CTO Confessions Brought to you by IT Labs

Is the push-pull of feature prioritization giving you a headache? You aren't alone. In this episode, TC Gill sits down with Rigvinath Chevala, CPTO at ServiceChannel, to strip away the hype and get into the real grit of tech leadership. Rigvinath brings over 20 years of experience scaling B2B SaaS from $10M to $180M. He breaks down why the "sexy" AI solution isn't always the right one and how to bridge the gap between engineering reality and product goals. In this episode, we explore: The CPTO Trend: Why the dual role is rising and how it aligns managers and engineers. - B2B vs. B2C: Navigating the feedback loop when you don’t have millions of users. - Project vs. Product: Moving away from "one-and-done" thinking toward a recurring growth mindset. - The Art of the "No": Proven methods for prioritizing features based on impact and frequency. "There's not only one way to do certain things. You have to force yourself to say: are there alternatives? That’s where the negotiation begins." Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a fresh tech lead, this episode serves as a practical guide to mastering the "push-pull" of organizational demands.

Your system doesn't need heroes — A guide on building and scaling a team "If your system needs heroes, you don't have a system." In this episode of CTO Confessions, TC sits down with engineering leader Swarnim Kumari for a candid conversation on what it actually takes to build and scale high-performing teams. No fluff — just hard-earned lessons and sharp one-liners that'll stick with you long after the episode ends. They cover why hiring fast isn't the same as hiring right, why 2 a.m. firefighting is a red flag (not a badge of honor), and why AI without purpose is just noise. Whether you're managing your first team or leading an entire engineering org, this one's for you. What you'll take away: → 2 a.m. problem-solving isn't hustle culture — it's a broken system → AI needs a clear purpose, or it has no place → Don't scale the system before the business is ready → Ditch the formal meetings. Build a culture of ongoing communication instead About Swarnim Kumari: Swarnim is an engineering leader with experience across Senior Engineer, Engineering Manager, and Director of Engineering roles. She specializes in scaling high-performing teams, improving delivery practices, and building reliable, customer-focused systems — always at the intersection of technology, product, and people.

What does it really take to build great hardware in a software-first world? In this episode of CTO Confessions, we sit down with Nico Cormier, CTO of reMarkable — the company behind the world's leading paper tablet — to explore what modern hardware development actually looks like from the inside. We get into the risks, the rewards, and the mindset it takes to ship a physical product people love. Nico draws on his experience at Cisco, Nasdaq, and DxO Labs to share what separates hardware teams that succeed from those that don't. In this episode: - Why CTOs need to be business builders, not just tech experts - The brutal reality of hardware risk — and why it's still worth it - How to listen to user feedback without cherry-picking the good stuff - Staying mission-driven while staying open to change "Nothing beats being able to hold a product in your hands." — Nico Cormier

Assuming you know what motivates people is often what disconnects you from them. In this episode of CTO Confessions, Ravi Soni, VP of Engineering at Curative, shares why strong leadership starts with curiosity — not conclusions — especially in complex, high-stakes environments like healthcare. Ravi brings a calm, practical perspective shaped by years of scaling SaaS platforms, modernizing legacy systems, and leading teams through real change. From staying close to the technical craft as a leader, to rethinking motivation, to why healthcare still needs urgent digitization, this conversation is a thoughtful reminder that the best leaders ask more than they assume — and listen more than they speak.

Trying to build things perfectly is often what stops them from working at all. In this episode of CTO Confessions, Stephen Cope, CIO at Astrak, shares why aiming for 80% is usually more than enough — and how letting go of perfection helps teams move faster, learn sooner, and build technology that actually gets used. Stephen brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective shaped by years of leading real change, from navigating self-doubt to introducing AI in ways that support people instead of overwhelming them. This is a warm, honest conversation about progress, simplicity, and why your people matter far more than any tech stack ever will.

Alexandre Goedert, VP of Engineering at SurePay, sat down with our host TC Gill for our podcast CTO Confessions to discuss what it really means to lead from the core—where people, architecture, and cross-team alignment intersect. 💬 What you’ll hear in this episode: ✅ Why architecture should start within teams—but needs cross-team alignment at scale ✅ How people and soft skills become critical as engineers move into leadership roles ✅ The hidden challenges of cross-team architecture and modern GenAI frustrations ✅ Why leadership can become lonelier the higher you go 💡 “The higher you go up in an organization, the lonelier it can be.” – Alexandre Goedert Whether you’re leading multiple teams, navigating complex architectures, or growing into senior leadership, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on building healthy teams and scalable systems—without losing the human side of tech.

Regulation isn’t a roadblock; it’s the guardrail helping blockchain grow up. In this episode, Tim Sabanov, CTO at Zumo, joins TC Gill to break down the hype, the misconceptions, and the slow-but-purposeful pace of regulation shaping the future of digital assets. From decentralization to the Web2–Web3 shift, this conversation gives tech leaders a clear, grounded view of where blockchain is headed — and why patience might be its greatest advantage.

Chaos isn’t the enemy, unmanaged chaos is. In this episode, Kader Sakkaria, Global Head of Data Technology (DoE) and Delivery at Gallagher, joins TC Gill to unpack why chaos can actually fuel innovation when leaders know how to harness it. From cultural transformation to navigating complexity in fast-moving environments, this conversation is a practical guide for tech leaders looking to turn disruption into opportunity.

In this episode, Andrew Overholt, VP of Engineering at Mozilla, joins TC Gill to explore how Mozilla lives its mission, putting users first, leading with humility, and shaping the future of an open and accessible internet. From policy to innovation, Andrew shares how democratizing tech can (and should) influence how we build the web.

In this episode of CTO Confessions, TC Gill sits down with Eddie Pecker, CTO at APEXX, a payment orchestration platform trusted by enterprise companies worldwide. From comparing technical debt to mortgages to breaking down what “deploying with confidence” should look like in 2025, Eddie brings a refreshingly practical view of leadership, AI, and security in fast-moving tech teams.