The MCTO Awards: Who is THE Modern CTO of 2025? - Modern CTO Recap
Podcast: Modern CTO
Published: 2025-12-31
Duration: 31 min
Summary
In this episode, Joel and Josh celebrate the top moments and insights from 2025, culminating in the awarding of the title 'Modern CTO of the Year.' They highlight valuable leadership and hiring advice from notable guests while reflecting on some unconventional and controversial discussions.
What Happened
As the year comes to a close, Joel and Josh dive into a unique format for the episode, presenting the highlights of 2025 and showcasing the best moments from their interviews. They discuss leadership advice, hiring strategies, and even tackle a few unconventional and controversial topics that have sparked conversations among their listeners. Joel expresses his excitement about reviewing the clips, while Josh reveals that he carefully curated the selections based on analytics and personal insights.
One standout moment came from Art Hugh, Senior Vice President at Lenovo, who offered a memorable piece of leadership advice about AI implementation: 'You want speeding tickets, not parking tickets.' This quip emphasizes the importance of taking risks and being proactive in tech leadership. Another highlight was shared by Rebecca Carr, CEO at Smart Recruiters, who provided crucial hiring advice centered around self-awareness—specifically, asking candidates about negative feedback they’ve received and how they handled it. Joel affectionately referred to her as 'the queen of hiring' for her insightful perspectives.
The episode didn't shy away from controversy either, featuring a discussion with Miles Spencer, CEO at Reflecta, about using technology to communicate with deceased loved ones. This topic ignited a range of reactions from listeners and prompted a deep dialogue about grief and the role of technology in personal loss. Overall, the episode is a reflection of the diverse and thought-provoking conversations that have defined the year in technology leadership, making it a compelling listen for anyone in the field.
Key Insights
- Risk-taking in leadership is crucial.
- Self-awareness is key in hiring practices.
- Unconventional advice can lead to profound insights.
- Technology can impact personal grief and communication.
Key Questions Answered
What leadership advice did Art Hugh provide?
Art Hugh from Lenovo emphasized the importance of being proactive in leadership, particularly when it comes to implementing AI in organizations. He quipped, 'You want speeding tickets, not parking tickets,' suggesting that leaders should take calculated risks rather than playing it safe. This encapsulates the mindset needed for tech leaders to thrive in an evolving landscape.
How did Rebecca Carr define effective hiring?
Rebecca Carr, CEO at Smart Recruiters, shared a unique approach to hiring by focusing on self-awareness. She advised asking candidates to give examples of negative feedback they've received and how they responded to it. This method, according to her, serves as a strong litmus test for determining if a candidate is truly a fit for a team.
What was the most unconventional leadership advice discussed?
Adrian McDermott, CTO at Zendesk, provided what was dubbed the most unconventional advice of the year, stating that leaders should strive to be 'less like a vending machine and a little bit more like a slot machine.' This advice encourages leaders to be unpredictable in their management style, creating a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and independence.
What was the controversial topic covered in the episode?
The episode featured a particularly controversial moment with Miles Spencer, CEO at Reflecta, who discussed using technology to communicate with his deceased father. He explained that through his platform, he could interact with a recognizable likeness of his dad by uploading files and data. This sparked intense discussions among listeners about the ethical implications and personal nature of technology in grief.
What were the top moments highlighted in the MCTO Awards?
In the MCTO Awards episode, Joel and Josh highlighted various top moments from the past year, including useful leadership advice from Art Hugh, insightful hiring strategies from Rebecca Carr, and unconventional wisdom from Adrian McDermott. They aimed to encapsulate the essence of the year in technology leadership, showcasing both the highs and lows, from practical advice to thought-provoking discussions.