How Deep Should Tech Leaders Go?

Having spent years both coding and leading tech teams, I’ve often contemplated this question: How much technical depth do we really need as we progress in our careers?

Think of your CS degree like medical school – you learn the fundamentals across many areas. But unlike medicine where you typically specialize in one field, technology demands continuous adaptation across multiple domains.

Here’s what I’ve learned about managing technical depth:

The T-shaped approach remains invaluable: maintain broad knowledge across technologies while developing deep expertise in selected areas. But as you move toward executive roles, it evolves into what I call “strategic technical awareness.”

For aspiring CTO/CIOs, focus on:

1. Understanding technology capabilities and limitations at a strategic level
2. Recognizing patterns across different tech stacks and their business implications
3. Developing strong architectural thinking rather than implementation details
4. Staying current with emerging technologies without necessarily mastering them

Most importantly, invest deeply in areas where technology intersects with business value. You don’t need to code in 10 languages, but you must understand how different technologies can drive business transformation.

Remember: Your value as a technology leader isn’t in knowing every API call, but in making informed decisions that align technology with business strategy.