The Big Idea

At Level 7, your company is no longer obscure. You’ve got 100+ people, real traction, and maybe even some market buzz. But talent is harder to hire, deals take longer to close, and the exec team can’t be in every room at once.

This is where influence becomes infrastructure.

As CTO, your job now includes building and leveraging a network that makes your company stronger—not just technically, but reputationally. You’re not just shipping features anymore. You’re shaping how the company is perceived by peers, hires, partners, and the broader industry.

This isn’t personal brand work. This is organizational advantage, built through trust, credibility, and presence.

You Know You’re Struggling When

• Top engineering candidates say they’ve never heard of you.
• Your team struggles to find strong hires without your personal involvement.
• Other executives regularly appear on podcasts or speak at events—but you don’t.
• Investors or advisors are still introducing you to critical partners or hires you should already know.
• People don’t seek your input on hard strategic questions outside of engineering.

If your influence doesn’t extend beyond your team, your leverage doesn’t either.

Ideal State

You’ve built a reputation that works for you while you sleep. People in your industry know what you care about, how you lead, and what your company is trying to become. Strong talent wants to work with you—or already does. Partners listen when you have a point of view. Investors see you as a pillar, not a specialist.

Internally, your voice travels beyond engineering. You shape cross-functional strategy, influence executive debates, and help close candidates or deals simply by showing up.

Influence isn’t ego. It’s an asset.

Closing the Gap

1. Make your calendar more external. Start small: one event per quarter. Host a dinner. Speak at a local meetup. Join one curated founder group. This is not vanity—it’s scouting, recruiting, and signaling.
2. Get visible in hiring channels. Write about how you lead, what your team is building, and why it matters. Your best engineers won’t just come through job boards.
3. Partner with your recruiter. Influence starts with attention. Be part of how your company is presented to senior candidates. Great VPs join great CTOs, not just great companies.