Policy, Preference, or Regulation? Why Fractional CTOs Must Ask Better Questions

In this episode, Marissa and Lior dig into a deceptively simple leadership filter: before you act, ask whether a rule is policy, preference, or regulation—and why it exists. From the “new leader grace period” to cutting through acronym soup, they show how fractional CTOs earn trust by questioning assumptions, depersonalizing debates, and reframing requests in business terms. You’ll hear practical ways to set decision criteria, protect engineers from whiplash, educate stakeholders on product process, and handle compliance with calm, cost-aware judgment—sometimes even choosing to pay a small fine instead of adding costly overhead. If you help companies ship, scale, and stay sane, this conversation gives you language, frameworks, and confidence to lead change in real, complex environments today.

You’ll learn:

• How to use the “policy vs preference vs regulation” question to unblock decisions and avoid blind rule-following.

• Tactics for the first 60–90 days: earn grace, decode acronyms, map “untouchables,” and build buy-in with levity.

• A simple decision lens: revenue, savings, or risk—plus criteria for true urgency and sequencing.

• Practical compliance mindset: treat it like a guard dog, assess cost versus risk, and when paying the fine makes sense.

• Coaching the business: translate ideas into requirements, flows, estimates, and cadence; protect engineers from whiplash by inserting process.

If you’re a Fractional CTO—or any kind of visionary leader—this conversation is a must-listen.

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