#484 The CTO as Orchestrator: Naga Vadrevu on Leading Tech with First Principles

The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Naga Vadrevu, Chief Technology Officer at Wonderschool and former engineering leader at Square, Adobe, and Autodesk, shares his journey from big tech to startup disruption. Naga dives deep into how he applies AI and machine learning to revolutionize childcare access in the U.S., and why modern CTOs must evolve from coders to orchestrators. He also reflects on the tough decisions leadership demands, including disbanding QA teams and embracing lean, impact-focused engineering.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why CTOs today must focus on customer outcomes, not just technical execution

• How AI is reshaping industries with human-centric applications

• The jobs-to-be-done mindset that shaped Square’s success

• Lessons from shutting down a QA department in favor of full automation

• The future of lean engineering teams and the end of unnecessary hierarchy

• Thoughts on MCP, API design, and the orchestration layer of modern platforms

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💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to lead tech teams with purpose and clarity

• What it takes to align engineering with business goals

• First-hand insights into AI implementation in non-technical industries

• Why understanding “first principles” can give you a competitive edge

• Tips for future CTOs and first-time startup tech leaders

👤 About Naga Vadrevu

Naga is the CTO of Wonderschool, a platform transforming early childhood education through tech. With 15+ years in Silicon Valley, his experience spans enterprise giants like Adobe and Square to fast-scaling startups. Naga is passionate about using technology to solve human problems—and doing it with first-principles thinking.

https://www.wonderschool.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/naga-ravi-vadrevu-8b142521/

Episode Highlights

⏱️ [00:02:00] Naga’s journey from India to Silicon Valley

⏱️ [00:03:00] Applying AI-driven pricing in childcare

⏱️ [00:05:00] Matching parents and childcare providers with tech

⏱️ [00:09:00] Learning the business: Lessons from Square and “Jobs To Be Done”

⏱️ [00:14:00] Thoughts on mass layoffs and the evolving role of engineers

⏱️ [00:21:00] Lean teams and the new standard for Series A+ readiness

⏱️ [00:26:00] Deterministic APIs vs non-deterministic agents

⏱️ [00:30:00] Shutting down QA and retraining engineers

⏱️ [00:34:00] Advice for aspiring CTOs: Think like a business owner