As tech CEOs, we’re often told to either double down on what works or burn the ships and chase the future. But what if that’s a false choice?
In a recent episode of Wisdom From Wizards, I spoke with Richard Ham, CEO at FineTune, about a dilemma most scaleup CEOs wrestle with:
Should you disrupt your own company before someone else does — or focus on protecting the market share you’ve worked so hard to build?
Richard doesn’t dodge the tension. Instead, he embraces it. In his words, “There must be tension between these two things within any organization.”
His secret? Clear role ownership.
He plays the role of scout and disruptor — constantly scanning the horizon, challenging assumptions, and driving innovation. Meanwhile, his team is empowered to protect and optimize what they’ve already built. It’s a division of labor that works — because it’s intentional.
In fact, at FineTune’s most recent annual meeting, Richard shared that, for once, he had no new services or products to announce after a year of constant change. The team applauded. Sometimes, holding steady is the innovation.
Tech scaleups often grow quickly by disrupting a category — but as they mature, protecting existing momentum becomes just as important. Striking the right balance requires a CEO who can do both: question the status quo while respecting the systems that fuel growth.
Richard’s approach is a reminder that leadership isn’t about always having new ideas — it’s about knowing when to push, and when to protect.
Wisdom From Wizards is brought to you by Caribou Strategic, helping tech scaleups stand out and succeed.
If you’re a CEO who refuses to plateau, let’s talk.