The CTO Playbook
A leadership platform built for the full CTO journey
Coaching, podcast, and community to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact
Ā
Not just another course
Whether youāreĀ stepping into the role or navigating exec-level complexity, this platform gives you:
šÆ 1:1 and group coachingĀ āĀ Real supportĀ to tackle your leadership challenges
š¬ CommunityĀ Ā āĀ A high-trust space to connect and grow
šļø PodcastĀ Ā ā honest storiesĀ from real CTOs
šĀ ToolsĀ āĀ Actionable playbooks you can use today
This isnāt just content, itās support for the full CTO journey.Ā It'sĀ where busy leaders become strategic executives ā with clarityĀ and support at every step.
CTO Coaching
Get the leadership support you wish you had years ago
Most CTOs learn leadership the hard way ā through trial, error, and burnout.Ā This platform is built to change that.
Because at the executive level, technical skills arenāt enough.Ā Youāre expected to lead, scale, and strategise ā without a playbook.
Thatās why The CTO Playbook exists:Ā To help you grow with clarity and confidence with the support youāve been missing.
Your Path.
Your Pace.
Your Playbook.
Every leaderās journey is different ā so we start by helping you see where you are, and what to focus on next.
The CTO Growth Framework brings structure to your growth ā and momentum to your leadership.
You choose the format that fits how you work best:
š Self-paced lessons
š Live cohort coaching
š 1:1 strategic support
Three Programs. One Growth Journey.
Choose the program and the support mix that fits your goalsĀ
āŗļø CTO Basecamp
Your foundation for confident, strategic leadership.Ā
Join a 6-week cohort to build the habits, systems, and mindset that help you lead with clarity ā not just execute.
šļø CTO Elevate
Define your strategy. Scale your influence. Lead the organisation.
Join a 10-week cohort to craft your engineering strategy and lead as a true strategic business partner.
š§š½āāļø CTO Ascent
1:1 coaching for strategic, high-impact leadership.
Go deep with elite coaching tailored to your goals, pace, and context. Use solo or alongside Basecamp or Elevate.
Built by a CTO.
Backed by Results.
What leaders are saying
Marcus, CTO
āAdam has completely transformed the way I approach leadership. His guidance has been instrumental in helping me develop the skills to step into the CTO role, and his insights into managing people and tech strategy have been invaluable. I continue to learn from Adam and credit much of my professional development to his mentorship.ā
Zoƫ, Head of Engineering & Product
āAdam has been an integral part of my transition into engineering leadership. His mentorship has upleveled our company significantly ā from improving engineering velocity and team culture to shaping product strategy. Every session gives me clarity on how to move my team, company, and product forward.ā
Christian, CTO
āAdam blends deep tech expertise with a warm, human approach to leadership. He empowers you to develop your own instincts, while pushing you forward with candid, well-formulated feedback. Working with him has sharpened my skills and given me the tools to manage challenges more effectively.ā
Abz, CTO
"Adamās mentorship was instrumental in refining my approach to managing executive stakeholders and strategic planning. He increased my executive presence, improved my leadership skills, business acumen, and overall confidence as a CTO. Anyone looking for a CTO coach who can truly transform your executive leadership should not hesitate to work with Adam."
Adem, Co-founder & CTO
āI learned to take a step back and see the bigger picture thanks to Adam: donāt work in the machine but on the machine. Heās a great listener who helps with exactly what matters. Iāve learned to think more strategically and feel comfortable in my role as co-founder and CTO.ā
Isaac, Founding Engineer & Head of Engineering
āAdamās guidance has been invaluable. His insights helped me navigate a significant career transition, and I believe his advice set me on a path that is best for both myself and the company. His strategic advice and deep understanding of the tech landscape make him an outstanding coach for anyone in a technical leadership role.ā
Marcin, Tech Team Lead
āAdam stands out with his technical knowledge, ability to anticipate problems, and deep empathy. Thanks to his support, I developed both my technical and leadership skills. His experience and approach added real value ā to both the project and the team.ā
Where to Start
Start where you are. Build from there.
š£ New to The CTO Playbook? āĀ Check outĀ the podcast or free playbooks
š Need structure and clarity? ā Join CTO Basecamp
š§ Ready to lead with strategy? ā Join a peer group with CTO Elevate
š„ Facing a high-stakes challenge? ā Book 1:1 coaching with CTO Ascent
Explore More Ways to Grow
The CTO Playbook Podcast
Learn from top CTOs & industry experts
Real stories, hard-earned lessons, and expert strategies ā so you can skip the mistakes and accelerate your leadership journey.
šļø Featuring top CTOs, unicorn builders, and industry experts
šļø Insights from CEOs, CPOs, recruiting leaders, and book authors
šļø No fluff ā just actionable playbooks and leadership strategies for CTOs
Each episode is designed to help you lead, grow, and make an impact.
Listen to the PodcastThe CTO Playbook Community
A network for CTOs
An application-only community where CTOs and senior leaders in techĀ share real challenges, gain insights, and access exclusive coaching.
š¹ Exclusive discussions on leadership, scaling, and strategy.
š¹ Peer support & expert insights from seasoned CTOs.
š¹ Live Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, and private learning areas.
You donāt have to navigate leadership alone.
Coming soon
Why work with Adam Horner?
With 30+ years in tech, AdamĀ is a CTO, repeat startup founder, and experienced coach. Heās helped startup, scaleup, and enterprise CTOs navigate growth, leadership challenges, and high-stakes decisionsĀ ā without the trial-and-error.
A coach who understandsĀ your CTO journey
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Ā CurrentĀ CTO & serial Founder with hands-on experience.
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Specialised in leadership, strategy, and scaling teams.
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Has helped hundreds of tech leaders transform their leadership style.
