[vasco]

And through it all I bet you wonder if:

1) It'd all be better or at least the same without any external interference from you

2) The positive outcomes to the business are more a result of external factors like market expansion, word of mouth, a new fad, rather than your own contribution

[jokethrowaway]

The impact you can make as a CTO is bringing an engineering perspective to the board and keeping engineers happy (either by doing it personally or by delegating to someone else, eg. a VP).

Both are important tasks because it's easy for business to start thinking of engineering as just a cost centre (which is the easiest way to make sure your company will never use technology efficiently to multiply its revenue) and because hiring engineers costs can be a significant part of your company spend

[czbond]

As an engineer speaking to someone who is clearly also an engineer - you're highly discounting the levered impact proper, high quality leadership makes on a business.

[vasco]

I put myself in those shoes and wondered what doubts I'd have about the contributions I could do. The OP was a great illustration of the chaos it can be. I wasn't saying that leadership has no impact, that's crazy.

[czbond]

I apologize if it took it that way - was an early morning, no sleep day.