March 2026 TrueNorthCTO @ Toronto
2026.02 - TrueNorthCTO @ Toronto
This session will include the following discussions:
1) System Thinking: What Separates Tactical Managers from Strategic Leaders
Presenter: Eric Brooke - CTO, Executive Coach, & Founder
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericbrooke/
You were promoted because you’re a brilliant engineer. But the skills that made you exceptional at writing code — reductionist problem-solving, deterministic thinking, optimization for the “right answer” — are now quietly holding you back as a leader. Why does your team of great engineers still struggle to ship great software? Why did that process change you made three months ago produce the opposite of what you expected? Why does “move faster” from your CEO feel impossible to act on? The answer isn’t better processes. It’s better thinking.
This session with Eric Brooke explores the shift from process thinking to systems thinking — the critical mental upgrade that separates leaders who manage tasks from leaders who shape organizations. You’ll learn to see the five core systems every engineering leader operates within (people, technology, delivery, information, and decision-making), understand how they interact, and recognize how your engineering instincts — binary thinking, perfectionism, the need for control — can become liabilities at the executive level.
2) Scaling Canadian Startups: Why Innovation Isn’t Enough
Presenter: Lou Natale - Managing Director @ NBV Group
LI Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-natale/
Canada produces world-class innovation. And yet, far too many Canadian companies struggle to scale globally. This session explores the structural and cultural realities that create Canada’s “scaling gap” and what founders and technical leaders must do differently to break through.
The challenge isn’t building great products. It’s earning trust, navigating a risk-averse buying culture, and sequencing growth strategically. The session will explore the critical leadership triumvirate of CTO, CEO, and Head of Sales, and how alignment across these roles determines whether a startup stalls or scales.
This talk blends real-world scaling experience, enterprise sales psychology, and practical execution frameworks. Attendees will leave with a clear, actionable blueprint to move from innovation to revenue, and from revenue to global scale.
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM – Networking (Food & Refreshments)
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM - Discussion and Q/A
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM - Networking/Discussion
Food and beverages will be sourced for the event. The organizer (a volunteer) will make a good-faith effort to provide a variety of food/beverage options. However, pre-selecting meal options is not an option due to bandwidth limitations.
TrueNorthCTO is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit, and curated community of senior technology leaders (e.g. CTOs, CPOs, CIOs, CISOs, CAIOs etc.) across Canada.
TrueNorth provides a collaborative and supportive environment where technologists can share insights, mentor, inspire, and learn from one another based on our collective knowledge and experiences.
The attendance will be curated with preference to those who are senior leaders AND technologists.
To apply to join TrueNorthCTO please see https://truenorthcto.ca/
Please note that tickets are NOT refundable and rain-checks will NOT be supported.
Looking forward to seeing people in person!