Scaling High Performing, Multinational Teams (feat. Andy Hilliard)

Scaling High Performing, Multinational Teams (feat. Andy Hilliard)

In this podcast episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews ⁠Andy Hilliard⁠, CEO of ⁠Accelerance⁠, about offshoring and building effective globally distributed teams. They discuss the importance of understanding cultural differences in offshoring, the challenges of offshoring for different types of positions, and navigating the risks of offshoring with defined vs undefined vision. In this conversation, Andy Hilliard discusses the challenges and trends in outsourcing software development to offshore service providers. He highlights the importance of having a strong product ownership role and the need for both clients and service providers to invest in developing product ownership capabilities. Andy also emphasizes the proliferation of overnight service providers and the importance of vetting and integrating offshore teams into the client's ecosystem. He discusses the challenges of understanding cultural differences and the need for clients to spend time overseas to build relationships and trust. Finally, he introduces his book, 'Synergia,' which provides a blueprint for building effective globally distributed teams in the new era of software development.

Takeaways

  • Understanding cultural differences is crucial in offshoring to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
  • Different types of positions may have different suitability for offshoring, and it is important to choose the right offshore partner based on their expertise and track record.
  • Offshoring with a clearly defined vision is more straightforward, while offshoring to fill a knowledge gap requires a partner with subject matter expertise.
  • To navigate the risks of offshoring, it is important to become a servant leader to the service provider and integrate them into your environment. Clients and service providers need to invest in developing strong product ownership capabilities.
  • Vetting and integrating offshore teams into the client's ecosystem is crucial for successful outsourcing.
  • Understanding cultural differences is essential for effective collaboration with offshore teams.
  • Building relationships and trust through spending time overseas can lead to better outcomes in outsourcing.
  • The book 'Synergia' provides insights and strategies for building effective globally distributed teams in software development.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:42 Understanding Cultural Differences in Offshoring

13:01 Offshoring for Different Types of Positions

22:15 Navigating the Risks of Offshoring

28:21 The Role of Product Ownership in Offshore Service Providers

30:13 Challenges of Outsourcing to Service Providers

32:43 The Proliferation of Overnight Service Providers

36:00 The Importance of Leadership Positions in Service Providers

38:22 Understanding Cultural Differences in Offshoring

41:04 The Importance of Trust and Commitment in Offshore Relationships

45:42 The Book: Synergia - A Blueprint for Building Effective Globally Distributed Teams

Andy Hilliard (Accelerance)

Snowpal Products

Jaksot(412)

Datadog vs. CoreWeave: Two Software Companies, Two Very Different Market Stories

Datadog vs. CoreWeave: Two Software Companies, Two Very Different Market Stories

In a market dominated by AI narratives and software-driven growth, it’s easy to lump technology companies into a single bucket. But a closer look often reveals very different stories beneath the surface. Two companies that highlight this contrast particularly well are Datadog (DDOG) and CoreWeave (CRWV)—both high-quality software businesses, yet operating in entirely different domains and exhibiting sharply different market behavior.

16 Tammi 21min

Apple and Google’s Gemini Deal: What It Means for Siri, Smartphones, and the Future of AI

Apple and Google’s Gemini Deal: What It Means for Siri, Smartphones, and the Future of AI

Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced a major multi-year partnership that will bring Google’s Gemini AI models into Apple’s ecosystem, most notably to power Siri. The deal signals a profound shift in how the world’s most influential consumer technology company approaches artificial intelligence and raises important questions about competition, platform control, and the future of mobile computing.

16 Tammi 57min

The Social Contract of Immigration: Why Assimilation Still Matters (feat. Nikki Barua)

The Social Contract of Immigration: Why Assimilation Still Matters (feat. Nikki Barua)

Welcome to the Snowpal Podcast, where we explore technology, leadership, and the ideas shaping the future. I’m your host, Krish Palaniappan, founder of Snowpal and a long-time software builder and entrepreneur, and on this show we go beyond surface-level trends to unpack real experiences and hard-earned insights. Today’s conversation is both timely and deeply personal. Our guest is Nikki Barua (LinkedIn), a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the CEO of FlipWork, where she helps people and organizations prepare for the AI age. Nikki’s work sits at the intersection of technology, culture, and human potential, but her story goes far beyond the boardroom. As an immigrant who has navigated visas, uncertainty, and reinvention over decades, she brings a deeply lived perspective to today’s discussion. In this episode, we explore what immigration really means beyond headlines and politics, diving into themes of belonging, assimilation, and cultural responsibility. We examine the difference between entitlement and privilege, why immigrants often become entrepreneurs and leaders, and how identity, contribution, and shared values shape acceptance. This is a conversation about people, not policies—about responsibility, opportunity, and the social contracts that bind us together in a rapidly changing world.

15 Tammi 36min

AI Demands Reinvention, Not Optimization: The Operating System of Future-Ready Companies (feat. Nikki Barua)

AI Demands Reinvention, Not Optimization: The Operating System of Future-Ready Companies (feat. Nikki Barua)

In this conversation, Nikki Barua (LinkedIn), CEO of FlipWork, discusses the critical need for companies to fundamentally reinvent themselves rather than merely transform. She emphasizes the difference between evolutionary and revolutionary change, highlighting the importance of leadership, cultural shifts, and the iterative process of change. Nikki shares insights on how organizations can identify focus areas for change, engage teams in the process, and navigate the complexities of implementing new strategies in a rapidly evolving business landscape. In this conversation, Nikki Barua and Krish Palaniappan explore the complexities of high-stakes decision-making, the future of software development, and the impact of AI on careers. They discuss personal reflections on identity and belonging, particularly in the context of immigration and cultural assimilation. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of adapting to new environments while maintaining one’s cultural roots, and the role of language in fostering connections. Ultimately, they highlight the shared human experience of seeking belonging and the potential for innovation in a rapidly changing world.

15 Tammi 1h 17min

From Product Design to Healthcare Lending: The Entrepreneurial Journey (feat. Sharmeen Aqeel)

From Product Design to Healthcare Lending: The Entrepreneurial Journey (feat. Sharmeen Aqeel)

In the fast-evolving world of medical spas and aesthetic clinics, securing funding is a critical step for growth and sustainability. In this episode of the Snowpal podcast, host Krish Palaniappan speaks with Sharmeen Aqeel, founder of Lyyvora, a lending platform tailored for healthcare businesses. Sharmeen shares her journey, the challenges faced by clinic owners, and how her platform is revolutionizing the lending process for medical spas across North America.

13 Tammi 1h

Oracle, Snowflake, and Datadog: Three Cloud Giants, Three Very Different Stories

Oracle, Snowflake, and Datadog: Three Cloud Giants, Three Very Different Stories

In this finance-focused discussion, we examine three companies that often appear together in conversations about cloud computing and data—but operate in meaningfully different segments of the market: Oracle, Snowflake, and Datadog.

9 Tammi 17min

When User Experience Goes Wrong: A Cautionary Tale for Product Builders

When User Experience Goes Wrong: A Cautionary Tale for Product Builders

In today’s conversations about software, AI, and innovation, it’s easy to forget one critical truth: humans still use the products we build. No matter how powerful the backend or how advanced the algorithms, a poor user experience can render a product nearly unusable.

9 Tammi 23min

Early 2026 Stock Market: Momentum, Volatility, and What Traders Are Watching

Early 2026 Stock Market: Momentum, Volatility, and What Traders Are Watching

The first four trading days of 2026 have delivered exactly what active market participants look for: movement, volume, and clear intraday patterns. While the year is still young, early signals across indices, semiconductors, hyperscalers, and financials are already shaping trader sentiment and short-term strategies .

8 Tammi 18min