The Digital Press

John Wang, CTO and co-founder, shares why he continues to write substantial code despite his executive role, emphasizing the unique leverage it provides in driving innovation and solving critical problems quickly.

Why it matters: Coding as a CTO enables rapid experimentation, direct problem-solving, and keeps technical judgment sharp, benefiting company agility and product development.

The big picture: CTO roles vary widely; Wang’s approach suits his context of no direct reports, deep product knowledge, and strong engineering leadership supporting org design.

The other side: Commenters question scalability of this model, urging CTOs to empower teams and focus on broader leadership as companies grow beyond a few hundred employees.

Commenters say: Many appreciate the authenticity and leverage of coding CTOs but warn that leadership also requires enabling others and adapting as organizations scale.