Walmart executive Sravana Karnati has over 25 years of leadership experience at companies like Amazon, Disney, and Oracle — and he looks for two key traits when he hires engineers.
“I look for the fundamentals and ability to learn,” the executive vice president of Global Tech platforms told Business Insider.
Karnati said while he’s never hired a candidate for “specific knowledge,” he wants to know they have domain expertise. Anyone in a technical position, including those in project manager roles, need to understand the architecture, dependencies, and risks involved in the work they do, the executive said.
“It is not about whether you know Java, whether you know C++, or some other language,” Karnati said. “What we look for is, does a person understand the fundamentals of computer science?”
Karnati added that the specific skills someone needs depends on the role they’re aiming for. For example, someone in a UX design or engineering role doesn’t necessarily need to know computer science fundamentals in depth, but some basic technical knowledge could be useful. What’s most important is the ability to effectively use tools like Figma and other LLMs to do the work, he said.
Those in software development or engineering roles, though, need a strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, Karnati said. LLM tools can help make those employees more productive, but they can’t serve as a substitute for a deeper understanding of systems, algorithms, and architecture.
Karnati, who played a key role in developing Walmart’s new AI tool called Wibey, said that he wants candidates who know how to write good algorithms and long-term “sustainable code.” (The company says Wibey is a developer-focused tool that helps employees streamline workflows by automating repetitive coding tasks and managing compliance checks.)
While Karnati said he’s looking to hire computer scientists, that doesn’t necessarily mean the people he hires need a computer science degree. Karnati himself has a doctorate degree in chemical engineering but has been a computer scientist for years, he said.
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“If you have an industrial-engineering background with some computer-science orientation, you could do really well in technology operations,” Karnati said, adding that operational rigor is needed in those kinds of roles.
Karnati said “the trick” is keeping up with the evolution of technology and continuing to retrain yourself. Those who have successfully worked in the industry for 30 to 40 years have kept up with the business and continued to learn, Karnati said.
That ability to learn quickly and keep up with the pace of the industry, he said, is the second trait he looks for. When he looks to hire someone, Karnati said he wants to see that the person has already demonstrated that trait.
He said candidates can show this ability by participating in different kinds of internships, or through coursework that indicates a “wide palette of learning, rather than a narrow focus.”
Karnati’s comments align with a broader trend among tech leaders, who have pointed to the growing importance of adaptability in the workplace, as AI becomes ubiquitous.
Waze cofounder Uri Levine previously told Business Insider that the “most important learning today is the ability to adapt.” Similarly, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince told Business Insider that the cybersecurity giant is focused on recruiting talent with a “broad set of skills.”
