For DevOps professionals looking to take their career to the next level, becoming a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) may seem like a daunting task. However, with the right strategies and mindset shifts, it's possible to accelerate your career trajectory and reach the C-suite. According to industry experts, developing key skills and adopting a leadership mindset are crucial for DevOps professionals to make the transition to a CTO role.

In his book, Digital Trailblazer, the author shares his journey from developer to CTO and CIO, highlighting the importance of devops skills in his transition to a C-level role. He emphasizes that it wasn't his architecture and coding skills that helped him transition, but rather his devops skills, which enabled him to focus on higher-level tasks such as understanding customer needs and partnering with product managers.

To start making moves towards a CTO role, DevOps professionals should focus on developing platforms that teams want to use, delivering business impacts, and building systems that teams want to use. This requires a shift from getting something done to a practice leadership mindset, where the focus is on delivering incremental small wins and guiding solutions that help teams make continuous improvements.

Another essential strategy is to shift one's mindset from being a technical expert to a tech facilitator and planner. This involves planning architecture, establishing governance, and influencing teams to adopt self-organizing standards. Martin Davis, managing partner at Dunelm Associates, recommends evaluating platforms and technologies by asking three key questions: how will they handle future expansion, how will they adapt to changing circumstances, and how will they allow the addition and integration of other tools?

Extending technology expertise across disciplines is also critical for DevOps professionals seeking to ascend to a leadership role. This requires gaining expertise in a wide range of skills, including enterprise architecture, core software engineering, and operations, as well as fostering tech innovation and understanding the company's business and technology's role in driving business value.

Embracing experiences outside one's comfort zone is also essential for DevOps professionals seeking to develop leadership skills. This involves seeking opportunities to lead efforts that require participation from stakeholders, customers, and business teams, such as leading a journey mapping exercise or participating in a change management program.

Finally, developing a vision and delivering results is critical for DevOps professionals seeking to become a CTO. This involves thinking strategically, thinking holistically, and always looking at the bigger picture and the longer term. CTOs must also develop executive relationships that inform their technology strategies and roadmaps, and articulate a destiny and objectives that leaders and employees embrace.

In conclusion, becoming a CTO requires more than just technical expertise; it requires a leadership mindset, strategic thinking, and a willingness to take on new challenges and develop new skills. By adopting these five essential strategies, DevOps professionals can accelerate their career trajectory and reach the C-suite.