Bio: SDG hacker. Solving unsolvable problems: Right now on Equal Opportunities and Hiring. Founder, exec, thinker, doer, elite problem-solver.

L8 Conf talks

A Librarian, a policeman, and a CTO walk into a bar...

Hiring software engineers often feels like a rat race — better salaries, better benefits, and yet, it often means compromising on the quality of candidates. But what if the answer lies outside the typical hiring pool?

In this talk, I’ll share the story of how I hired a former librarian and a policeman, and how they became some of my most valuable team members — easily outperforming experienced engineers. I’ll explore the benefits of diverse hiring and the unexpected strengths people from unconventional backgrounds can bring, if you give them an equal chance.

This session will challenge traditional hiring mindsets and inspire technical leaders to look beyond resumes and degrees to build teams that are simply better.