How CTOs Can Build Powerful Tech Leadership: Insights from Francis Nappez

Francis Nappez has worked at three high‑growth companies—Illicit, Meetic, and most recently BlaBlaCar—where he helped create several unicorns, and BlaBlaCar is now Europe’s leading shared‑car platform with over 13 million quarterly users.

For engineers and CTOs, leadership is a critical topic that is often overlooked; as technical experts advance, they are increasingly pushed into managerial roles. Francis’s own path mirrors this transition from individual contributor to technology leader.

Why becoming a technology leader is so important

Developers tend to underestimate the value of leadership, focusing on product delivery, tech stacks, and company creation. Francis stresses that a CTO must learn and embody leadership because technology leaders can shape a company’s vision and strategy.

In practice, every company and team undergoes multiple transformations—organizational change, hiring, expanding vision, and competition. As a co‑founder, the CTO heavily influences how the organization operates.

“You need strong leadership so that, in adversity, people will follow you,” Francis warns.

The three pillars of a tech leader: trust, vision, and people’s growth

1. Trust and motivation

First, create a sense of belonging by using “we” instead of “I.” Listen actively, gather information, make confident decisions, and lead by example in both behavior and ethics. Communicate openly with the whole company, including one‑on‑one conversations.

2. Clear vision

Every company has a mission that outlines a 3‑to‑5‑year roadmap and the path to achieve goals. A clear roadmap and daily tasks keep the team aligned. Focus is essential; once a direction is chosen, stay the course and share the vision and background openly with developers.

3. Growing people together

Understand your employees beyond technical skills; emotional intelligence matters. At BlaBlaCar, a bi‑annual happiness survey empowers team members to share suggestions. Provide clear career growth paths—technical experts versus managers—so people know how to develop.

Maintain optimism and authenticity; never lie to developers, always speak the truth.

Building and enhancing CTO leadership experience

Francis learned that leadership isn’t taught in school; it requires daily discovery and continuous improvement through books, coaches, and experience. Passion for the role fuels optimism and energy for both the leader and the team.

Q&A with Francis Nappez

Q: How do you view hiring people who are technically stronger than you?

Francis: Recognizing someone’s superior technical ability means you’ve succeeded; they won’t replace you as a leader. Embrace an open mindset, let them see the vision, and they can become future leaders.

Q: You have two remote tech teams in Paris and Warsaw. How do you manage them effectively?

Francis: 1) Empower frequent travel to bridge distance. 2) Grant remote teams high autonomy and ownership. 3) Treat it as an ongoing, iterative process—there’s no magic formula, just continuous effort.

Q: What challenges and competition does BlaBlaCar face in the future?

Francis: We must anticipate adversity, continue international expansion, focus on product improvements, and constantly reinvent ourselves to enhance user experience.

Q: Can you give examples of lacking leadership?

Francis: A team member left because there were few opportunities for discussion. Realizing the gap, he instituted regular one‑on‑one meetings to ensure transparent, two‑way communication.

Q: How do you ensure knowledge flows smoothly within the team?

Francis: By promoting transparent, open collaboration so that expertise is shared across colleagues.

He also described his relationship with his co‑founder—10 years of friendship, clear role division, and aligned vision.

Q: If you were hiring a CTO, what would you look for?

Francis: Clarify expectations. CEOs often seek an engineer to execute, but if strategic involvement is needed, hire a true CTO.

Author: Francis Nappez, CTO of BlaBlaCar Translator: Luo Yi Original article: https://medium.com/station-f/how-to-grow-your-tech-leadership-as-a-cto-with-francis-nappez-cto-of-blablacar-e4e7bebfc1ff