Season 2 Episode #5: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Chris Woods. Chris has over 16 years of experience in the delivery of global executive search & selection assignments for high-profile blue-chip clients, having worked for the likes of Santander, Vodafone, Saudi Aramco, Dell, Omio, and BeReal. He has also made the transition from Tech Talent Lead to VP of Operations at Prelude, a company that specialises in advancing SMS and OTP verification infrastructure. Join us as Chris takes us through his journey and delivers his insights on what to look out for when it comes to tech talent, effectively empowering teams with AI, SMS & OTP verification, and how Prelude became such a success.

Chris’s journey from tech talent to VP of Operations at Prelude

The importance of people-centric skills
What he has learnt both in recruiting tech talent and leading operations teams
What motivated his career change
Insights from behind the scenes of the tech world

The importance of tech talent and the mindset behind strong teams

Improving your team's skillset with culture additions
The importance of soft skills in technical teams
The mindset and skills needed by start-ups and established companies
What skills do future disruptors need?

AI and tech adoption

The difference between large established enterprises and startups
What does effective AI adoption really mean?
How can businesses say that they are truly integrating AI?

SMS & OTP Verification infrastructure

What it is, why it's important, and who needs it?
Real-world examples of verification in action
Being part of larger cybersecurity systems

Insights from Prelude on how they developed their success story

How Prelude delivers for its customers
Knowing their USP and communicating it
Ensuring transparency on how their users see pricing

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.

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.

# 24 Chris Woods (Ex-BeReal, VP of Operations at Prelude): Solving Problems For Fast-Growing Companies

Agenda:

Guest speakers:

Host: