Solving Problems For Fast-Growing Companies: Beyond the Code

In the fast-paced world of technology, what makes a business truly successful? It's a question with many answers, but according to Chris Woods, VP of Operations at Prelude, it often comes down to two things: finding the right people and mastering the operational backbone. In a recent interview on the "Tech Effect" podcast, Chris shared his insights from over 16 years in executive search and his current role, revealing how companies can build resilient, efficient teams.

The art of talent acquisition

For Chris, talent acquisition is not just about filling seats; it's about improving the organization's skill set to drive future growth. This is especially true in the startup world, where a single hire can make or break a team. He advocates for a philosophy of "culture addition," rather than "culture match," hiring people who can enrich and improve the existing team dynamic.

This approach is particularly crucial when contrasting startups with large enterprises. While established giants like Vodafone and Dell have a massive inbound interest from applicants, startups must work harder to sell their vision and values. A startup hire is often more than just a specialist; they are expected to wear many hats and be comfortable stepping outside their core role. This requires a growth mindset, where individuals are willing to learn new skills and embrace being uncomfortable. Chris's own career shift from talent acquisition to operations is a testament to this very principle.

The evolving role of the engineer

One of the most significant changes Chris has seen over his career is the shifting expectation for software engineers. The outdated misconception of a solitary coder "in a locked room" is gone. Today, the best engineers are expected to have strong soft skills.

Communication is now a primary requirement. With the rise of remote and hybrid work models, the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with customers and internal teams has become as vital as coding proficiency. This shift means that a new challenge has emerged for recruiters: finding ways to "anti-AI the interview process" to assess the real person's problem-solving and communication abilities, not just a response from a large language model.

Hot skills and the future of tech

When it comes to in-demand skills, the current landscape is dominated by two key areas: data science and machine learning. This is driven by a desire for organizations to be leaner and more efficient. Instead of simply analyzing the final output, companies are now scrutinizing every single step of the process.

Looking forward, Chris predicts the next major development will be people who can model AI around analytics. This involves automating the cumbersome data processing that currently takes up so much time, allowing businesses to become even more agile and responsive to market changes.

Cybersecurity: Beyond the basics

In his role at Prelude, which specializes in SMS and OTP (One-Time Password) verification, Chris highlights the critical importance of robust cybersecurity. While many companies see it as a basic necessity, effective security is a proactive process that keeps users safe and builds trust.

For industries like online banking and social media, OTP verification is non-negotiable. It's the front-line defense that confirms a user is who they claim to be, protecting personal data and financial transactions. Beyond the obvious use cases, Chris notes that other industries, such as travel tech, could benefit from stronger verification processes to protect customers from fraud.

The future of verification: Beyond SMS

While SMS remains a reliable and widely used method, the world of verification is rapidly evolving. Chris highlights several advanced methods that are becoming more common:

• Diverse channels: In some parts of the world, OTPs are delivered via platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, or Telegram, offering alternatives to traditional SMS.
• Silent Authentication: This non-invasive method verifies a user in the background. For example, a system can "ping" a carrier to see if a phone number is registered and active, providing a crucial check against synthetically created, fraudulent accounts.
• Soft KYC (Know Your Customer): By leveraging publicly available data, companies can add a layer of verification to confirm a user's identity. This helps to combat advanced fraud schemes like SMS pumping and synthetic account creation, which use AI to mimic real users.

Despite the complexity of these threats, integrating these advanced solutions doesn't have to be difficult. The Prelude product is designed to be straightforward, using a simple API and SDKs for easy implementation.

A marketplace of trust

A major advantage for Prelude is its unique business model. Rather than being a single provider, the company acts as a verification marketplace. This approach aggregates multiple providers for different authentication methods, from SMS to WhatsApp to Silent Authentication.

By doing this, Prelude can guarantee customers access to the best pricing and conversion rates globally. Unlike other providers who add a markup, Prelude operates on a buy-and-sell-at-the-same-price model and charges a flat license fee. This ensures transparency and puts customers in a strong position to grow their business efficiently.

Final takeaways

Chris Woods's journey from talent acquisition to operations and his expertise in cybersecurity offer a clear message for anyone in tech: to succeed, you need to be adaptable. This means:

• Prioritizing the team and hiring for versatility and a growth mindset.
• Embracing soft skills and recognizing that communication is as important as technical expertise.
• Staying ahead of the curve on emerging technologies like AI and understanding how they can be used to improve processes and combat new threats.
• Listening more than you speak, a piece of wisdom Chris wishes he had taken on board earlier in his career.

You can also explore the TestDevLab knowledge base for more episodes of Tech Effect.

Speakers in the episode

Guest: Christopher Woods

VP of Operations at Prelude

Chris Woods has spent the past 16 years immersed in executive search and selection, helping organizations—from large corporates to fast‑moving tech startups—design their hiring strategies and scale their teams effectively. He has recently shifted gears into operational leadership—where the thrill now lies in not just finding great people, but in building the systems, processes, and culture that let those people—and the business—thrive. Chris is passionate about empowering teams to move faster, smarter, and more collaboratively, and is excited about the impact that strategic operations can deliver in any growing organization.

Host: Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths

Digital Marketing and Paid Ad Specialist

Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths works at TestDevLab, focusing on digital marketing and paid advertising across multiple platforms. His past experience working at agencies and unicorn startups has equipped Josh with the expertise to bring valuable digital marketing insights to Tech Effect.