Trust isn’t built by Process - Yuliia Pieskova

How Informal Connections Drive Success in Software Development and Testing

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"Anytime we get to some team, we get to some group of people, we become a part of that informal network and that also influences our behavior." - Yuliia Pieskova

In this episode, I talk with Yuliia Pieskova about informal networks in software teams. We explore how spontaneous ties lift trust, speed, and quality in remote and hybrid setups. Formal charts set limits, people move work through friends. Yuliia shares stories from startups, hackathons, and product discovery where cross team groups watch users, swap ideas, then return with shared context. Remote work exposes old cracks yet levels locations and opens doors for new links.

Yuliia Pieskova is the co-founder of Alpha Affinity, a data startup, as well as a Certified Agile and Organizational Coach and consultant with over 13 years of IT experience in operational and leadership roles. She has successfully guided startups through scaling journeys, building distributed international product teams from the ground up, and has collaborated with corporations like SimCorp and SAP on complex transformations and change management initiatives. As a contributor to Agile Alliance and a keynote speaker, Yuliia drives forward-thinking discussions on Agile practices, remote work, and emerging technologies. She also designs and delivers AI workshops and training sessions, empowering leaders and coaches with practical tools to seamlessly integrate AI into their workflows.

Highlights:

• Informal networks build trust that formal structures cannot, making teams more resilient during change.
• Remote work scales existing problems but breaks location silos when handled with intentional culture.
• Product discovery with cross-functional teams creates alignment and builds informal relationships through shared learning.
• Cultural alignment conversations prevent misunderstandings before they happen, especially across communication styles and backgrounds.
• Give introverts space and trust; create environments they'll join rather than forcing relationships.