Gilles Crofils

Gilles Crofils

Hands-On Chief Technology Officer

Based in Western Europe, I'm a tech enthusiast with a track record of successfully leading digital projects for both local and global companies.1974 Birth.
1984 Delved into coding.
1999 Failed my First Startup in Science Popularization.
2010 Co-founded an IT Services Company in Paris/Beijing.
2017 Led a Transformation Plan for SwitchUp in Berlin.May 2025 Eager to Build the Next Milestone Together with You.

The Evolution of a Tech Visionary

By

Hands-On Chief Technology Officer

Abstract:

The article highlights the unique role of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and their journey to becoming a technological visionary. It emphasizes the need for CTOs to navigate the evolving tech landscape, foster teamwork, guide emerging technologies, uphold ethical standards, and envision a future that benefits humanity. The CTO's identity is shaped by curiosity, innovation, and a commitment to progress, while their leadership extends beyond individual proficiency to cultivating brilliance in others. The article underscores the pivotal role of CTOs in driving technological advancements while ensuring ethical considerations and inclusive benefits for society.

Create an abstract image that illustrates the journey of a Chief Technology Officer within the technological field. Envision a Middle-Eastern female CTO standing on a futuristic landscape made of digital waves that symbolize the evolving tech terrain. The color range should be dominated by different shades of blue to depict innovation and serene wisdom. Around the CTO, abstract illustrations of emerging technologies - like ethereal, interconnected nodes and shimmering data trails - should float, symbolizing her role in guiding and integrating innovations. In the backdrop, softer hues of blue should create the silhouettes of individuals of South-Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Black descents, demonstrating the CTO's dedication to promoting teamwork and ensuring equal advantages for society. Above them, a constellation shaped like a compass should glow vibrantly, embodying ethical standards that direct her decisions. The entire composition should radiate a visionary quality, signifying the insightful route a CTO paves for the advancement of humankind.
The Singular Identity of a Chief Technology Officer

The Genesis of a Technological Visionary

My journey to the pinnacle of technological leadership began with an insatiable curiosity for the mechanics behind gadgets and software. Within the walls of makeshift labs and late-night coding sessions, the cornerstone of my identity as an innovator was laid, pushing boundaries and fostering a relentless drive towards progress.

Navigating the Tech Ecosystem

The landscape of technology is a tempestuous sea that demands captains who can navigate through its changing currents. I have witnessed the transition from bulky desktops to sleek, omnipresent smart devices, charting a course through these evolutions to keep my organization at the forefront of innovation.

The Alchemy of Team Synergy

As a Chief Technology Officer, the role transcends individual proficiency, stepping into the realm of cultivating brilliance in others. Orchestrating the harmony of skilled professionals, each encounter is an opportunity to meld distinct talents into a united force, propelling our technological ambitions.

The Transcendental Impact of Emerging Technologies

The ripple effect of disruptive technologies is a phenomenon I have not only observed but actively sculpted. From the nascent stages of artificial intelligence to the intricate web of blockchain, guiding these tools from infancy to industry staples is a testament to the role of visionary leadership in tech.

Guarding the Nexus of Ethics and Innovation

In the fervor to break new ground, the moral compass must hold steady. Ethical quandaries, from data privacy to social impact, are dilemmas I juggle daily. It is a solemn duty to balance the scales, ensuring that our digital advancements foster benevolence rather than disparity.

Envisioning a Future Wrought by Imagination

The canvas of tomorrow's landscape is vast and unclaimed, awaiting the brushstrokes of those who dare to dream. As a steward of technology's potential, I am perpetually reaching into the unknown, drawing out a future that is not only brilliant in its innovation but also inclusive in its benefits to humanity.

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25 Years in IT: A Journey of Expertise

2024-

My Own Adventures
(Lisbon/Remote)

AI Enthusiast & Explorer
As Head of My Own Adventures, I’ve delved into AI, not just as a hobby but as a full-blown quest. I’ve led ambitious personal projects, challenged the frontiers of my own curiosity, and explored the vast realms of machine learning. No deadlines or stress—just the occasional existential crisis about AI taking over the world.

2017 - 2023

SwitchUp
(Berlin/Remote)

Hands-On Chief Technology Officer
For this rapidly growing startup, established in 2014 and focused on developing a smart assistant for managing energy subscription plans, I led a transformative initiative to shift from a monolithic Rails application to a scalable, high-load architecture based on microservices.
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2010 - 2017

Second Bureau
(Beijing/Paris)

CTO / Managing Director Asia
I played a pivotal role as a CTO and Managing director of this IT Services company, where we specialized in assisting local, state-owned, and international companies in crafting and implementing their digital marketing strategies. I hired and managed a team of 17 engineers.
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SwitchUp Logo

SwitchUp
SwitchUp is dedicated to creating a smart assistant designed to oversee customer energy contracts, consistently searching the market for better offers.

In 2017, I joined the company to lead a transformation plan towards a scalable solution. Since then, the company has grown to manage 200,000 regular customers, with the capacity to optimize up to 30,000 plans each month.Role:
In my role as Hands-On CTO, I:
- Architected a future-proof microservices-based solution.
- Developed and championed a multi-year roadmap for tech development.
- Built and managed a high-performing engineering team.
- Contributed directly to maintaining and evolving the legacy system for optimal performance.Challenges:
Balancing short-term needs with long-term vision was crucial for this rapidly scaling business. Resource constraints demanded strategic prioritization. Addressing urgent requirements like launching new collaborations quickly could compromise long-term architectural stability and scalability, potentially hindering future integration and codebase sustainability.Technologies:
Proficient in Ruby (versions 2 and 3), Ruby on Rails (versions 4 to 7), AWS, Heroku, Redis, Tailwind CSS, JWT, and implementing microservices architectures.

Arik Meyer's Endorsement of Gilles Crofils
Second Bureau Logo

Second Bureau
Second Bureau was a French company that I founded with a partner experienced in the e-retail.
Rooted in agile methods, we assisted our clients in making or optimizing their internet presence - e-commerce, m-commerce and social marketing. Our multicultural teams located in Beijing and Paris supported French companies in their ventures into the Chinese market

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Please be aware that the articles published on this blog are created using artificial intelligence technologies, specifically OpenAI, Gemini and MistralAI, and are meant purely for experimental purposes.These articles do not represent my personal opinions, beliefs, or viewpoints, nor do they reflect the perspectives of any individuals involved in the creation or management of this blog.

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