In this conversation, Etienne interviews Kathy Keating, a fractional CTO and executive coach. They discuss topics such as finding joy in work, dealing with disagreement and rejection, and the importance of operationalizing processes in growing companies. Kathy emphasizes the need for alignment on the problems worth solving and the value of creating a consistent operational cadence. They also touch on the importance of being a systems thinker and the benefits of writing and documenting ideas and processes. Etienne and Kathy discuss the importance of documentation, decision-making, and operationalizing processes in the role of a CTO. They emphasize the need for clear communication, alignment, and trust within an organization. They also highlight the value of incremental changes and continuous improvement in addressing complex problems. The conversation touches on the relevance of CTO Levels in understanding common challenges faced by CTOs at different levels of experience. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of effective leadership and the role of processes in driving growth and success.Time Stamps00:00 - Introduction and Finding Joy in Work06:27 - Dealing with Disagreement and Rejection09:15 - Operationalizing Processes for Growing Companies13:00 - The Importance of Alignment and Systems Thinking19:10 - The Benefits of Writing and Documenting29:56 - Introduction and the Importance of Documentation35:37 - Operationalizing Processes for Business Growth42:51 - The Value of Incremental Changes and Continuous Improvement50:58 - Understanding Common Challenges with CTO Levels53:20 - Effective Leadership: Communication, Alignment, and Decision-MakingWe have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials VideoContact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Kathy: Website /LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ctopod.com