Bridging Business and Technology

Executive Summary

As CPTO at CityTaps, I led a transformation that scaled our IoT water management solutions across 10 countries while building a high-performing technical team. Key achievements include:

• Scaled platform to 30+ enterprise clients with 99.994% uptime

• Reduced hardware costs by 25-30% while improving quality

• Accelerated feature delivery by 25% through process improvements

• Secured €140k annual R&D funding

• Built and mentored an 8-person engineering team that continued successful product development after my departure

This experience demonstrates my ability to drive technical excellence, foster team growth, and deliver business results in resource-constrained environments.

Introduction

CityTaps, an IoT company focused on improving water access in underserved regions, integrates connected hardware—such as water meters and sensors—with powerful digital platforms. Initially hired as the sole Product Manager, I quickly joined the executive committee due to my strategic contributions. When the CTO departed and financial constraints prevented a replacement hire, I proposed stepping into the role of Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO). Leading a team of 8 engineers across software, hardware, and telecommunications, I tackled IoT challenges, scaled solutions, and spearheaded company-wide improvements in processes and culture.

Leadership Impact and Achievements

1. Technical Excellence and Product Development

• NRW Platform Deployment: Deployed a real-time monitoring platform that helped utilities reduce water losses (detailed in a separate case study)

• Scaling Cash Collection Solution: Scaled the platform to serve 30+ customers in 10 countries, achieving 99.994% uptime with improvements in scalability, hardware reliability, and network optimization.

• Next-Generation Water Meter: Developed a new connected meter that reduced costs by 25–30% and improved reliability. Partnered with a Turkish supplier to adopt industry-standard practices, ensuring long-term quality improvements.

• First-Generation Meter Improvements: Guided the hardware team to reduce defect rates by 50% through enhanced waterproofing and firmware refactoring.

2. Accelerating Delivery with Process Improvements

• Reduced feature delivery times by 25% and boosted team satisfaction by introducing a tailored version of the Shape Up methodology.

3. Mentorship and Team Development

• Fostered a high-performing, autonomous team by aligning them on the “why” behind projects and mentoring members in leadership and technical growth.

• Facilitated field visits to deepen understanding of user challenges, fostering customer empathy and stronger problem-solving capabilities.

• Created a culture of ownership and development that prepared team members for leadership roles, exemplified by one team member succeeding me as CPTO after my departure.

4. Strengthening Organizational Processes and Culture

• Improved focus and strategic alignment by introducing OKRs, ensuring team goals were aligned with company objectives.

• Strengthened communication across teams by championing feedback training, facilitating cross-departmental meetings, and fostering collaboration.

• Enhanced collaboration and transparency by implementing tools like ClickUp for project management and Zoho for customer service tracking

5. Securing R&D Funding

• Secured €140k annually in French CIR/CII tax credits by documenting innovation activities, bolstering financial sustainability.

Challenges and Solutions

• Leadership and Technical Oversight: Aligned team efforts with business goals by bridging strategic vision and execution.

• Product Reliability: Empowered the team to resolve quality issues through systematic testing and iteration, enhancing customer satisfaction.

• Resource Constraints: Overcame financial and staffing limitations by fostering team autonomy and leveraging efficient tools, ensuring consistent innovation.

Impact

• Established CityTaps as a trusted partner for utilities in emerging markets by delivering reliable, customer-centric water management solutions.

• Built a high-performing team adept at tackling complex challenges independently while consistently delivering solutions aligned with customer needs.

• Transformed organizational processes and culture, driving improved alignment, transparency, and collaboration across the company.

Conclusion

Stepping into the CPTO role at CityTaps was both a challenge and an opportunity to lead through a critical growth phase. By aligning technical execution with strategic goals, scaling impactful platforms, and fostering a collaborative culture, I delivered innovative solutions that supported CityTaps’ mission. This experience has equipped me to thrive in senior product management or Head of Product roles, where bridging business and technology is essential for success.