What does a chief technology officer do?

As a chief technology officer, you manage the technical aspects of your company. In your role as CTO, you may provide leadership for a technology department, help execute a technology strategy, and coordinate with other executive managers to better understand what the company needs and how that should fit into various plans and budgets. Chief technology officers often establish a technical vision, study leading-edge technologies, ensure data security, and help analyze target markets and business models. Depending on the needs of the company, chief technology officers may specialize in specific areas or focus more on software and intellectual property than systems and hardware.