MARK MILLHOUSE
Principal Software Architect | Technical Leadership Coach | Veteran Operator
Mark Milhouse brings over 15 years of frontline experience in engineering, architecture, and executive technology leadership to his coaching and advisory work. As a former CTO, ex-Amazon software engineer, and decorated U.S. Marine, Mark has repeatedly built high-performing technical teams and turned complex innovations into scalable, real-world impact.
Mark specializes in helping technology leaders transform great ideas into operational systems—guiding them from prototype to production to market traction. He’s led multi-continent teams, pioneered cloud-native architectures, and delivered mission-critical features at scale. At Amazon, he helped develop high-impact product recommendations (including the “Because You Liked” carousel) that drove millions in conversions. As CTO of 160 Driving Academy, he oversaw digital strategy, built an offshore development hub, and helped double company revenue annually by aligning IT with commercial growth.
His leadership is marked by decisiveness, clarity under pressure, and a deep belief in building systems that serve both innovation and resilience. Mark is especially passionate about developing technical managers into strategic business leaders—bridging the gap between engineering and executive decision-making. His clients value his ability to translate complexity into focus and coach emerging CTOs on how to lead through ambiguity, scale with intent, and stay customer-centered.
Mark’s technical background includes roles in digital forensics, cyber-security, cloud infrastructure, and data privacy—supporting organizations in industries ranging from media to legal technology to defense. A lifelong learner, he has also led humanitarian tech initiatives and founded grassroots communities like the Python user group in Tirana, Albania.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is certified in both CompTIA A+ and Network+.