Open the pipeline: practical pathways for new SaaS talent

At Southern SaaS 2023, a discussion panel featuring Diana Sharma (Mission Ready HQ), Cameron Smith (Take2), Madhu Chandra (Datacom Foundry) and Marian Johnson (Ministry of Awesome) shared practical ways Kiwi SaaS firms can expand their talent pool and performance by tapping non-traditional pathways. The message: diversity is both the right move and a growth lever and multiple pathways are ready today.

Key themes include:

1. Why this matters (and the gap to close)
   Diversity expands the founder and talent pipeline, boosting ROI and innovation.

2. Pathway 1: Career accelerators
   NZQA-approved micro-credentials in Software Dev, UX, and Salesforce; industry-led trainers including project experience built-in. Cost-effective, designed for career changers. 

3. Pathway 2: Second-chance, job-ready developers
   Tech training and industry support delivered in prisons and the community through social enterprises.

4. Employer playbook: recruit differently, support intentionally
   Shift from “culture fit” to “culture contribution”: what unique value will this person add to product, team, customers? Get ready first: inclusive culture where people feel safe, welcomed, celebrated, and supported; train teams to spot and counter unconscious bias.

5. What diverse talent delivers
   Transferable expertise from other disciplines and industries, enhancing customer insight and change management. Fresh energy and broader toolsets. Earlier leadership development: mentors and team leads grow by supporting non-traditional hires.

Key takeaways:

• Open new channels: partner with providers for internships and hiring pipelines.

• Make your org “ready”: run bias training; update job descriptions, adopt blind CVs and structured interviews; put mentoring and progression in place before hiring.

• Start where supply is strongest: focus on graduate/early-career roles to build the future senior bench, then promote from within.

• Lower risk, learn fast: use project missions, paid apprenticeships, and staff augmentation to trial and scale what works.

• Invest in founders too and grow the next wave of diverse startup leaders.

Hit play to watch the complete walkthrough and real-world tips.