How Caio Diehl Found His Path at the Emerging Leaders’ Forum
When you are standing on the precipice of a major career leap, it is incredibly common for doubt to creep in. For Caio Diehl, that crossroad came when a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) position opened up.
Despite having an excellent track record, a supportive manager, and a mentor urging him to apply, Caio hesitated. Was he truly ready? Could he actually do the job?
He arrived at the Emerging Leaders’ Forum searching for answers – and perhaps a bit of courage. Surrounded by peers who seemed fiercely certain of their executive ambitions, Caio’s internal monologue was a familiar one: “I was still like, ‘Do I do that? I don’t know.’ My wife was like, ‘You should go there too.'”
Defeating Imposter Syndrome through connection
What Caio discovered at the forum changed the trajectory of his career. By engaging directly with industry mentors—including event facilitator David Kennedy and listening to seasoned speakers, he realised a liberating truth: almost everyone in leadership has stood in those exact same shoes.
“The first thing we have as a new CTO is like, ‘Can I actually do that job? I think I can’t. Imposter syndrome” Caio shared. “When you see that a lot of people are in the same boat, in the same process, and having those opportunities around… it’s great.”
He also found solace in hearing from previous speakers who hadn’t aggressively “chased” the title, but had simply focused on doing great work and seizing the moment when it arrived. Inspired by that collective wisdom, Caio finally took the leap and accepted the challenge.
Today, he isn’t just dreaming about the C-suite – he is officially a CTO.
The lifelong need for a strong network
Now that Caio has successfully stepped into the executive ring, his perspective on professional networks has only deepened. While many tech professionals treat mentoring and networking as checkboxes for early-career development, Caio quickly realised that you never outgrow the need for a trusted circle.
“You hear about it earlier in your career ‘I need a mentor, I need a network.’ Well, actually, when you’ve got one, you’re like, ‘I really did need one.’ I still need it. I think I need it more now than before.”
Stepping into leadership requires a high degree of vulnerability, and having a safe ecosystem of peers and veterans to lean on is what keeps sustainable innovation alive.
Paying it forward: The 2026 Emerging Leaders’ Forum
Having experienced the tangible, life-changing impact of the event firsthand, Caio is paying it forward by registering one of his own rising managers for the upcoming Emerging Leaders’ Forum.
“Let’s do the same now,” Caio said. “Let’s help someone else to get across.”
The Emerging Leaders’ Forum is New Zealand’s premier event designed specifically for mid-level ICT professionals with aspirations to step up into senior leadership roles (CIO, CTO, CDO). Facilitated by executive coach David Kennedy, the exclusive FREE forum is limited to 50 participants to ensure deep, impactful, peer-to-peer networking and personal development.
If you are a tech professional looking to master the attributes, attitudes, and leadership skills required to guide modern tech teams -or if you have a rising star like Caio in your organisation who is ready for the next level – now is the time to act.
Don’t let hesitation hold you back from your next opportunity.
