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Erica Stanley
Engineering Leader, Community Builder, Speaker, Contributor
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Code & Conscience #004
Code & Conscience is my way of thinking out loud with friends (that’s you, btw) about how we as technologists–builders, creators, leaders–impact the world around us with what we choose to build and how we build it.
In this Issue
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Tech Leadership with Intention in a New Era
The role of CTOs is evolving beyond just tech strategy. It’s about making decisions that balance innovation with long-term ethical and sustainable impact.
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CTO Craft Con Highlights
At CTO Craft Con, two talks stood out to me for their practical take on often overlooked aspects of leadership. I also share details of my keynote.
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On My Bookshelf
A list of four important leadership books by some of the most influential tech leaders. They’ve positively shaped my leadership career, and I highly recommend them.
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Tech Leadership with Intention in a New Era
We’re in a pivotal moment, not just for tech but for leadership! The role of the CTO is shifting from one centered on infrastructure and innovation to one grounded in responsibility, intention, and global citizenship. This evolution isn’t a trend; it’s a necessity.
Being a global citizen means more than being aware of global challenges. It means actively shaping a future where tech works for people, the planet, and profit. Not just one at the expense of the others. It’s about recognizing that what we build reflects what we value. And now more than ever, we need CTOs who lead with ethics, sustainability, and digital trust at the core.
At CTO Craft Con London 2025, I spoke about this transformation. What resonated most in that room wasn’t a framework or a tech stack; it was the shared understanding that leadership today is more than outcomes. It’s about ownership—not just of systems and strategy but of the ripple effects our decisions have on communities, environments, and futures.
Let’s be clear, ethical leadership is no longer a “nice to have.” From AI and quantum computing to cloud infrastructure and IoT, every advancement comes with a responsibility to act intentionally. That means building systems that are transparent, inclusive, and just. It means reducing bias in our AI models, minimizing our digital carbon footprint, and strengthening data privacy. Not because compliance demands it, but because integrity does.
This brings the triple bottom line concept:
We’re not balancing trade-offs; we’re building alignment. Want to attract top talent? They’re looking for purpose. Want customers to trust your brand? Trust is earned through transparency. Want innovation that lasts? It starts with inclusion and ends with impact.
As CTOs, we’re not just technology architects. We’re culture shapers. Decision influencers. Value setters. And the culture we shape inside our organizations matters just as much as the technology we deploy.
At the conference, one theme echoed across sessions and conversations: Leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about creating environments where the right questions can be asked and answered honestly. Spaces where people feel seen, safe, and supported. That’s the soil where real innovation grows.
The path forward calls for boldness. For reflective leadership that balances urgency with humility. For collaboration that stretches across industries, sectors, and silos. For a commitment to the long game in terms of legacy and profitability.
The CTO as a global citizen is not hypothetical. It’s the leadership blueprint we need today. Let’s lead like the future depends on it, because it does!
CTO Craft Con
CTO Craft Con is a conference community for tech leaders focused on offering practical insights, networking opportunities, a supportive environment for learning and growth.
>>Watch my Keynote
Talks I Enjoyed at CTO Craft Con
- The CTO Spectrum: Which Archetype Are You? by Pat Kua: He gave a unique perspective into the different dynamics that drive the “shape” of the CTO role. He mentioned eight different CTO archetypes and showed how their roles differ based on business needs. I particulary liked his talk because it gave a new perspective to leadership that I had never seen.
- The Connective Tissue of Tech: Why Glue Work Deserves Your Attention by Katja Obring: Glue work is critical grunt work that usually remains undervalued and invisible. That's mentoring, documentation, facilitating alignments, etc. This costs the US economy about $2 trillion. Katja shared strategies for recognising, measuring, and elevating the status of glue work, ensuring it is visible and valued.
