The role of chief technology officer is in a constant state of evolution with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
Over the last two decades of his career, Blackstone CTO John Stecher has watched technology move from a “magic thing in the back office” to the forefront of every business, he told Business Insider.
“Technology wasn’t looked at as being an absolute must-have in a business, but it is now,” Stecher said. “If you have any type of creaky infrastructure technology-wise, it doesn’t matter which industry you’re in, you’re not going to be successful.”
As the executive overseeing Blackstone’s technology, cybersecurity, early-stage technology investment, and portfolio tech optimization teams, Stecher is responsible for keeping one of the world’s largest investment firms competitive. That means he needs to stay ahead of the curve on everything from cyber threats to engineering advancements. Stecher shared the daily and weekly upskilling habits he relies on to do just that.
35-minute subway routine
When Stecher isn’t managing the technology behind the investing giant Blackstone, he keeps himself busy with his 11-year-old and 8-year-old children. That means making the most of any free time he gets — including his 35-minute subway ride to and from the office.
The CTO said it’s “just enough” time to come up to speed with something on his way to work, and decompress on his way home. Stecher said he typically reads news articles or research papers about applied technology in an industry outside finance, such as aircraft, robotics, or pharmaceuticals.
“You learn a ton about just how to apply different technologies in your industry, if you read about how somebody else did it elsewhere,” Stecher said.
Stecher said that he then takes those learnings and discusses them with his colleagues.
“I, fortunately, have a bunch of amazing engineers I work with, so I have my day-to-day banter with them about what works and what doesn’t,” Stecher said.
Hands-on learning
Stecher said he can’t learn by reading alone; he needs to be hands-on with technology. The CTO said part of the reason he studied computer science is so he can build and take apart the components inside a computer — and that hasn’t changed.
“You can create so many unique software applications, no different than if you’re drawing on a piece of paper,” Stecher said.
He said “the technology under the covers looks the same,” regardless of whether you’re working with an oil and gas company or a dating app like Bumble, he said. The CTO said that part of his upskilling routine involves toying around with new technology. Stecher said he aims to reserve one or two hours on the weekend to be “hands-on” with a tool he hasn’t used before.
For example, he said he may build a tool that makes it easier for him to parse a document for work, such as the many investment committee memos he reads over the weekend.
Stecher said his experimentation isn’t always “spectacular.” Sometimes it’s as simple as using Claude, Anthropic’s AI chatbot, to write code to automate his home. However, he said that solving everyday problems, such as turning off the lights or adjusting the thermostat, is a “fun” challenge that involves revisiting the basics of engineering.
“It’s tactile and tangible,” Stecher said.
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