CTO Series: Scaling Success, A Deep Dive into Leadership, Technology, and Team Building | Santeri Kangas

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

In this episode, Santeri Kangas, a seasoned CTO and CISO, explores the complexities of leading tech organizations through various stages of growth. Santeri shares his journey from a developer to an influential leader in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud transformation, offering valuable lessons on scaling businesses, aligning technology with business goals, and fostering collaborative teams.

From Developer to Leader: Santeri's Evolution in Technology

"I grew into what I am through a series of pivotal moments, each shaping my approach to leadership and technology."

Santeri began his career as a developer, gradually advancing to roles such as architect, and eventually leading large-scale cybersecurity operations at F-Secure. He reflects on the challenges of dealing with exponential growth in malware, which pushed him to develop innovative, algorithm-driven solutions. This early experience highlighted the importance of integrating technology with broader business goals and set the foundation for his leadership philosophy.

"Leadership in tech is about growing with the challenges and continuously adapting your approach to meet evolving needs."

Scaling Startups: Building the Right Team for Success

"In startups, the marketing message often races ahead of the product. The key is getting the right people on the bus to bring those visions to life."

Santeri discusses the transition from large enterprises to the fast-paced world of startups. He emphasizes the importance of assembling a core team with diverse skills and a shared vision. By fostering strong communication and collaboration among product managers, architects, and R&D teams, Santeri believes that even the most ambitious startup goals can be achieved.

"Success in scaling comes from a solid core team that communicates well and drives the vision forward."

Balancing Technology and Business Objectives

"The CTO's role is to be the moderator, ensuring that technology strategies align with business goals without compromising on innovation."

One of the biggest challenges Santeri faces as a CTO is balancing technological innovation with the pressing demands of business growth. He describes the critical role of the CTO in maintaining this balance, ensuring that investments in new features, quality, and architectural improvements are aligned with the company's strategic objectives. Santeri also outlines the processes he uses, such as product portfolio steering groups and quarterly business reviews, to manage these competing priorities effectively.

"A successful CTO balances innovation with business needs, ensuring that both thrive together."

The Power of Automation in Scaling Operations

"Lazy engineers are the best engineers—automate every step to maintain focus on real innovation."

As companies grow, maintaining agility while scaling operations becomes increasingly challenging. Santeri advocates for the extensive use of automation, particularly in CI/CD pipelines, to reduce repetitive tasks and ensure that teams can focus on high-value work. He shares insights on transforming traditional teams into full DevOps teams, capable of managing multiple customer environments with efficiency.

"Automate relentlessly to free up your team for the innovation that drives your business forward."

Collaboration and Decision-Making in Growing Organizations

"It's all about people—how they communicate, collaborate, and respect each other's roles."

Santeri emphasizes the importance of collaboration in decision-making processes within growing organizations. He describes how the structure of decision-making evolves as companies scale, from a small core team to complex, multi-layered organizations. By setting up regular synchronization points and ensuring that decision-making bodies, such as product and portfolio steering groups, are well-informed and collaborative, Santeri ensures that the organization stays aligned with its strategic goals.

"Effective collaboration is the backbone of decision-making in any growing organization."

About Santeri Kangas

Santeri drives enterprise value by leveraging the latest technologies and creating passionate teams. As an entrepreneurial CTO, CISO, and European regional CEO, he excels in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud transformation. Santeri is also a World Economic Forum Global AI Council member and leads CUJO AI in securing connected experiences.

You can link with Santeri Kangas on LinkedIn.