Tech leader, writer and maker.
hello.
I've spent 25+ years leading technology and security teams. Here I write about what that work keeps teaching me, share the things I build, and keep the creative work I do for the fun of it.
Read the articlesNo invoicing tool matched how I actually work as a fractional CIO, so I built one: a small MVP that grew into time tracking, contractor billing, client portals and reports. Here's what I built, and what building it taught me.
Etsy shows the sale. Printify shows the cost. Neither shows both. KilnWorks puts them side by side, listing by listing, and tells you where to spend your time.
Most AI conversations start with tools: which platform, which model, which vendor. The organizations that get value from AI start somewhere else entirely - with friction, ownership and a few uncomfortable leadership questions.
The day job
Part-time technology leadership for growing organizations that need CIO-level thinking, but not a full-time CIO. I've spent 25+ years doing this work in finance, healthcare, semiconductors, supercomputing and e-commerce. Now I bring it to organizations as anything from a few hours a month to a seat at the leadership table.
A lot of what I write here comes from that work: the decisions that drift, the spending nobody owns, and the risks that sit in the gaps between teams.
What that usually covers
Free guide
Most technology budgets drift. Tools get bought for problems that have moved on, renewals go through on autopilot, and nobody has mapped the overlap. This checklist turns all of that into one focused conversation with your leadership team: no spreadsheets, no audit.
What's inside
Free. Enter your email and the PDF is sent straight to you.
Things I build
Real profit on every Etsy listing for sellers who fulfill through Printify: margins, shipping profiles, catalog gaps and what to fix first.
The invoicing and time tracking system I run my fractional CIO work on: time, expenses, contractor billing at two rates, client and contractor portals, and reports.
Why I built itsteve-shead.com runs on Xavier, a lightweight PHP framework I built: articles, a store with free and paid downloads, comments and a newsletter.
GitHubOutside the day job
Drone flights with some creative videography
Using stock videos to create a story, with creative editing
Playing with plugins and filters to create futuristic effects
Interested in seeing more of my videos? Check out YouTube.
About Steve Shead
Whatever you do in life do it with passion, integrity and open and honest communication. You may not be perfect, and life may throw you some curve balls, but your ethics, your honesty and integrity will always carry you through.
inspired by genius driven by passion
Contact
A project, a question, or just to say hello - send me a message and I'll get back to you.
Looking for fractional CIO help? Start at fractionalcioadvisory.com.
