Very much depends on the company but here’s what I think helps, perhaps in this order... 1. Be really good at Powerpoint 2. Be really good at explaining techn

Very much depends on the company but here’s what I think helps, perhaps in this order... 1. Be really good at Powerpoint 2. Be really good at explaining technology to non-technical people 3. Conversely be really good at understanding the business domain you work in 4a. Spend 15 years either at a big four consultancy 4b. Spend 15 years at the company you intend to be CTO at and be good at corporate politics 5. Have a super technical wingman who is loyal (and doesn’t want the CTO job)