By
Matthew Hearfield
July 18, 2025
Updated
September 8, 2025
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Salman Jaffer has built tech teams from London to Ho Chi Minh to Singapore, and he’s learned what actually makes them click.
In this episode of The STEM Career Coach, Salman shares hard-won lessons from his global journey across telcos, fintech, and healthtech."From working with large corporates and early-stage startups with successful exits, his path proves that creativity, curiosity, and courage matter more than degrees.
You’ll hear why some of his best developers came from economics and journalism, how he balances human connection with technical leadership, and why “a few oddballs” might be the secret to your next great team.
Listen to the full episode below:
The power of curiosity and lifelong learning
Salman Jaffer stresses that curiosity is the cornerstone of continuous personal and professional development. From a young age, he demonstrated a keen interest in understanding how things work, whether by tinkering with technology or asking questions that led to deeper insights. This curiosity has been instrumental throughout his career, allowing him to move between industries and roles while remaining adaptable.
He believes that curiosity fuels creativity, innovation, and the ability to identify opportunities that others may overlook. By nurturing this mindset, he has been able to lead teams, solve complex problems, and remain at the forefront of technological advances.
Transitioning between industries: From finance to healthcare
Successfully transitioning from finance to healthcare was a big move for me. It required embracing new challenges and a different mindset.
Salman’s decision to transition from the finance industry to healthcare underscores a significant theme of adaptability and the power of transferable skills. While finance initially piqued his interest, he eventually realised that his true passion lay in creating products and solving problems that impacted people directly. The transition wasn’t seamless, but Salman’s ability to adapt and leverage his strategic thinking from finance into healthcare proved essential.
His experience in various industries taught him how different sectors operate and how to successfully pivot without losing sight of his core strengths. This theme resonates with those seeking to shift careers or break into new fields, demonstrating that learning and transferable skills can unlock new doors.
Building high-performance teams
Salman reflects on the importance of diversity when building high-performing teams. Diversity isn’t just about gender or race but includes different ways of thinking and problem-solving approaches. By assembling teams with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, Salman ensures that creative solutions emerge naturally, making the teams more resilient and innovative.
He also emphasises the role of "oddballs" or outliers—those who challenge conventional thinking and push boundaries. The focus is creating a collaborative environment where all team members are encouraged to contribute their unique viewpoints. This approach not only fosters a sense of belonging but also drives excellence in execution. By ensuring diversity in the team, Salman has led teams that thrive in solving complex problems and achieving ambitious goals.
Balancing human and technical leadership
Managing teams of 30, 50, 100 people, it’s tricky to keep that personal connection, but I’m a big fan of being in the office because it helps build those human connections.
As a leader with a deep technical background, Salman shares how balancing the human side of leadership with technical expertise has shaped his leadership style. In the early days of his career, he admits that he was more robotic and focused solely on the technical aspects of his work.
However, as his career progressed, he recognized that building meaningful connections with his team members was just as important as mastering technical skills. Leadership is not just about setting goals and managing projects; it’s also about motivating people, understanding their needs, and supporting their growth.
Salman highlights that the best leaders can balance the hard skills with empathy, fostering a work environment where individuals feel valued and inspired.
Embracing the customer-first mindset
Ultimately, the customer pays your salary, the customer pays your bonus. If you’re not talking about the customer, then what is the point of anything we’re doing?
Salman shares a crucial lesson he learned early in his career: the customer is the ultimate source of value in any business. He stresses that having a customer-first mentality is vital for both business success and personal growth, driving leaders to create solutions that truly meet the needs of the people they serve.
Key takeaways
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Curiosity fuels growth and innovation, and a lifelong commitment to learning is crucial for success.
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Career transitions, though challenging, can be an opportunity for growth and leveraging existing skills in new industries.
- Diverse teams foster creativity and problem-solving, making them essential for high performance.
- Effective leadership balances technical skill with the ability to connect with and motivate people.
- A customer-first mindset drives business success and keeps teams aligned with the real value they create.
Article and quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
