Our reading notes

Your first 90 days as CTO or VP Engineering

Guide by Will Larson

A structured approach to entering an engineering executive role, starting with the business and the organization you inherit.

The idea to take with you

Early changes are easy to see; understanding the system that produced the current situation is harder and usually more valuable.

What to look for

01
Learn how revenue, spending, culture, and execution fit together.
02
Build working relationships before the first major disagreement.
03
Choose a small set of goals that make your learning and later improvements observable.

An executive transition guide, not a rigid timetable. An active operational emergency may need immediate action.

Put it to work

Create a learning log with four columns: observation, explanation, evidence still missing, and person to ask next.

Notes and exercises by Awesome CTO. The original work belongs to Will Larson.

Our CTO role guide connects the reading to a practical approach and a template.