# CTO Excellence in 100 Days

> Becoming the Leader Your Company Deserves. A guide to your first 100 days as CTO, ten days at a time, by Etienne de Bruin.

As chief innovator and problem solver, the CTO's value far exceeds technology skills. The CTO must lead as a highly visible, first-class citizen of the C-suite. Still, many technology experts operate in a reactive, support-oriented style, struggling to command respect or assert influence—let alone executive presence.

Whether setting the tone as a new hire or looking to redirect or revitalize an established role, one hundred days are all you need to secure long-term success. In CTO Excellence in 100 Days: Becoming the Leader Your Company Deserves, Etienne de Bruin offers actionable guidelines on how to lead both your company's technology strategy and the people behind it.

The work begins with assessing whether you're in the right place. Next, Etienne's methodical approach helps you build trust and visibility through effective communications and a strategic quick win, introduce your company's technology vision, and navigate challenges—from engaging stakeholders to managing conflict—all within that vital one-hundred-day period.

## This site

- [The book](https://ctoexcellence.com/): the talk, the ten stretches of the 100 days, endorsements and where to buy it.
- [Introduction](https://ctoexcellence.com/read/introduction): a sample chapter, as printed.
- [Chapter 6 · Days 1–10](https://ctoexcellence.com/read/days-1-10): a sample chapter, as printed.
- [About the author](https://ctoexcellence.com/author): Etienne de Bruin has served in chief technology officer roles for over twenty years. He is the founder of 7CTOs, a peer group community for CTOs with more than three hundred members worldwide. He is the co-creator of Ekklesia360 Content Management System, which was sold to Ministry Brands in 2015. He coaches C-suites of multimillion-dollar tech companies.
- [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544538340): hardcover, paperback and ebook.

## Books

- [CTO Refactor](https://ctorefactor.com): His book for CTOs ready to escape operational chaos and redesign their role.
- [LIQUID](https://ctosentinel.com): Written with Kathy Keating and Scott Graves: leading the systems behind a tech organization.

## Tools and frameworks

- [CTO Notebook](https://ctonotebook.com): This book's journal, free: your first 100 days, ten days at a time.
- [CTO Compass](https://ctocompass.com): Strategic planning that turns company financial targets into technical execution.
- [CTO Levels](https://www.ctolevels.com): His framework for assessing and developing CTOs.
- [CTO CORE](https://ctocore.org): A financial framework for CTOs, built on CTO Levels.

## Writing and podcast

- [The CTO Substack](https://ctosub.com): Etienne's weekly newsletter for technology leaders.
- [The CTO Podcast](https://www.ctopod.com): Interviews with technology leaders about the CTO's job.

## Work with Etienne

- [7CTOs](https://7ctos.com): The peer group community for CTOs he founded.
- [CoachEXE](https://coachexe.com): Executive coaching for C-suites in technology companies.
- [CTO Search](https://ctosearch.ai): Executive search for CTOs and technical leaders.
- [AI×CTO](https://aixcto.com): Gatherings for CTOs rebuilding their companies around AI, by invitation.