# TheCoTeam's Chris Smith Wants Integrators to Stop Unicorn Hunting

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-design-podcast-7671418/thecoteam-s-chris-smith-wants-integrators-to-stop-unicorn-hunting
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-design-podcast-7671418/thecoteam-s-chris-smith-wants-integrators-to-stop-unicorn-hunting.md
Podcast: [Connected Design Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/connected-design-podcast-7671418)
Published: 2026-06-08T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/14e2b4e8d7ebcc7e00df46e706d49dd3578d3232f3e3ac8443c5727f51bd69f3/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIyNWE4MzRhYS0yYjdiLTQxNTYtYmE3Ni0wYjljMmI2MGE4OWIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI1NDRiZWM1Yy04MmM2LTRiNDgtYjRlMi1kMjdhZDVlZmFiOGEiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY1MWUxMGZhOWE5YWE4NzVhZTViODkiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmEyMzE3YWE0NzgzNGU5M2JjZjc2OWYwL3JvYi1zdG90dHMtc3R1ZGlvLWNvbXBvc2VyLTIwMjYtNi01X18yMC0zOC0zNC5tcDMifQ==.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2428

## Resource

Chris Smith, principal of TheCoTeam, joins the Connected Design Podcast to talk about one of the most persistent challenges, regardless of industry: hiring. Drawing on more than two decades in the CI channel and hundreds of successful placements through TheCoTeam, Smith breaks down why “unicorn hunting” is holding companies back, where integrators can find talent beyond the obvious candidate pool, and how a more intentional hiring process can help businesses grow stronger teams. The conversation covers talent gaps, adjacent industries worth watching, onboarding plans, pay scale realities, and why hiring should be treated with the same care and process as any client project.

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## Transcript

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