What happens when a product visionary steps into the CTO seat—not once, but twice? In the latest episode of CTO2CTO, Lucas Hendrich sat down with Vinay Kapoor, Chief Product Officer and interim CTO at Expana, to explore what it really means to lead at the intersection of innovation, technology, and business.
From scaling teams to navigating AI strategy, Vinay offered a clear, honest look at the evolving expectations of technology leaders today.
Why the Dual CPO/CTO Role Is on the Rise
Vinay’s experience wearing both hats gives him a unique perspective. In lean or early-stage environments, combining product and technology leadership under one role can reduce friction, speed up execution, and keep vision tightly aligned.
But in tech-heavy organizations or at scale, that model starts to break down.
“If your moat is around technology, then you absolutely need a CTO,” Vinay explains. “Otherwise, you’re not building—you’re just integrating.”
Having a standalone CTO isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about protecting the organization’s long-term technical strategy, architecture, and scalability.
AI: Powerful, Promising—and Often Premature
Vinay didn’t mince words when it came to AI. He’s a strong believer in its transformative potential—but just as quick to call out the gap between hype and readiness.
“You can build a prototype fast. But if your data isn’t clean, if your governance isn’t there, and if you haven’t thought about ethics—you’re not launching a product. You’re launching a liability.”
He shared lessons from his own blog, Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail, reminding us that flashy demos won’t replace thoughtful, value-driven execution.
Product Leaders: Speak the Language of Finance
One of the strongest themes from the conversation was around influence.
Great product leaders don’t just think in user stories—they think in financial metrics. ROI modeling, even at its most basic, helps product managers align with leadership and prove the business value of what they’re building.
“It can take less than an hour to put together a simple ROI calculator,” Vinay said. “When product teams can speak in terms the CFO understands, they gain real influence.”
Scaling, Tech Debt, and the CTO’s Superpower
The CTO’s job isn’t just about tech: it’s about timing, structure, and decisions that compound over time.
Whether it’s recognizing tech debt before it becomes a bottleneck or redesigning teams to scale effectively, Vinay believes the true value of a strong CTO lies in their ability to see around corners and guide the organization through the messy middle.
“Knowing when to build a platform team, when to go vertical—it’s pattern recognition. It’s experience. That’s what makes the difference.”
Leading Like a Fencer
Vinay closed the conversation with a personal reflection: what fencing taught him through his sons’ competitive journeys.
Resilience. Focus. The ability to bounce back quickly. These are qualities not just for athletes—but for leaders navigating complexity and high stakes.
He summed it up perfectly: “Not every bout goes your way. What matters is how quickly you reset, learn, and move forward.”
If you're a tech or product leader thinking through your next big decision—this is the episode to listen to.
Stay tuned for more conversations with industry leaders as we explore the intersection of technology, business, and innovation.
