Pete Colligan of Ariba on How to Hire Software Engineers and Change Management

In this conversation, David Paul interviews Pete Colligan, the CTO of Ariba Business Networks. They discuss various topics related to leadership, innovation, and hiring in the corporate world. Pete shares his experiences and insights on structuring teams, driving innovation in a large company, navigating change management, and conducting effective interviews. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, setting clear goals, and creating a supportive onboarding process for new hires. Pete discusses his concerns and excitement in the world of technology, including the benefits of modern tools in coding productivity and the modern data stack. He also explores the challenges and opportunities in team building in the post-COVID era. The conversation touches on the importance of making choices in strategy and the ongoing debate between platforms and best-in-class solutions. Peter shares his recommendations for influential leadership books and resources, emphasizing the value of learning from leaders and building bridges to get things done. You can watch/listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Takeaways

• Building a strong team is crucial for success in any project or organization.
• Innovation in a large company requires curiosity, initiative, and the ability to build credibility and trust.
• Change management is essential when implementing new initiatives, and it involves creating a clear vision, aligning stakeholders, and setting expectations.
• Effective hiring involves being intentional about the desired culture and skills, using situational questions to assess candidates, and ensuring a smooth onboarding process.
• Modern tools incorporating breakthroughs in large language models can greatly enhance coding productivity.
• The modern data stack, including tools like Snowflake, offers easier data collection, transformation, and analysis.
• Team building in the post-COVID era requires understanding the impact of remote work and finding ways to maintain effective collaboration.
• Making choices and building bridges are crucial skills in strategy and leadership.

Chapters

02:10 The Importance of Team and Leadership

05:27 Driving Innovation in a Large Company

07:04 Structuring and Leading Complex Projects

10:03 Navigating Change Management and Reputational Risk

13:29 Effective Hiring and Onboarding

25:03 Conducting Effective Interviews

26:00 Areas of Concern and Excitement in Technology

27:19 Benefits of Modern Tools in Coding Productivity

29:15 Team Building in the Post-COVID Era

30:27 Understanding the Data Stack

34:21 Platforms vs. Best-in-Class Solutions

38:32 The Importance of Making Choices in Strategy

40:28 Learning from Leaders and Building Bridges