CTO CONNECTION: Poised for the top spot - CTOs are well-positioned to become CEOs, but some may prefer to stay where they are.(Industry Overview)

AMID THE CHALLENGES of the past couple of years, many CTOs have been so busy managing their budgets, people, CEOs, and company boards that they've paid little attention to managing their own careers. Sometimes it's useful step back and take a longer view of one's career goals. The career-planning challenges of the CTO are unique for several reasons.

For many, the CTO job is the pinnacle of a technologist's career, so where do you go from there? Fortunately, the mix of technology and business acumen that has led most CTOs to their current positions gives them a broad range of options for the future. Some think that today's CTOs are tomorrow's CEOs, and judging from the …