The CTO's Edge

Who I Am

I am Kevin Harbauer. I have spent more than 20 years leading product, engineering, and security teams in environments where delivering results was not optional.

I have served as CTO, CPO, CPTO, and CISO across multiple organizations. I have helped lead multiple successful exits. I have transformed private equity backed companies, scaled startups into real businesses, and strengthened mission driven organizations that serve healthcare and legal spaces.

My work has one common theme. I help companies align technology with business goals so they can grow with confidence. I solve problems that block progress. I design and evolve platforms that can scale. I build teams that deliver. I help leaders protect what matters while still moving fast enough to win.

I focus on technology that creates measurable enterprise value. Not slideware. Not theoretical innovation. Real impact on customers, revenue, and the ability to operate without chaos.

If you are working through the complexity of growth, modernization, or AI driven change, I have probably faced a similar hill.

About The CTO’s Edge

The CTO’s Edge is where I work through what I have learned and what I am still figuring out.

This is not a newsletter. It is not a marketing funnel. I am not chasing clicks or trying to be clever on social media.

This is a space to explore the work that is actually hard. Not theory. Not the polished executive version of leadership. The reality that shows up when you are responsible for delivery and the business does not care how complex the architecture is. The moments where scale, legacy systems, compliance requirements, fractured communication, impossible deadlines, and board expectations collide.

If you have ever had to convince a CEO to prioritize technical debt. If you have ever had to explain to a board that the security roadmap is not a checkbox exercise. If you have had to tell product leaders that ignoring architecture constraints now will kill the roadmap later. You are in the right place.

Why The CTO’s Edge

Technology leadership is a constant balancing act. Velocity vs stability. Innovation vs operational debt. Growth vs risk. Security vs EBITDA. The edge is where these forces meet. It is where decisions matter and where leadership is visible.

That is what I write about here. How to create leverage with technology. How to build teams that produce real outcomes. How to adopt AI in a way that improves work, and not create chaos. How to move organizations forward while keeping them secure. Some posts are strategic. Some are technical. Some are reflections that come from the scars earned over years of doing this job.

Who This Is For

CTOs. CISOs. CPOs. Engineering leaders. Product leaders. CEOs. Founders. Investors. Operators who are actually accountable for delivering results. People working in regulated spaces like healthcare, legal, or financial services. People inside private equity backed companies who are expected to modernize fast and still hit the numbers.

If that sounds like your world, I hope this helps you think more clearly and lead more confidently.

Want More

There is no paywall here. No drip sequence waiting for you. If you want to keep up, scroll the blog or subscribe and I will send new posts to your inbox when they go live.

Need Some Help or Coaching

Sometimes you need a partner who has been there. Someone who understands the weight of the decisions, the pressure of the goals, and the complexity of the environment.

Alongside writing, I advise and mentor technology and product leaders who want to create real traction in their organizations. My focus areas include:

✅ Technology strategy and execution that drives measurable outcomes
✅ Leadership coaching and mentoring for current and aspiring technology leaders
✅ Frameworks that help teams and systems scale with confidence
✅ Guidance for companies working in regulated industries
✅ Technical due diligence that supports smart private equity and M&A decisions

If you are facing a challenge that would benefit from another perspective or if you just want someone to help you think through what comes next, I am here to help.

You can reach out for a working session or a conversation. No pressure. Just a real discussion about what you are trying to accomplish and the best path forward.

Kevin