For us, CTO has less of a Developer focus, and more of an Operations focus.
Not that a software developer couldn't be a CTO, its just that they have less of a focus on:
- Costs. Infrastructure (hosting etc.)
- Disaster Recovery - if a plan isn't in place, getting one done! Then periodically testing the DR plan
- Managing the Service Desk (issue raised / closed / turn around time)
(I may be reading too much into your question) but I think you are missing a step. Something along the lines of Team Lead / Developer Manager / Project Management / Software Architect.
Any developer WITHOUT several years experience in this type of role first is just kidding themselves of a CTO role.
Definitely not kidding myself. I'm trying to develop a plan of how I should get from here to there. I'm currently a highly technical developer, recently started on my MBA, and I want to understand what are the best steps to take to get from here to there. I understand that it could take some time; hopefully something I could accomplish within the next 5 to 10 years, but I want to know how best to go about getting on this path.
I am on this route, perhaps 2 years further along. I just finished a 2-year Executive MBA. It definitely changed my career path (which was the point). The credentials gave me some extra confidence and firepower in negotiating into a team lead position. but as cpayne says below, the real value is the knowledge and new way of thinking the MBA carries that affects your career. It's like having a whole new set of analytical tools available to act in a situation.
It has made me a better software team leader than I would have been, and definitely set me on a path to reach the next levels of management in a company, which is my particular interest and skill set.
I vote for starting some reading of business IT. There are lots of good articles to start your reading list and which will point you towards other readings.
You'll get different responses on the value of the MBA. From what I understand, no one cares that you "have" an MBA, but the knowledge you learn by finishing it is invaluable. So that's a good start.
I'd be thinking of your next step. Is it Software Architect, Team Leader or Project Manager?
Very different skillset. I would say you don't "have" to master all of them, but you should have a good understanding of what all 3 do and how they add value to a project.
And last, something that will come out of your MBA is the importance of sales and the ability to sell (Sales cycle, sales funnel etc.) Whether you are selling a product, selling your ability or selling the benefits of a project. Sales knowledge is something I rarely see in developers.
If there's anything else I can help with, hit me up privately. My details are on my HN profile.
Not that a software developer couldn't be a CTO, its just that they have less of a focus on: - Costs. Infrastructure (hosting etc.) - Disaster Recovery - if a plan isn't in place, getting one done! Then periodically testing the DR plan - Managing the Service Desk (issue raised / closed / turn around time)
(I may be reading too much into your question) but I think you are missing a step. Something along the lines of Team Lead / Developer Manager / Project Management / Software Architect.
Any developer WITHOUT several years experience in this type of role first is just kidding themselves of a CTO role.