The CTOs must be able to motivate their teams so that the companies can move rapidly towards their targets. As a result of motivation management, the technology professionals working under the CTOs complete the work they perform with a greater enthusiasm and with professional satisfaction and act meticulously concerning the carrying out of the work as a result of the communication and motivation relationship established correctly with the operational and commercial team carrying out the business side at the startup.
