From Technical Director to CTO Part 3

Form a Tech Vision: From Tech Leader to Company Visionary

Core Concept: Crafting Your Tech Vision

The essence of becoming a visionary in technology lies not in merely keeping pace with current trends but in foreseeing and embracing disruption. True innovation disrupts; it doesn’t just replace existing technologies with newer versions. It creates entirely new markets, changes consumer behaviours, and redefines the value propositions of businesses.

The Significance for Aspiring CTOs

For Technical Directors aiming to transition into CTO roles, an acute understanding of disruption is indispensable. This comprehension is what separates a CTO from a Technical Director. While the Technical Director may excel in managing and implementing current technologies, a CTO anticipates and leverages disruptive technologies to propel the company forward, ensuring its long-term competitiveness and relevance.

A Personal Odyssey

Incorporating LED volumes into live XR broadcast productions was an endeavor deeply informed by a pre-existing understanding of disruption's dynamics. I approached this project not just from the operational standpoint of a Technical Director but with an eye towards the strategic impact similar to that of a CTO's vision. This dual perspective was key in navigating the integration challenges of LED volumes. It was about applying a broader understanding of how such technological advancements could push the boundaries of live event experiences. My role may have been rooted in the technical domain, but the approach was guided by a vision for what could be, leveraging disruption as a tool for crafting new spaces in live production. The project was a practical application of a disruptive mindset, aiming to blend physical and digital realms in ways that could captivate and engage audiences like never before. See the case study further down for an in depth description of this.

Misconceptions About Technological Progress

A common misconception is that progress is linear from one technology to another. However, real innovation often comes from left field, challenging our preconceptions and requiring a radical rethinking of our approach. Understanding this is crucial in preparing for and leading through disruptive changes.

Whats Is The Difference between TD and CTO Tech Vision

Discovering potentially disruptive technology outside your industry necessitates a strategic methodology, embracing a broad spectrum of information avenues, an openness to innovation, and the acumen to foresee the wider application of nascent technologies. The roles of a Technical Director and a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in this quest vary profoundly in terms of scope, strategic emphasis, and execution, mirroring their distinct duties within an organization. Let's delve into their unique approaches, accentuating the contrasts:

Technical Director

Rooted in the operational and execution facets of technology within an organization's existing projects and framework, a Technical Director's pursuit of disruptive technology tends to be more practical, closely tied to immediate technical requisites and obstacles:

Deep Dive into Specific Technologies: They venture into new technologies poised to directly elevate efficiency, slash costs, or boost project performance. This journey often leads to technical workshops, specialized forums, and technology-centric publications.

Vendor and Product Evaluations: With a keen eye, they scout and assess new products, tools, and solutions from vendors that could meld into the existing systems or amplify current processes.

Practical Experimentation: Spearheading modest experiments or pilot projects to gauge the feasibility and impact of weaving new technologies into established workflows.

Technical Networking: Fostering connections with technical peers across industries through professional networks, exchanging valuable insights and experiences regarding the adoption of new technology.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Conversely, the CTO's purview generally spans the strategic employment of technology to buttress the organization's long-term aspirations, including the identification and adoption of disruptive technologies not immediately pertinent to the current industry or direct technical needs:

Broad Industry Trends and Insights: They keep tabs on a diverse array of sources, from technology trend analyses and market studies to thought leadership pieces, scouting for emerging technologies with the disruptor potential.

Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Engagement: Cultivating ties with tech pioneers, startups, venture capitalists, and academia to unearth groundbreaking technologies and explore strategic alliances or investment avenues.

Foster a Culture of Innovation: Championing organizational strategies that kindle innovation and experimentation across the board, crafting an ambiance where disruptive technologies can be explored and potentially melded into novel business models or propositions.

Scenario Planning and Strategic Investments: Heading scenario planning sessions to comprehend the potential impact of disruptive technologies on the industry and directing strategic investments in sync with the company's overarching vision and objectives.

Cross-Industry Conferences and Events: Marking presence and contributing at cross-industry gatherings to glean insights on the application of emerging technologies in varied contexts and to establish thought leadership in innovative technology integration.

Grasping these distinctions is vital for organizations aiming to effectively identify and capitalize on disruptive technologies, ensuring that both the Technical Director and CTO leverage their strengths in a synergistic fashion.

Integrating Disruption into the CTO Journey

Anticipating and leveraging disruptive technologies is a hallmark of the CTO role. It’s about ensuring that your company not only survives the waves of change but rides them to new heights of innovation and market leadership.

Helpful Tools and Insights

"The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton Christensen was a game-changer for me. It opened my eyes to why big companies often miss out on new waves of technology. The book taught me the value of staying alert to disruptive innovations and the critical balance between maintaining our core business while also exploring new, potentially disruptive avenues. This insight was key to my shift from just doing tasks to thinking strategically about where technology is heading and how we can be leaders rather than followers in that journey.

Case Study: Revolutionizing Live Broadcasts with Extended Reality (XR)

Facing the Challenge Head-On

At the heart of this transformation was a keen insight from the strategic side of the table, pinpointing the shift toward using LED volumes and Unreal Engine in the production world. The idea? To harness XR's immersive potential for live broadcasts, turning a tech trend into a practical tool for enhancing live events. Yet, this vision came with its own set of challenges, from technical hurdles to logistical barriers.

Crafting the Solution

The strategy began with recognizing the industry's shift and the untapped potential lying within LED volumes and Unreal Engine for live productions. This wasn't just about keeping pace with tech trends; it was about pushing boundaries and exploring how these advanced technologies could elevate live broadcasting to new heights.

The journey from idea to implementation required a deep dive into the nitty-gritty, tackling hardware limitations, spatial dynamics, and software compatibility. This phase was all about turning the 'what ifs' into 'how tos,' ensuring the XR dream could fit into the reality of live production settings.

The Strategy in Action

Merging strategic foresight with operational expertise, the project moved from concept to reality. This collaborative approach wasn't just about making XR work technically; it was about envisioning and executing a plan that could introduce a whole new experience to live broadcasts, setting the groundwork for a novel market within the industry.

The Result

The end result was a breakthrough in live production, introducing a segment where XR added unparalleled depth to live events. This success story went beyond just implementing new tech; it created a blueprint for future innovations, showcasing the power of blending technical execution with visionary strategy.

Looking Back

Reflecting on this journey underscores the essence of combining operational know-how with strategic vision. For those in technical roles eyeing a shift towards strategic leadership, this case exemplifies the importance of embracing both aspects. The successful rollout of XR in live broadcasts stands as proof that overcoming industry challenges and opening new paths in live event production is achievable with the right synergy between roles.

Reflecting on Disruption in YOUR PAST

Believe it or not, you already used Disruption skills. But where?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How have I identified and responded to emerging technologies or methodologies that had the potential to disrupt our industry or operations?

   Consider moments when you spotted emerging trends or technologies before they became mainstream within your industry. Reflect on how you evaluated their potential impact and what steps you took to integrate these into your projects or operations, potentially steering your team or organization towards unexplored territories.

2. In what ways have I challenged the traditional ways of doing things within my projects or organization, advocating for change that initially faced resistance?

   Think about instances where you proposed new approaches or technologies that diverged from established practices. Focus on your rationale for advocating these changes and the strategies you employed to overcome skepticism or resistance, highlighting how these efforts contributed to transformative outcomes.

3. Can I pinpoint a time when my initiative to adapt to or anticipate disruptive changes led to a significant strategic advantage or opened new avenues for innovation?

   Identify projects or initiatives where your forward-thinking or adaptability to disruptive changes directly influenced your organization's strategic direction or unlocked new opportunities for innovation. Reflect on how your role as a technical director enabled you to lead or influence these shifts, showcasing your capacity to guide your team through the landscape of disruption.