Episode 12: Maarten Van Den Bos - CTO as a Service
In Episode #12 of Leadership Conversations: The Untold Secrets of the C-Suite, Nick Jonsson sits down with Maarten Van Den Bos, COO of Canary Digital Solutions, to explore a fast-growing leadership model: CTO as a Service.
As technology becomes central to every business decision, many startups and growing organizations face a major challenge — they need senior-level technical leadership, but hiring a full-time Chief Technology Officer isn’t always practical or financially viable. This is where the concept of CTO as a Service comes in, and Maarten offers deep insights into how this flexible model is reshaping modern businesses.
In this episode, Maarten explains how on-demand CTO support allows companies to access top-tier technical expertise exactly when they need it — without the overhead of a permanent executive hire. From shaping long-term technology strategy to overseeing digital transformation, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and product development, CTO as a Service provides strategic guidance that scales with the business.
Nick and Maarten discuss:
What CTO as a Service actually means in practice
When startups and SMEs should consider external CTO support
Common tech mistakes growing companies make — and how to avoid them
How to build scalable, secure, and future-proof systems
The balance between business goals and technology decisions
Maarten shares real-world examples from his work with startups and fast-growing companies, highlighting how leadership teams often underestimate the complexity of technology decisions. He explains why having the right strategic tech guidance early can prevent costly mistakes, delays, and security risks later on.
The conversation also explores how non-technical founders can work effectively with technical leaders, how to prioritize tech investments, and how to future-proof operations in an increasingly digital world. Maarten emphasizes that a CTO is not just a technical problem-solver — but a strategic partner who aligns technology with business vision.
This episode is especially valuable for:
Founders and startup leaders
CEOs scaling their organizations
Business owners navigating digital transformation
Anyone considering outsourced executive leadership
If you’re running a growing business and wondering how to make smarter technology decisions without overextending resources, this episode offers clear, practical guidance. Maarten’s approach proves that you don’t need a full-time CTO to think like one — you just need the right expertise at the right time.
🎧 Tune in to learn how CTO as a Service can:
Reduce risk
Accelerate growth
Improve decision-making
Strengthen your tech foundation
Contact Maarten Van Den Bos to collaborate with him:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartenvdbos/
Visit our website to find more podcast https://www.nickjonsson.com/leadership-conversations-the-untold-secrets-of-the-c-suite