The Ascent
The Ascent
CTO · Chief Technology Officer
CTO → CEO Readiness Audit
“Technology CEOs deliver 23% higher shareholder returns in their first 3 years — but only 8% of CTOs pursue the CEO path.”
— Global digital leadership research, 2024
CTOs who understand that technology is a business accelerator, not just infrastructure, are uniquely positioned for CEO roles. This audit maps your readiness across 10 CEO dimensions.
Average path: 4–8 years from CTO to CEO · Rising — especially in tech-first and platform companies
Takes 3 minutes · 10 dimensions · Personalised gap analysis
01Commercial & Revenue
02Financial Acumen &
03People Leadership at
04Customer Intimacy
05Regulatory & Compliance
06Board Governance &
07M&A Strategy &
08Brand & Public
09Physical Operations &
10Crisis Communication &