This week, Take It from the Iron Woman sits down with Chuck Blechman — part-time CTO, ACC coach, and proud New Yorker — who's spent his career scratching two itches at once: technology 💻 and human connection 🤝. Chuck shares how decades of delivering over 1,000 software projects taught him to build models, challenge assumptions, and — most importantly — name the truth 🗣️, a skill that translates directly into his coaching work. The conversation turns tender when Chuck traces his signature warmth back to his 98-year-old grandmother, Grandma Lilly, whose answering machine message simply said "I love you" 💛. Her joy, food, and hosting spirit shaped a five-year-old Chuck who declared he'd "wanted to perspire" his whole life — and never stopped running since 🏃♂️. Speaking of running — Chuck gets real about injury, rest, and rebuilding: Achilles and calf setbacks that taught him sustainability over stubbornness 🦵⏳. He weaves this into a "postmortem" mindset borrowed straight from software development — when something breaks, ask what you can learn, not just how to push through 🔧📉. The episode closes on Chuck's provocative new project, a "Should I quit my job?" decision-support tool 🤔💼 — designed not to hand out a yes-or-no, but to help people uncover the deeper question underneath their restlessness. A rich mix of tech, tenderness, and truth-telling 🌟.
Chuck Blechman wears several hats because he doesn't believe fulfillment comes from just one thing. As a part-time CTO at a startup, he helps build complex technology systems. Through Manhattan Coaching Associates, he helps thoughtful people navigate complex life and career decisions. Whether he's working with software, running through Central Park, or spending time with family and friends, Chuck is driven by curiosity, lifelong learning, and helping people get the most out of life.
Social:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesblechman/
https://www.manhattancoachingassociates.com/