Why I still practice algorithms as a CTO

I practice algorithms most weeks. Not because I'm preparing for interviews—I'm a CTO, I'm not interviewing—but because the habit of solving structured problems keeps a specific kind of thinking sharp.

I got into competitive programming at 15. I placed 10th in the ICPC Caribbean in 2023. I still open a problem most weeks. Here's why.

The Thinking Muscle

Algorithm problems train you to decompose a problem clearly, identify what information you have and what you need, and find the most direct path from one to the other without unnecessary steps.

This is exactly the thinking you apply when you're debugging a production issue, designing a data model, or evaluating an architectural tradeoff. The domain changes. The shape of the thinking doesn't.

Pattern Recognition

After solving enough problems, you build a library of patterns. Sliding window, two-pointer, binary search, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming. When you encounter a new problem, you recognize which pattern applies.

This happens in production code too. The query that's slow because it's doing N+1 lookups in a loop—the fix is the 'build an index first' pattern. The component that re-renders too often—the fix is memoization. Pattern recognition transfers.

The Humility Factor

Algorithm problems regularly humble me. I'll stare at a problem that should be simple for 30 minutes before seeing the insight. That's good. It means I'm working on something genuinely challenging.

In a leadership role, it's easy to stop doing things that are hard. Everything gets easier as you get more experienced, and you start spending time in areas where you're competent. Doing things that are hard is how you stay calibrated.

The Practical Recommendation

I'm not saying everyone should do competitive programming. But find something technical that challenges you regularly. Read a paper. Implement something from scratch without a tutorial. Solve one problem a week. Keep the thinking sharp.