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Case Study

Pleo improved throughput by 235% with Skiller Whale

In just 12 live micro‑workshops, Pleo’s team built core APIs and transformed its development cadence.

TypeScript

Kubernetes

SUMMARY

Global Fintech firm Pleo has boosted productivity by 235% after investing in API coaching with Skiller Whale. The engineering team is more productive, collaborative and working with more confidence. Pleo’s CTO found that throughput improved by 235% as a result of Skiller Whale coaching. Cycle time has also improved by 40%, and time to first review has improved by 30%.

In 12 sessions delivered across 8 months, Skiller Whale gave the Pleo team the skills required to build API-first.

“Skiller Whale sessions are so obviously linked to the team’s day-to-day work and so engaging because of the format. It’s much more participatory and just generally a much better experience for people.”

Meri Williams, CTO @ Pleo

— Throughput now improved by 235%

— Time to first review improved by 30%

— Cycle time improved by 40%

— 98% of the team appreciated the coaching as a benefit and an investment in them

BACKGROUND

Pleo is a fast-scaling fintech, transforming how companies manage spending, expenses and cash flow. With growth comes pressure—on engineering, on delivery, and on team performance. To keep their competitive edge, Pleo needed to unblock their engineers and keep delivery velocity high.

Impact

To stay ahead, Pleo partnered with Skiller Whale to deliver live, expert-led coaching in the areas that matter most—from clean code and systems design to leadership and GenAI. Coaching is tailored to each engineer, and aligned with real company goals.

“It’s not about learning for learning’s sake. Skiller Whale helps us solve real problems in delivery, and it shows—across output, morale, and communication.”

Meri Williams, VP Engineering @ Pleo

But Pleo didn’t stop at delivery speed—they wanted visibility and long-term impact.

With Skiller Whale’s team-level dashboards and personalised plans, Pleo’s engineering leaders can now track progress meaningfully—not through hours logged, but through friction reduced. The partnership has reshaped how Pleo approaches technical growth, helping them scale sustainably while keeping their engineering edge.

RESULTS

Since rolling out Skiller Whale, Pleo has seen a 235% increase in engineering throughput and a 40% improvement in cycle time. Time to first review dropped by 30%, helping teams ship faster with fewer blockers. Beyond delivery metrics, engineers reported huge gains in API fluency and long-lasting skill retention—alongside a 98% appreciation score, with most seeing the coaching as a clear investment in their growth.

Impact on Delivery

235% increase in engineering throughput
40% improvement in cycle time
30% faster time to first review
Dramatic uplift in API skills — 3× more engineers rated themselves highly on API standards, idioms and usability

Impact on People

98% of engineers saw coaching as a benefit and investment in their growth
Sessions rated as “hugely more engaging” than traditional training
Improvements in team communication, clarity and long-term confidence

CONCLUSION

Through working with Skiller Whale, Pleo were able to quickly transform the capabilities of their team and achieve the ambitious tech strategy set out by the CTO.