2 Rejections. No Office. Global Success – The Kuty Shalev Playbook | Ep 209 with Kuty Shalev Founder of Lumenalta

Kuty Shalev shares how a college accounting grad became a pioneer of fully remote software consulting—25 years before “work from home” was a thing. He explains why speed, adaptability, and “soft skills” (EQ as deliberate practice) trump raw IQ in today’s agile, AI-driven world. Key Discussion Points: A Serendipitous Start From PwC-sponsored coding at Columbia to founding a lean software firm with Pricewaterhouse as Year-One client. Early adoption of Skype‐powered remote teams to solve developer shortages. Building a True Remote Culture Lessons learned: codifying checklists, connectivity standards, and clear response SLAs. Hiring only those who thrive in remote settings—surfing from the beach, caring for family, or rural living. Soft Skills as a “Must-Have” Reframing EQ as a learnable “soft skill” through deliberate practice and gamified coaching. Engineers with high EQ excel at adapting to rapid change, cross-team collaboration, and maintaining motivation. Digital Transformation Reimagined Rejecting one-size-fits-all platforms in favor of modular, vendor-agnostic architectures. Rapid, low-risk proofs of concept that scale, saving time and budget. Remote model enables access to global talent, faster staffing (2–3 weeks), and reinvesting office savings in senior engineers. Speed & Resilience Speed as competitive advantage in a landscape where AI and new tools emerge daily. Overcoming early stumbles by showing up, iterating fast, and leveraging trust and feedback loops. Key Takeaways: Speed Wins: Rapid iteration and fast staffing trump slow, monolithic “big-bang” IT projects. EQ Matters: Soft skills can be learned; they unlock collaboration, resilience, and better outcomes. Remote Is a Strength: A 25-year remote track record proves that location-agnostic teams deliver quality, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Modularity Over Monoliths: Architect for choice—cloud providers, SaaS, and stacks—so you can pivot as technology evolves. Show Up Relentlessly: Consistent effort, forgiveness of failure, and learning from mistakes fuel long-term success. Closing Thoughts: Lueinalta’s journey shows that innovation isn’t just about tech—it’s about people, practices, and the courage to redefine work itself. By mastering speed, empathy, and modular design, founders can build resilient organizations ready for whatever comes next. Our Sponsors: * Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/FOUNDERSSTORY * Check out Northwest Registered Agent and use my code FOUNDERS for a great deal: https://northwestregisteredagent.com * Check out Plus500: https://plus500.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.