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CTO coaching to lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact
Stuck in execution mode?
Get the strategic guidance, practical tools, and supportive community you need to grow from busy operator to confident executive.
Why The CTO Playbook Exists
Most CTOs struggle to shift from technical expert to strategic leader. Scaling teams, driving impact, and making high-stakes decisions requires more than technical expertise.
The CTO Playbook provides the coaching, insights, and peer network to help you lead with confidence and accelerate your growth.
CTO Coaching
A program designed for your growth
Most CTOs learn leadership the hard way — through trial and error. Coaching accelerates that journey.
Your coaching plan is tailored to your needs, combining:
🚀 Self-Paced Learning
🚀 Live Cohort Coaching
🚀 1:1 Leadership Coaching
🚀 The CTO Growth Framework
Create the right mix for you — structured content, peer collaboration, or deep 1:1 support.
Start Leading with Confidence – Customise Your Coaching Plan Today
The CTO Playbook Podcast
Learn from top CTOs & industry experts
Real stories, hard-earned lessons, and expert strategies — so you can skip the mistakes and accelerate your leadership journey.
🎙️ Featuring top CTOs, unicorn builders, and industry experts
🎙️ Insights from CEOs, CPOs, recruiting leaders, and book authors
🎙️ No fluff — just actionable leadership strategies for CTOs
Each episode is designed to help you lead, grow, and make an impact.
Listen to Expert CTO Leadership Insights NowThe CTO Playbook Community
A network for CTOs
An application-only community where CTOs and senior leaders in tech share real challenges, gain insights, and access exclusive coaching.
🔹 Exclusive discussions on leadership, scaling, and strategy.
🔹 Peer support & expert insights from seasoned CTOs.
🔹 Live Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, and private learning areas.
You don’t have to navigate leadership alone.
Join the CTO Leadership Community Today
What leaders are saying (CTO Ascent)
Marcus, CTO
“Adam has completely transformed the way I approach leadership. His guidance has been instrumental in helping me develop the skills to step into the CTO role, and his insights into managing people and tech strategy have been invaluable. I continue to learn from Adam and credit much of my professional development to his mentorship.”
Zoë, Head of Engineering & Product
“Adam has been an integral part of my transition into engineering leadership. His mentorship has upleveled our company significantly — from improving engineering velocity and team culture to shaping product strategy. Every session gives me clarity on how to move my team, company, and product forward.”
Christian, CTO
“Adam blends deep tech expertise with a warm, human approach to leadership. He empowers you to develop your own instincts, while pushing you forward with candid, well-formulated feedback. Working with him has sharpened my skills and given me the tools to manage challenges more effectively.”
Abz, CTO
"Adam’s mentorship was instrumental in refining my approach to managing executive stakeholders and strategic planning. He increased my executive presence, improved my leadership skills, business acumen, and overall confidence as a CTO. Anyone looking for a CTO coach who can truly transform your executive leadership should not hesitate to work with Adam."
Adem, Co-founder & CTO
“I learned to take a step back and see the bigger picture thanks to Adam: don’t work in the machine but on the machine. He’s a great listener who helps with exactly what matters. I’ve learned to think more strategically and feel comfortable in my role as co-founder and CTO.”
Isaac, Founding Engineer & Head of Engineering
“Adam’s guidance has been invaluable. His insights helped me navigate a significant career transition, and I believe his advice set me on a path that is best for both myself and the company. His strategic advice and deep understanding of the tech landscape make him an outstanding coach for anyone in a technical leadership role.”
Marcin, Tech Team Lead
“Adam stands out with his technical knowledge, ability to anticipate problems, and deep empathy. Thanks to his support, I developed both my technical and leadership skills. His experience and approach added real value — to both the project and the team.”
Who is this for?
The CTO Playbook is designed for CTOs and senior leaders in tech who want to:
Master leadership & strategy
Lead with confidence without losing your technical edge.
Gain confidence in the C-suite
Communicate clearly and influence executive decisions.
Navigate scale & technical debt
Handle growth and complexity without losing control.
Build high-performing teams
Create engineering orgs that execute and scale.
Align tech with the business
Bridge engineering and strategy to drive results.
Grow alongside a trusted community
Join a network of peers who understand the challenges.
If you’re ready to move beyond execution and lead at the next level, this is for you.
Why work with Adam Horner?
With 30+ years in tech, Adam is a CTO, repeat startup founder, and experienced coach. He’s helped startup, scaleup, and enterprise CTOs navigate growth, leadership challenges, and high-stakes decisions — without the trial-and-error.
A coach who understands your CTO journey
✅ Current CTO & serial Founder with hands-on experience.
✅ Specialised in leadership, strategy, and scaling teams.
✅ Has helped hundreds of tech leaders transform their leadership style.
Your CTO journey starts here
✅ Get expert coaching tailored to your challenges
✅ Learn from real-world insights on the podcast
✅ Join a community of CTOs and senior leaders in tech
