Bill Udell, Chief Operating Officer at Don't Panic Labs, discusses strategies for enhancing software engineering competencies through active and opportunistic learning. It highlights the importance of creating learning opportunities within the software development lifecycle and emphasizes the need for systematic approaches to improve project success rates. The presentation also introduces the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) as a framework for defining and assessing competencies. Practical tips for integrating critical thought into daily tasks and encouraging continuous learning are provided, along with a call to action for implementing these processes and becoming thought leaders in the software engineering community.