From cancer diagnosis to industry leader — Copado CEO Ted Elliott on the future of technology

As the CEO of Copado, Ted Elliott is responsible for ensuring the successful deployment of software, solving customer problems, and keeping his coworkers happy – but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Just four years ago, Ted was diagnosed with cancer. His personal journey with loss and finding peace in the face of the unknown has changed his outlook on life, work, and the future of technology.

Ted Elliott has become known for his forward-thinking approach to technology, and his belief that artificial intelligence (AI) can open up new avenues for innovation. Starting his career off in software development over 20 years ago, Ted has undertaken a variety of roles across a range of industries (Salesforce, Jobscience), culminating in his current position as the executive officer of Copado, a company responsible for automating the deployment of enterprise software.

His journey has been marked by a characteristic relentless energy and an ambitious approach to problem-solving. When Ted met the founders of Copado, he fell in love with their idea of people going home for dinner on release days, instead of staying in the office all night when things break. As he puts it, it’s about “fixing things, and fewer divorces.”

Ted has since made it his mission to try and make the process of deploying software more efficient and easier, so that employees don’t have to fear every-day, manually-induced errors. Over the past few years, the company has seen immense change with the introduction of AI, a technology Ted is passionate about.

He believes a key part of making AI an effective tool for business is in having employees who understand its capabilities and its limitations. Citing conversations he's had with technical writers, Ted believes that the roles of low-coders and business analysts – essentially, people whose job involves feeding AI's mind – are going to be more in demand than ever before.

For Ted, AI is less about Dr. Evil-style robots taking over the world and more about solving environmental and political problems. It's looking at how it can make things smarter and people better, how it can give people the opportunity to either write and shape the change, or be consumed by it. As Ted says, “Hey, let’s bring the lead back to paint. No one’s asking for that.”

Throughout Ted's career and his battle with cancer, his family has been the cornerstone of his life. From his wife having a heart attack just two years ago to his father's death last November, it has been a difficult journey for him, but he draws strength from being able to define his own path.

Having grown up in Louisiana, Ted finds a particular solace in the southern city of New Orleans. His move there in 2018, shortly after completing his cancer treatment, mirrors his adherence to the advice of his father – to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on going. For Ted, this advice resonates with a passion that seems to imbue all aspects of his life.

Ted Elliott's advice to aspiring technology leaders paints a vivid portrait of what drives him. "You need to take chances," says Ted, "but also recognize the blessings you have along the way and really take advantage of those opportunities. Not just be as cynical as you possibly can and try and break through, but to really nurture those relationships and have empathy for the kind of people around you.

This is the essence of Ted Elliott. His career is marked with immense highs and difficult lows, yet he has risen to the challenge every time, overcoming each with incredible resilience, even in the face of struggles such as cancer and immense personal loss.

Ted Elliot’s approach in life is to use one’s blessings and take advantage of every opportunity that comes one’s way. He exudes energy and passion for his work, and has an eye for technology’s ability to solve global challenges. Ted Elliott is a living epitome of self-determination and optimism for the future.