A couple of years ago, I enrolled in CTO Academy's Digital MBA for Technology Leaders. I wasn't looking for another certification to hang on my LinkedIn. I wanted to close the gap between being a good developer and actually leading technology at the executive level.

It delivered.

Here's the thing about being a developer who wants to advance: technical skills only get you so far. You can be the best Rails engineer in the room and still get passed over for leadership roles because you don't speak the language of the business. I knew this. I just didn't know how to fix it.

I've looked at the alternatives. Berkeley runs a CTO program for $29,000. Wharton charges $23,000. Those are serious numbers for credentials that look impressive but don't always translate to practical skills. CTO Academy costs a fraction of that and the curriculum is built by people who are actually doing the work—current and former CTOs running real companies.

The program covers nine modules: leadership, business fundamentals, technology strategy, personal development, and more. But what made it stick for me was the focus on bridging technical expertise with business acumen. I learned how to translate what I do into language that executives care about. Revenue impact. Risk mitigation. Strategic alignment.

That's the stuff that gets you in the room.

The certification itself is CPD-certified and recognized globally. But honestly? The community access was just as valuable. CTO Academy has tech leaders from over 100 countries. Weekly live sessions. Q&As with authors like Gene Kim and Matthew Skelton. A "CTO Shadowing" program that shows you what the role actually looks like at different organizations.

You get lifetime access to the materials. And membership to their global community doesn't expire when you finish the course. That ongoing connection matters more than any piece of paper.

If you're a developer who wants to stay a developer forever, this isn't for you. Keep shipping code and enjoy it.

But if you're a senior engineer eyeing tech lead positions? A tech lead wondering how to make the jump to VP of Engineering or CTO? Someone who's already in a leadership role but feels like you're winging it? This program fills in the gaps.

The curriculum doesn't assume you already know how to read a P&L or navigate C-suite dynamics. It teaches you. Practical frameworks, real-world case studies, actionable advice you can apply immediately.

I recommend CTO Academy to any developer serious about their career trajectory. Not because it's the most prestigious name. Because it's the most useful investment I've made in my professional development.

Technical excellence alone isn't enough anymore. If you want to lead, you need to think like a business leader who happens to deeply understand technology. That's exactly what this program teaches.

Check out their Digital MBA for Technology Leaders and see if it fits where you're trying to go.