The LIT Framework™
Transform Your Technology Leadership Journey
Are you ready to transcend conventional technology leadership? The LIT Framework isn't just another methodology, it's a fundamental shift in how exceptional CTOs approach challenges and create lasting impact.
What’s the LIT Framework?
LIT stands for Leader, Innovator, and Technologist.
Most people in tech just stay in their lane. They code, they ship tasks, they follow directions. That’s fine, but it won’t take you very far.
The LIT Framework is about being more than just the person who gets stuff done. It’s about learning how to step up, see things differently, and make things better. It helps you show up as someone who leads, who creates, and who understands how to use tech to solve real problems.
Being LIT isn’t a title; it’s a mindset. When you act like a Leader, an Innovator, and a Technologist all at once, people notice. You become the person others trust, follow, and count on when things matter most.
Leader
As a Leader, you align technology with business strategy, inspire teams, and communicate vision effectively. You navigate organisational politics and build strategic partnerships that drive business-wide success.
Innovator
As an Innovator, you cultivate an environment where new ideas flourish. You balance exploration with execution, recognise emerging opportunities, and translate technological possibilities into business value.
Technologist
As a Technologist, you maintain technical credibility while making sound architectural decisions. You evaluate emerging technologies with discernment and ensure your technical foundation supports both current needs and future ambitions.
The transformation happens at the intersection of these three pillars.
200+ Tech Leaders Transformed Since 2011 Through the LIT Framework
The 5 LIT Moves
Making the shift from Order Taker to Impact Maker takes moves. Bold shifts in how you think and act. These aren't steps. They're the moves that create the mindshift. This is how we empower Technologists to be Leaders and Innovators on their path to Become CTO & Beyond.
Built for senior engineers, tech leads, and rising managers ready to command the room and chart the company's future.
🟦 Move 1: Take Ownership
Pillar: Technologist → Leader   Daily Mantra: "Decisions over delays"
Stop asking permission. Start granting it. When they ask for your strategy, you've already built the roadmap. Be the architect and the builder of outcomes, no blueprints handed to you.
🟡 Move 2: Know the Mission
Pillar: Innovator   Daily Mantra: "Why before what"
The business isn't buying servers. They're buying competitive advantage. Transform every technical request into a business breakthrough. Know the destination before you code the journey.
🔷 Move 3: Speak with Purpose
Pillar: Leader   Daily Mantra: "Speak outcomes not output"
When you explain cloud migration, present lightning speed. When you discuss automation, present flawless scale. When you mention security upgrades, present impenetrable armour. Your words paint the future they'll fund.
🟡 Move 4: Lead with Ideas
Pillar: Innovator   Daily Mantra: "Look around corners"
Walk into meetings solving tomorrow's emergencies. While others debate specs, you present strategy. Build the solutions that make competitors scramble to catch up.
🔷 Move 5: Grow Others
Pillar: Leader   Daily Mantra: "Multiply through people"
Stop being the bottleneck. Build a team of problem-solvers who step up and own outcomes. It’s not about more headcount, it’s about stronger ownership. The more they rise, the freer you are to lead.
Technologists who haven't made these moves yet often find themselves stuck. Overlooked for leadership and caught in the cycle of reactive delivery. The LIT Framework breaks that cycle for good. These moves create the mindshift from Order Taker to Impact Maker.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Most technology leaders excel in one dimension but struggle to integrate all three:
- The Technical CTOÂ delivers solid engineering solutions but struggles with organisational influence and innovation culture
- The Visionary CTOÂ generates exciting ideas but faces challenges in execution and organisational alignment
- The Executive CTOÂ navigates corporate politics effectively but loses technical credibility and innovation edge
The LIT Framework provides the missing integration that transforms competent technology leaders into exceptional ones.
Your Journey to Being LIT
We've created a comprehensive ecosystem to support your development across all three LIT dimensions:
1. FTL Weekly Newsletter
FTL (Future Technology Leaders) Weekly is your regular touchpoint with the LIT Framework, designed to support CTOs and emerging tech leaders in navigating real-world challenges with clarity and confidence.
Each edition unpacks a critical topic through the lenses of Leader, Innovator, and Technologist, offering practical insights and reflective prompts you can apply straight away.
“FTL Weekly has completely transformed how I approach my role. I now see every challenge as a chance to integrate all three perspectives.”
 - Sarah J., CTO
2. LIT: The First Steps (eBook)
Ready to go deeper? Our practical eBook guides you through implementing the LIT Framework in your daily practice. Includes self-assessment tools, exercises, and specific strategies for developing each dimension.
3. Ready to Become CTO (Book)
The definitive guide to exceptional technology leadership. This comprehensive book provides the complete methodology, case studies, and career roadmap for those serious about reaching and excelling in the CTO role.
4. The Art of Being LIT (Book)
Follow the transformational journey of three technology leaders as they discover and apply the LIT Framework to overcome their greatest challenges. This business narrative takes you inside the minds of a technical specialist struggling with organisational influence, a visionary drowning in execution details, and an executive losing technical credibility. Their paths intersect at a pivotal leadership retreat where they discover the power of integrated thinking and begin their journey to becoming truly LIT leaders.
5. CTO Coaching
For those seeking personalised guidance, our coaching programme applies the LIT Framework to your specific challenges and career context.
Who Benefits from the LIT Framework?
- Aspiring CTOs seeking to develop a multidimensional leadership approach
- New CTOs navigating the challenges of their first senior technology leadership role
- Experienced CTOs looking to break through plateaus and maximise their impact
- Technology Leaders (VPs, Directors, Architects) preparing for their next career leap
Spotlight: The Art of Being LIT
"Every exceptional technology leader faces three distinct battles - finding their voice as a leader, maintaining their innovation edge, and preserving their technical credibility. This isn't just a career challenge; it's an identity crisis. The Art of Being LIT illuminates how these seemingly competing demands can become your greatest strength."
The Art of Being LITÂ follows three compelling protagonists:
Michael:Â A brilliant technologist promoted to CTO at a rapidly scaling startup. His technical solutions are flawless, but his ideas get lost in translation with the executive team. As pressure mounts from investors, he finds himself increasingly isolated.
Elisa:Â Head of Innovation at a traditional enterprise undergoing digital transformation. Her vision for the future is crystal clear, but she struggles to execute amid organisational complexity and technical debt.
James:Â A seasoned technology executive who has mastered the boardroom but finds the rapidly evolving technical landscape pulling him further from his roots. His teams respect his authority but question his technical judgment.
When their paths cross at an exclusive technology leadership retreat, they discover the LIT Framework and begin a transformative journey that challenges everything they thought they knew about technology leadership.
Through their intertwined stories, you'll experience:
- The pivotal moments that define or derail a technology leader's career
- The mindset shifts required to integrate seemingly conflicting perspectives
- The practical tools and frameworks that help navigate complex challenges
- The profound impact of being truly "LIT" on both professional success and personal fulfillment
This isn't just another business book; it's a mirror that reflects your own leadership journey and a map to guide you forward.
At BecomeCTO, we're dedicated to developing the next generation of exceptional technology leaders. Founded by experienced CTOs who've navigated the journey from technical specialist to transformational leader, we understand the challenges you face and the mindset shifts required to overcome them.
Our mission is to illuminate the path to exceptional technology leadership through our LIT Framework, creating a world where technology leaders drive meaningful innovation and business success.
