The Volvo manager and chief engineer’s best tips for succeeding as CTO

The CTO role is one of the most dynamic and strategic in today’s business. The rapid development of technology makes the CTO central to transforming technological opportunities into business value. But what does it really take to be a successful CTO? What competencies are needed to combine technology and strategy effectively?

In today’s business climate, technology is no longer just a support function – it is a critical asset to strengthen the company’s competitiveness. The CTO is responsible for leading technology development and creating strategies that are adapted to a rapidly changing market, while always keeping the overall business goals in focus.

Anna Söderström Persson, Head of Engineering at Volvo Cars, describes the importance of balancing technology choices with business value: – Focus on making decisions about technology choices based on how the technology should support product development, value and the business. Optimize for flexibility in order to more easily adapt the technology based on a fast-moving environment. Focus on reducing risk. Ensure teams and developers understand the customer and the product value they contribute through close collaboration and visibility into customer experience and business goals.

From technical expertise to strategic leadership

One of the biggest challenges for a CTO is navigating between technical depth and strategic leadership. In smaller companies, the CTO is often the primary technology expert, while in larger organizations the role focuses more on strategy, leadership and organizational development.

Simon Källerfelt Korall, Chief Engineer at Echandia and participant in Ny Teknik Education’s Certified Chief Technology Officer training, reflects on this balancing act: – It is very telling how the role changes depending on how mature the company is and in which sector it operates. The CTO training has given me what I believe is a well-rounded view of the CTO role, and put the relationship between technology and leadership into perspective.

Corporate culture a key factor for success

A successful CTO also needs to build a strong corporate culture. It’s about creating an environment where teams are motivated, have the right tools and understand their contribution to the company’s overall goals. Communication, trust and flexibility are central keys to success.

Anna Söderström Persson emphasizes the importance of human leadership: – Be human. Build trust. Don’t worry. About people and results. This will help you create a healthy, motivating and results-oriented organization. Be flexible. The outside world is constantly changing. Create an environment and way of working where it is easy to adapt to new insights and changes, in a way that minimizes anxiety about the change.

In other words, success as a CTO is about balancing technology, business strategy and leadership in a way that strengthens the organization. It is a continuous journey in step with the development of technology and changes in the outside world – a challenge that makes the role both complex and extremely significant.