Personal Traits and Attitude (Must Haves)

Product Passion Passion for our product is an essential ingredient as it will often be called upon to provide the motivation to get through the many very difficult challenges of creating a successful product. Furthermore, you will need to inspire the rest of the team, and this passion for our product is contagious.

Customer Empathy Our ideal CTO doesn’t have to come from our target market (though this helps), but they absolutely need to be able to respect and empathize with our target market.

Intelligence There is really no substitute for innate intelligence. Our ideal CTO will not only be bright and insightful, but the ability to problem solve is ingrained in their DNA.

Work Ethic Even when skills such as time management and the techniques of product management are mastered, our ideal CTO is still consumed with our product. Keep in mind that the level of effort and commitment is not uniform throughout the lifecycle of the project. What won’t change is the degree to which our CTO cares and worries about our product and the lengths they are willing to go to ensure its success.

Integrity The ideal CTO needs to reflect the values of our company and product most. The ability to influence others begins with mutual trust and respect (both of which depend on the integrity of our CTO). Trust and respect are built (earned) over time by demonstrating the traits and skills of a strong leader (having integrity, honesty, and fairness when dealing with our team).

Confidence While experience may help build confidence, many experienced CTOs simply do not project confidence. In communicating persuasively, confidence is a critical ingredient, and people are more likely to follow a leader who has it, rather than one who does not.

Attitude The successful CTO knows that it is through the rest of them team that his product vision will become a reality, but it is his vision that they are building.

Equity

10.0 – 25.0