### How Blackstone’s CTO Stays Ahead: A Routine of Reading, Experimentation, and Hands-On Learning
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, staying ahead requires deliberate and consistent habits. John Stecher, Chief Technology Officer at the investment giant Blackstone, exemplifies this through a disciplined upskilling routine that blends curated reading with hands-on experimentation. Over his two-decade career, Stecher has witnessed technology transform from a backend support function to the core engine of every successful business. To keep one of the world’s largest investment firms competitive—overseeing everything from cybersecurity to tech investments—he dedicates time daily and weekly to learning. His approach is pragmatic, built around maximizing small pockets of time and engaging directly with new tools to understand their practical applications and underlying mechanics.
A cornerstone of Stecher’s routine is his 35-minute subway commute, which he uses as a dedicated learning window. During his ride to work, he reads news articles or research papers focused on applied technology in industries outside finance, such as aerospace, robotics, or pharmaceuticals. He finds that exploring how different sectors solve problems provides fresh, transferable insights for the financial world. The return trip becomes a time to decompress and process that information. Stecher then brings these external ideas into Blackstone, discussing them with his engineering teams to evaluate what could be adapted or what pitfalls to avoid, turning solitary reading into collaborative innovation.
However, Stecher believes reading alone is insufficient for deep understanding; he insists on hands-on, tactile engagement with technology. Emphasizing that the core principles of technology are consistent across industries—whether for an oil company or a dating app—he reserves one to two hours each weekend to experiment with new tools. This might involve building a simple software application to parse investment documents or using AI chatbots like Claude to write code for home automation, such as controlling lights or thermostats. These projects, while sometimes simple, allow him to revisit fundamental engineering concepts and solve real-world problems, keeping his skills sharp and practical.
Ultimately, Stecher’s philosophy is that continuous learning is non-negotiable for any technology leader. By strategically using commute time for cross-industry research and dedicating weekend hours to hands-on tinkering, he ensures he remains at the forefront of both theoretical applications and practical implementations. This balanced approach of consuming external knowledge and internally testing new solutions enables him to guide Blackstone’s technology strategy effectively, ensuring the firm’s infrastructure is robust, innovative, and far from the „creaky” systems that could hinder success in any modern industry.
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Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/blackstone-cto-explains-daily-weekly-upskilling-routine-2025-12.