31–40 of 65 posts
I'd also ask everyone in the room: What's in the best interest of the business?
2) The CEO needs to make the CTO decision for their team. They can take recommendations or arguments, but they can’t let this org structure problem fall to the team they manage.
It seems like they're sending you a signal that the CUXO's argument has at least some merit. Last time they were aligned with you and this time they're telling you to sort it out yourself. Ask the CEO and COO is they have some feedback for you that they're holding back on.
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Some questions that might better influence someone’s response to you:
- Why did two founders recently quit?
- How is that 40% equity being handled (did they take the equity with them)?
- If the 2 departed founders didn’t take equity with them, do you now have 1/3 voting shares? (Since there’s only 3 founders left)
- Do you feel you deserve the CTO title?
- Why do so many people in the company want CTO title? What does CTO title represent to people?
- why do people care about titles when there’s only 17 employees (no intended disrespect with this question)?
Avoid working with people who care primarily about titles. Is the CEO actually a CEO? I.e., does everyone else report to them? If so, they should get involved and help you resolve. If they don’t want to, take your equity, cut your losses and move on.
A good title to help further his career seems like a valid concern (even if the title itself may not be legitimate), but so are your concerns. You could put the burden of finding a solution on him? Share your concerns - that you did the bulk of back-end technical work, and feel that giving someone else the CTO title would devalue it. If he can find a way to get a better title (CTO or something else) without devaluing…
Appreciate the reply. I think this is probably the best approach, however I find it hard to believe there is a possible title that he could suggest that wouldn't similarly undermine me somehow. I'm trying to avoid the conversation turning into an argument about whose done what for the company because I think it would irreparably harm our already tense working relationship, however I think without a doubt I have overw…
Ask him how much equity he would give up in order to have the CTO title. Then after he says how much he thinks the title is worth, you get to pick whether you give up the equity (to him) and get to be CTO, or whether he gets to be CTO but you get a piece of his equity.
Meet 1-1 with everyone, including the CUXO.
Tell them you don’t support this decision.
Ideally tell them you should be CTO. Making CTO a banner title will keep causing this issue again and again.
Don’t let people walk away from the 1-1 without supporting your claim or giving you a good reason why not.
Write your arguments first. Don’t get emotional. Make an entirely rational argument.
Don’t lose.