OC CTO Talks | How to Deliver Bad News

Delivering bad news is inevitable—how you do it defines your leadership.

Strong leadership isn’t just about making the right decisions—it’s about delivering the hard ones with clarity and confidence. At this edition of CTO Talks OC, we’ll explore the art of navigating difficult conversations in leadership.

Join fellow technology executives on April 24th at Seven Co in Irvine for an evening of deep insights, meaningful discussions, and high-level networking. Gain strategies to communicate tough news effectively while fostering trust and alignment within your teams.

About Our Speaker

Mahesh Guruswamy brings over 20 years of experience in software development, leadership, and product strategy. As CPTO at Kickstarter, he leads product and engineering teams to empower creators and backers. His career includes leadership roles at Mosaic.tech, Kajabi, Smartsheet, and Amazon Alexa.

A strong advocate for mentoring high-performing teams, Mahesh’s leadership philosophy emphasizes empathy, decisiveness, and a customer-first approach. He’s also the author of How to Deliver Bad News and Get Away With It and writes the The Sensible Manager newsletter, sharing insights on leadership and management.

Why Attend?

• Gain practical frameworks for handling difficult conversations with confidence.
• Connect with CTOs, VPs, and industry leaders in an exclusive setting.
• Learn from real-world leadership experiences in high-stakes environments.

This isn’t just another talk—it’s a masterclass in leadership for those shaping the future of technology.

RSVP today!

Powered by ArkusNexus

Check out some photos from our past events!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sevenco, 5151 California Avenue, Irvine, United States