Christopher Grant joins Inside CTOx to share his journey from leading billion-dollar digital transformations at The Home Depot and Google Cloud to launching Nebari Consulting, where he helps mid-market companies turn technology into business wins.
With nearly 30 years in tech, Christopher opens up about career pivots, mindset shifts, and how CTOx helped him transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurial independence. He reveals how commitment, community, and measurable systems have shaped his success — and why “tracking everything” became his secret weapon.
About the Guest
Christopher Grant is a veteran technology executive and the founder of Nebari Consulting, where he serves as a fractional CTO for growing businesses. His experience spans startups and global enterprises — from migrating The Home Depot’s $5B e-commerce platform with zero downtime to helping shape Google Cloud’s enterprise product strategy.
When he’s not advising companies, you’ll find him in the woods, guitar in hand, or tending to his bonsais — balancing precision, patience, and creativity in both life and technology.
Connect with Christopher
🌐 Company Website: https://nebari.cc
🌐 Personal Website: https://cgrant.io
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergrant
Episode Breakdown
Part 1 – Commitment, Courage & The CTOx Journey
0:00 – Opening reflection from Christopher: Are you serious about this?
0:17 – Welcome to Inside CTOx with host Donna
1:08 – Guest introduction: Christopher Grant
1:36 – From startups to Fortune 50s: Christopher’s path to CTOx
2:10 – What inspired him to join CTOx and help smaller companies grow
3:24 – The hardest first step: sending that first cold email
4:24 – Overcoming hesitation and finding confidence through action
5:26 – Mindset shift: full commitment vs. half effort
7:04 – Advice for those balancing full-time work and the CTOx journey
9:08 – Building a strong client pipeline and foundation before the leap
Part 2 – Community, Systems & AI Hot Seat
9:43 – How the CTOx community drives accountability and growth
12:00 – Why being surrounded by peers on the same path matters
13:43 – The non-negotiable: tracking, traceability, and measurable progress
15:51 – Why change feels hard (and how consistency creates confidence)
17:40 – Trusting the process and adapting proven frameworks
18:06 – Looking ahead: growing networks and meaningful engagement
20:14 – Building authentic connections beyond sales and deliverables
21:36 – AI Hot Seat: Surprise Question from ChatGPT
22:12 – If legacy tech could talk, what secrets would it reveal?
23:43 – Lessons from legacy systems and respecting their origins
24:28 – Closing reflections and final thoughts
