Collibra CEO describes what he looks for in AI-first employees

In the rapidly evolving landscape of enterprise AI, Collibra's CEO, Felix Van de Maele, emphasizes the critical importance of AI familiarity among job candidates. In a recent conversation with Business Insider, he flagged a lack of AI experience as a significant concern for potential hires. "During interviews, we expect candidates to approach their roles with an AI-first mindset," Van de Maele explained. "If applicants haven't engaged with AI tools or don't understand how to leverage them for improved efficiency, it's definitely a warning sign." Founded in Belgium in 2008, Collibra has established itself as a leader in the data governance arena, boasting a valuation of $5.2 billion as of 2021. The company collaborates with prominent brands such as McDonald's, Credit Suisse, Adobe, and Heineken. Van de Maele noted that the specific AI competencies he seeks can differ depending on the role. For instance, when interviewing engineers, he looks for their usage of AI tools like Cursor. "It’s vital to gauge how candidates are using these tools and the experiences they’ve had with them," he said. "Their willingness to embrace AI is crucial; we need team members who are eager to adopt new technologies rather than resistant to them." As Collibra evolves, Van de Maele has observed a significant uptick in AI adoption among its approximately 1,000 global employees. They employ AI for a variety of tasks, from transcribing meetings to creating customized agents and assistants, all aimed at transforming workplace efficiency. He sees Collibra's role in the enterprise marketplace as a crucial connector that can harness vast amounts of company-specific data to unlock AI's full potential, especially in terms of AI agents. Van de Maele highlighted the challenges faced by new hires when attempting to navigate complex data systems within organizations. "If it's difficult for a human to access necessary data, AI agents will struggle too unless we formalize that context, allowing them to operate effectively," he elaborated. He referenced the importance of personalized customer experiences, noting how companies like Palantir have popularized the use of forward-deployed engineers to enhance AI integration. However, he cautioned against the pitfalls of dependency on a single AI model. "For large organizations, being tied to one vendor can be risky," he warned. "The landscape can change rapidly, and I want the flexibility to adapt to emerging models that could be significantly more effective or economical. This strategic adaptability is essential."