Podcast Description
From teenage founder to corporate CTO and back to entrepreneurship, Sanjay Akut has built a life where business, freedom, and family don’t have to compete. In this episode of Inside CTOx, he shares how a single call with Lior and Marisa at CTOx “cemented it” and gave him the conviction to leave his CTO role and launch TukaTek.
Sanjay opens up about activating his network, landing his first fractional client faster than expected, and learning to juggle multiple clients after decades of serving just one employer at a time. He also reflects on what it really means to build with “who, not how,” protect your team, and create a company your kids might one day run.
About the Guest
Sanjay Akut is a builder at heart in business and life. He launched his first software company at 19, ran it for over a decade, then moved into senior technology leadership, including serving as CTO for an immigration law firm in the Washington, DC area.
Together with his wife, Stephanie, Sanjay has raised four boys, including their adopted son, David, from Nigeria. With the support of CTOx, he returned to entrepreneurship and founded TukaTek, a company built on the belief that success, freedom, and family don’t have to compete. Sanjay brings both heart and hustle to every engagement, proving you can lead with humanity and still build at scale.
Connect with Sanjay
• Website: TukaTek
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjayakut/
Episode Breakdown
Part 1 – From Corporate CTO to Founder (Again)
• 0:00 – Opening reflection from Sanjay: “The call with Marisa and Lior cemented it in my mind”
• 0:21 – Welcome to Inside CTOx with host Donna
• 1:08 – Guest introduction: Sanjay’s journey as a builder in business and life
• 2:22 – From early entrepreneurship to CTO of an immigration law firm
• 3:43 – Discovering CTOx and the first call that removed all doubt
• 5:47 – Why entrepreneurship felt lonely — and how having support changed everything
• 6:16 – Landing the first fractional client by activating his network
• 7:45 – How 20+ years of reputation made “quick wins” possible (but not easy)
• 8:31 – Moving from attract-and-convert to serve: new challenges with multiple clients
• 9:33 – The power of community: why having other CTOxers matters so much
Part 2 – Who Not How, AI & the Future (AI Hot Seat)
• 10:40 – Early adoption of AI and the fear of missing “this wave”
• 11:01 – Lessons from past revolutions: PCs, internet, mobile… and now AI
• 14:00 – What he had to learn and unlearn moving from enterprise to scrappy SMBs
• 15:41 – Resources, scrappiness, and why fewer zeros can make you sharper
• 16:24 – People first: communication, collaboration, and calming the room
• 17:32 – Becoming a “who, not how” disciple in business and leadership
• 18:13 – Magic-wand future: Florida, golf, travel, and a business his kids can run
• 20:06 – Introducing the final segment: live question from ChatGPT
• 20:51 – AI Hot Seat: surprise question from ChatGPT
• 21:49 – If AI could do 70% of your work, what’s the 30% only you can do?
• 22:01 – Why relationships, trust, and closing deals are still deeply human
• 23:42 – Closing reflections and final thoughts
