What does it really take to scale a Salesforce team from 10 to 200—without chaos? In this episode of Salesforce Hiring Edge, Josh Matthews and Josh LeQuire are joined by David Kestenberg: former CIO, Salesforce transformation leader, and 5-time Dreamforce speaker. David shares hard-won lessons on hiring for trajectory, building leadership layers, and maintaining clarity and accountability—even when you're growing at warp speed. From ‘sniper’ developers to culture-building rituals, you’ll learn how to balance technical needs with human dynamics, set your managers up for success, and create systems that scale. Packed with real-world advice for tech leaders, consulting partners, and hiring managers who want to build high-performing teams the smart way.

takeaways

• The vibe check is essential for ensuring team fit.
• Experience plays a crucial role in assessing candidates.
• Trusting managers is key to finding the right talent.
• Technical skills must align with team dynamics.
• The overall team vibe influences hiring decisions.
• Expectations should be clear during the interview process.
• A good vibe check can lead to better team cohesion.
• Understanding the 'true North' is vital for alignment.
• Hiring is not just about skills, but also about culture.
• Effective leadership involves balancing various perspectives.

Sound Bites

• "The right expectations and all of that"
• "It's about the vibe of the overall team"
• "I trust the managers that work under me"

interview process, vibe check, team dynamics, technical skills, hiring, management, leadership, organizational culture