How did the experience of shipping software compare to a "conventional" company, either a big corporation or a silicon valley type company? I get the sense the tendency to talk in big picture abstract would allow a lot of folks to bluster through. True SMEs would have to contend with the culture in order to get results in tech.

Most of my career has been with big banks, i would say BW ships software the same as they do.

SCRUM meetings, regular releases, change management.

The big difference is that people in BW work more as a collective and there is a lot less politics. This is what allows them to "get things done".

"Blustering" doesnt work well, you will get called out for it pretty quickly.