Five gaps hinder engineers from advancing to CTO roles

Philipp Deutscher, an external CTO and founder of the Becoming CTO-Community, argues that the path to becoming a CTO is not defined by formal education, MBAs, or vendor certifications, but by trust and specific business competencies. Deutscher identifies five distinct gaps that prevent engineers from advancing to the role. These include competency gaps, such as a lack of budget or large-team experience; proof gaps, characterized by a lack of visible results to justify risk to CEOs; and perception gaps, where candidates are seen only as technical problem-solvers rather than strategic leaders. He also cites opportunity gaps, where no available role exists in the current company, and readiness gaps, involving the avoidance of conflict or uncertainty. Deutscher emphasizes that the skills that make a good developer, such as hands-on problem solving, can become liabilities for a CTO if they prevent delegation and strategic focus. He advises candidates to conduct a self-assessment, seek direct feedback on why they might be rejected for a role, and take on cross-functional initiatives to demonstrate broader leadership capabilities before seeking the title. Deutscher maintains that technical excellence alone is insufficient and that candidates must consciously address business, leadership, and perception gaps rather than relying on titles or passive waiting.