I can help you increase your team's productivity and develop your leadership skills using emotional intelligence and the best tools available for people management.

I don't believe in leadership training anymore. After over 10 years working as head of people strategy for many companies I saw no real results. Leaders would get motivated, but that feeling soon faded away among the everyday routine putting out fires and urgent clients demands.

Since I still believe in leadership as a key solution for productivity and client retention, I designed a whole new approach, totally problem-solution based.

I use my knowledge and experience as a Psychologist and Business Executive and the best coaching and mentoring tools to help my clients find the root of their problems and design a personalized solution.

It is not about having knowledge in leadership and emotional intelligence. It's about having a new perspective on yourself, your team and the results you want to achieve.

Get in touch so we can talk about the solutions for  groups, executives and teams.


At CTO Craft Con Berlin, I shared why innovation often stalls — even in teams that seem “psychologically safe.”

Two main reasons hold teams back:
1️⃣ They don’t feel safe to challenge the status quo.
2️⃣ They lack the structure to turn disagreement into productive ideas.

As Peter Drucker reminds us, disagreement is needed to stimulate imagination. Without it, ideas never connect, and innovation stalls.

In this snippet, I break down how leaders can intentionally create friction and debate structure to turn risk aversion into a team’s strength.

📽 Watch the full talk on the CTO Craft YouTube Channel to see how Challenger Safety transforms collaboration into real innovation.

(link in the comments)

#CTOCraftCon #TechLeadership #InnovationCulture #ChallengerSafety #TeamCoaching

Hannah Van Nostrand, Rachel Thomas, Pip Curtis

Carol Palombini

Executive Positioning for Tech Leaders | Visibility, Influence & Recognition at C-Level

At CTO Craft Con Berlin, I shared that not all psychological safety is created equal.

Inclusion, learning, and contribution are essential — but they’re not enough if you want innovation.

Innovation begins at the fourth level of psychological safety: Challenger Safety.
It’s the point where people feel safe to question, disagree, and challenge the status quo.

And here’s the key:

The social exchange for challenger safety is - cover for candor.
You must protect people from embarrassment if you want them to contribute bold ideas.

🎥 Watch this short clip from my talk at CTO Craft Con Berlin — and explore how true innovation grows not from comfort, but from courage.

#CTOCraftCon #TechLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #InnovationCulture #ChallengerSafety #TeamCoaching #CTOCraftBerlin

Hannah Van Nostrand, Pip Curtis, Andy Skipper, Nick Bates, Rachel Thomas

If you’re preparing for your next role — or just want to show up with more impact in executive conversations — this session is for you.

I’ve been on both sides of the recruitment process and have coached dozens of CTOs navigating interviews and transitions. I’ve mapped the most common mistakes tech minds make — and more importantly, how to avoid them.

You’ll walk away with practical tools to position yourself as a strategic leader, not just a great technologist.

See you on October 14th! 
CTO Craft

Job hunting at CTO level isn’t easy. Even the most experienced tech leaders can find it hard to stand out.

In our next CTO Craft Deep Dive: Emotional Intelligence for CTOs, Carol Palombini will explore why experienced tech leaders can struggle to stand out in interviews, and how Emotional Intelligence can help you show up as the strategic leader you really are.

In her session, Why Smart CTOs Fail Interviews and How EI Changes the Game, you’ll learn:

• How to position yourself as a trusted business partner, not just a tech expert
• Why your CV and LinkedIn might not be telling the full story
• Small mindset and communication shifts that change how you’re perceived

Join us Tuesday 14th October at 3pm (BST) for this free online session.
Event recordings are available exclusively for CTO Craft Campus members.

Don't wait, register here: https://lnkd.in/dE9EGc-5

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Challenger Safety: The Missing Link in Your Innovation Playbook
At CTO Craft Con Berlin, I shared a story that still surprises many tech leaders.

👉 A CTO who built the friendliest, most collaborative culture you could imagine — yet his team had stopped innovating.

No fear of punishment. No micromanagement. Just… silence.
The reason?

They were afraid of losing his respect — not their jobs.
They didn’t want to disrupt harmony or contradict someone they admired.

And so, groupthink quietly killed innovation.
We often assume that psychological safety means “being nice.”

But if your team feels safe only to agree, you don’t have safety — you have comfort.
And innovation doesn’t live in comfortable spaces. It lives in brave ones.

In my talk, I explored how Challenger Safety — the fourth and highest level of psychological safety — helps leaders intentionally create friction, normalize dissent, and turn risk aversion into a team strength.

🎥 You can now watch the full presentation on the CTO Craft YouTube Channel: “Challenger Safety: The Missing Link in Your Innovation Playbook.”
If you’re a tech leader building a culture of innovation, this one’s for you.

#CTOCraftCon #TechLeadership #InnovationCulture #PsychologicalSafety #TeamCoaching #CTOCraftBerlin

Hannah Van Nostrand, Rachel Thomas, Pip Curtis, Andy Skipper, 


https://lnkd.in/d37WCv3m

The Chaos to Clarity Coach | We Help Tech Leaders Walk The Talk Through Habit Activation | Tech Leadership Expert

Open video: Carol Palombini   Presentation – Challenger Safety The Missing Link in Your Innovation Playbook on youtu.be

Carol Palombini   Presentation – Challenger Safety The Missing Link in Your Innovation Playbook

💡 What’s your biggest challenge in landing a C-level tech role?
Last week, I led a session at CTO Craft Deep Dive: Emotional Intelligence for CTOs, where we explored one of the toughest challenges for tech leaders:

 👉 Positioning yourself as a strategic executive and standing out in interviews — not just showing you’re a brilliant technologist.

Some of the questions I’ve already received:

 💬 How do I position myself for opportunities where my experience and leadership style align with the company’s stage and technical maturity — and communicate that fit clearly during interviews?

 💬 How can I make sure headhunters and recruiters notice me on LinkedIn for CIO/CTO roles?

 💬 How should I handle C-level job postings that list very specific tech skills, which shouldn’t really be expected at my level?

 💬 At the executive level, is having an internal sponsor or referrer almost mandatory for VP/C-level positions?

Now it’s your turn:

 👉 What’s your biggest challenge when applying for senior tech roles or navigating the executive job market?

Drop your question in the comments or DM me — selected questions will be answered in the next Tech Mind Insights issue.

#TechCareers #CTOCraft #ExecutiveCoaching #JobSeeking #LeadershipDevelopment

When I coach tech leaders through executive interviews, there’s a moment that always changes everything.

It’s when they stop trying to prove their technical depth — and start showing their leadership maturity.

One of my clients, John Reid (Director of Software), put it this way:

“Carol helped me understand how I can further develop the gaps as part of the motivation and desire to improve my leadership positioning, leveraging my strong communication skills to deliver effective strategic messaging to CEOs, executives, business and engineering teams.”

That shift is pure Emotional Intelligence: reading the room, owning your story, and connecting your impact to business strategy.

I’ll unpack how to make that shift in my upcoming CTO Craft Deep Dive on October 14.

Expect practical insights, not theory.

🎯 Position yourself as the strategic leader every board wants.


#LeadershipDevelopment #CTOCraft #EIforCTOs #TechCareers

Founder at CTO Craft, supporting CTOs globally

Howdy all! 

Have you grabbed your free ticket for tomorrow's Deep Dives mini-conference focused on Emotional Intelligence? We'll be joined for five in-depth discussions on how different aspects of EI will drastically improve how you build software and engineering culture, with experts like Carol Palombini, Michelle McDaid, Claire Russell, Robbie Clutton and Tom Sturge.

The talks begin at 3pm UK time on October 14th, and there's no cost to attend - if you're a technology leader looking for ways to improve your approach, there's absolutely no reason to miss it. Details below - see you there!

https://lnkd.in/eHqgBACT

#conference #engineeringculture #psychologicalsafety #cto

Open article: Deep Dives: Emotional Intelligence for CTOs by deepdives.ctocraft.com

Deep Dives: Emotional Intelligence for CTOs

I recently spoke at the CTO Craft Deep Dive on Emotional Intelligence, where I tackled one of the most common — and frustrating — challenges for senior tech leaders: failing the final executive interview.

In this month’s Tech Mind Insights, I’ve gathered the key takeaways from that talk, including the three biggest mistakes tech leaders make when pursuing their next role — and what to do instead.

Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.

The Executive Positioning Gap I recently gave a talk at the Deep Dive in Emotional Intelligence promoted by the CTO Craft. In my presentation, I appro

Open article: TMI #35: Why Smart CTOs Fail Interviews: And How EI Changes The Game by Carol Palombini • 4 min read

TMI #35: Why Smart CTOs Fail Interviews: And How EI Changes The Game

🚀 It’s happening today and  the recording will only be available for CTO Craft Campus members, so don’t miss the chance to join live!

I’ll be kicking off CTO Craft Deep Dives with a live session on:
 “Why Smart CTOs Fail Interviews — And How Emotional Intelligence Changes the Game.”

If you’re a tech leader looking to position yourself as a strategic, influential executive — not just a great technologist — this one’s for you.
Expect real examples, mindset shifts, and practical tools you can apply right away.

🔗 Grab your seat while you can: https://lnkd.in/dVctUM2x

#CTOCraft #EIforCTOs #LeadershipDevelopment #TechCareers

Deep Dive

Zoom, Asana and Canva Outage in Portugal.
Does anyone know what's happening?

🚫 When Experience Isn’t Enough
You’ve led transformations, scaled teams, and delivered results — yet somehow, you’re not even getting shortlisted.

The problem isn’t your track record.
It’s how your story lands.

Many brilliant CTOs fall into the expert mindset: focusing on skills, achievements, and technologies — while missing what decision-makers are really listening for.

At the executive level, it’s no longer about proving you can do the job.

It’s about showing you understand how business decisions are made, and where you fit in that conversation.

This came up again and again in my recent Deep Dive on Emotional Intelligence for CTOs hosted by CTO Craft— and it’s one of the themes I’ll explore in the next issue of Tech Mind Insights.

🧭 If you’d like to get it directly in your inbox, sign up here — it’s where I share real stories and tools for tech leaders ready to move from expert to executive.


👉

Open article: Tech Mind Insights Newsletter Subscription by shorturl.at

Tech Mind Insights Newsletter Subscription

Most tech leaders don’t struggle with experience.
They struggle with visibility. 👓

Brilliant CTOs and VPs stay stuck not because they lack capability — but because their story isn’t opening the right doors.

Executive Positioning is what accelerates results.
Turning expertise into opportunity, influence, and recognition.

Here’s what changes when leaders take control of their narrative:

→ Career growth speeds up — interviews turn into offers faster
→ Networking becomes strategic — and opportunities find you
→ Communication shifts from technical detail to executive impact
→ Confidence and presence rise in high-stakes decision moments
→ The organization finally sees you as a key driver of the business

Tech expertise gets you in the room.
Executive presence keeps you there — and moves you forward.

If you’re:
✅ Job searching and want to stand out decisively at the C-level
✅ Preparing for your next step and want more visibility now
✅ Leading today but not fully recognized for your impact

This is the moment to step into your true executive identity.
Send me a message with “positioning” to assess where your narrative stands today —
and how far it can take you in the next 90 days.

Excellent opportunity to collaborate with a capable and supportive team! I participated as a speaker at the Berlin conference, and I can vouch for them.

Cristiane Serpa, Manuel Valle, Paula Copony Valadares, Alessandra Azevedo, Hugo Henri do you know anyone to recommend?

I’m hiring an Events Producer to join the CTO Craft team.

It’s a job for someone who enjoys being in the middle of the action, keeping lots of moving parts working together. 

Curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn matter more to me than years of experience or the perfect CV.

We run events that bring tech leaders together to talk honestly about the realities of leadership. They’re fast-moving, full of detail, and genuinely collaborative - so we’re looking for someone who enjoys being in the middle of it all.

If you decide to apply, keep it human - I don’t need a perfect CV, just one that sounds like a person wrote it...

More than happy to chat about the role if you’d like to reach out before applying!

If you are serious about innovation you must review your reward system.

It's not enough to have beautiful communication campaigns and slogans if you will punish mistakes or even just not reward ideas and risks.

Do you agree?

Introducing MindSync: The gamified behavioral platform that replaces fragmented activity with sustained, strategic culture alignment.

Here's how we shift the dial:

Continuous Alignment: New behavioral content drops every Monday, ensuring all cross-locational teams are focused on the same core concepts simultaneously, creating a company-wide ripple effect.

Gamified Engagement: We use cross-locational "Olympic Week" challenges and team ranking boards to drive collaborative application and adoption, making learning fun and competitive.

Measurable Impact: We move beyond anecdotal evidence, using pre- and post-perception surveys to validate positive behavioral change in team cohesion and psychological safety.

We are currently seeking one forward-thinking Partner to run a pilot.
If you are a CEO or Director of People and Culture ready to validate a continuous, ROI-driven approach to culture, I want to talk to you.

DM me or Sher Downing Ph.D., or comment "PILOT" below. 

Let's make your team spend a measurable investment.


#HRTech #FutureofWork #CultureTech #DistributedTeams #TeamBuilding #LND #HRInnovation #PilotProgram



I’m happy to share this MindSync: Team Building & Culture Alignment Platform project I worked on. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dtQpnKck

Habit & Culture Lab
If culture is "how we do things here," why do so many organizations treat it like a party?

We spend budgets on annual events, workshops, and off-sites—Activity-Based Culture—and wonder why the impact fades by the next Tuesday. The truth is, culture isn't built in a day; it’s the cumulative result of thousands of tiny, shared behavioral habits.

This gap is fatal for distributed and hybrid teams. You can't rely on random hallway chats or spontaneous watercooler moments to enforce critical behaviors like psychological safety or clear communication. These behaviors must be programmed and reinforced.

The strategic pivot is to move to Habit-Based Culture:
Synchronized Focus: Ensure every team, regardless of location, is focused on the same core value and behavior at the same time.

Continuous Reinforcement: Replace the "big bang" event with micro-doses of application, testing knowledge, and team collaboration every week.

Measurement: Stop guessing. Measure changes in team cohesion and psychological safety to prove ROI.

This is the principle we’re implementing with MindSync. We’ve created a gamified platform that makes that weekly, continuous behavioral application easy, competitive, and measurable.

If your organization is wrestling with how to make team cohesion stick in a remote world, you need a continuous system, not another event vendor.

Seeking a Pilot Partner: We are looking for one CEO, HR/L&D leader, ready to validate this model in a pilot. If you want to transform fleeting engagement spend into a measurable cultural investment, let’s connect.

Sher Downing Ph.D.
#HabitCultureLab #CultureTech #DistributedTeams #FutureofWork #HRInnovation #LeadershipHabits

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