Justin Hennessy’s Post

Who do you hire first in your startup? This is something I see later stage founders say they got wrong a lot! Either you wait too long until the job description is clear, and it slows your growth; or you try to outsource something before you’ve worked out what works for you and end up frustrated with the outcomes and burning out your first employee. That’s why I talk a lot about hiring ”t shaped” people who are willing to get their hands dirty as early hires. It’s a piece of wisdom our Venture Studio CTO passed onto me nearly a decade ago. They should have some expertise or focus they love and have gone deeper in, but they’re not afraid to go outside their role and muck in too- especially when things are messy and uncertain in the early stages! Love how Kate Berski distils what she did right, and what she’d do next time here- incredible lesson for all founders! If you haven’t already, do listen to her episode, there’s soooo much in there for founders of all stages! #startups #entrepreneurship #hiring #growth #founder #startupstories

💬 In our Founder Stories series, we interview founders about their experience of starting and growing their companies. 🤝 Meet Michael Brown; he is the Co-Founder of rankein, a company focused on measuring and enhancing Emotional Intelligence skills across workplaces globally. We have asked him some questions about him and his company's journey, reflections on challenges and growth, and what the future might hold. 📖 Click the link to read the full story! #founderstories #techstartups #founders

🔥 Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Startup Life⁣ ⁣ In the fast-paced world of startups, we often focus on metrics and milestones. But what about the human element?⁣ ⁣ In this candid discussion, we dive into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of startup success: emotional intelligence during pivots and challenging times.⁣ ⁣ Key insights:⁣ ⁣ - Why neglecting emotions is the biggest mistake in team management⁣ - How unaddressed feelings can lead to burnout and 'explosions'⁣ - The importance of viewing team members as 'souls with bodies, not vice versa'⁣ ⁣ 💡 Remember: Managing emotions is just as critical as managing projects.⁣ ⁣ Watch the full video in the comment section below to learn how to create a more resilient, emotionally intelligent team that can weather any storm.⁣ At Nobody Studios, we're not just building companies—we're nurturing the people behind them. ⁣ ⁣ 👥 Question for leaders: How do you address the emotional challenges in your startup journey? Share in the comment section below!⁣ ⁣ #StartupCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipInsights #TeamDynamics #NobodyStudios Nick Sgobba

Is your startup suffering from a case of "f**ked up leadership"? I've seen it time and time again - leaders who think they have all the answers. They bark orders without considering the opinions of their team. They let their egos run the show, forgetting that empathy is a powerful tool. But the worst of all? Neglecting the needs of their customers. As Michael Brenner shared in our recent conversation, this is a recipe for disaster. When leaders fail to focus on their startup's strengths and how they solve customer problems, they lose sight of what really matters. The result is a company culture that's more about stroking the leader's ego than serving the customer. So, how can you avoid falling into this trap? — Lead with empathy, not just authority — Seek out your team's opinions and ideas — Keep the customer at the heart of every decision — Play to your unique strengths in solving customer problems Remember, your startup's success hinges on your ability to create value for your customers. When you prioritize their needs over your own ego, you set the stage for growth and innovation. So, take a hard look at your leadership style. Are you creating a customer-centric culture or a "f**ked up" one? — What's one way you're putting your customers' needs first in your startup? Check out the full episode with Michael Brenner (now live at howtounfuckyourstartup.com) for more straight talk on getting your startup straight and follow me (Dan Hurwitz) for more daily content like this.

If you are planning to hire a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for your company, make sure that they align with your current system. Otherwise, be ready to overhaul everything. A company learned this the hard way when their new CTO's big enterprise mindset led to a costly and time-consuming platform rewrite. Have you ever had to reassess a major hire? Share your story👇 Full Episode: Are Tech-Blind Leaders Jeopardizing Your Startup's Flexibility? Learn How to Navigate and Prevent Future Risks https://loom.ly/T2eB7Zw ITBroker.com #BusinessTips #startup #businessadvice #businessmanagement #management

**Calling all startup founders!** I'm developing a comprehensive guide and course to help founders like you build high-performing teams that drive startup success. The guide and course will cover topics such as: * Aligning skills and motivations with the mission * Attracting A players * Building a team that makes things easier for everyone * Simplifying things to focus on what matters * Keeping your time free to do the important work Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned veteran, this guide and course will provide valuable insights and practical advice to help you build and manage a team that drives your startup's success. I'd love to hear from you! If you're a founder or co-founder of a startup, please share your experiences, challenges, and successes in building and managing a team. Your feedback will help shape the guide and course to address the most pressing issues and pain points that founders face. Schedule a time to chat with me using the link below, and let's discuss how to build a high-performing team that drives startup success. https://lnkd.in/g8JRaWhf Thanks in advance for your input! #startup #founders #team #leadership #course #guide

Brett Stephenson, SVP of EarlyTrade, a Series A proptech Startup and ex-CRO of PayApps (Deloitte Fast 50 🚀 Startup), shares 3 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 1. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 Hire people who thrive in dynamic environments and are ready to roll up their sleeves. It’s not just about skills but also about attitude and cultural fit. Look for people who: → Ask insightful questions during interviews → Show curiosity and eagerness to impact the business positively → Demonstrate the ability to adapt and drive the startup forward 2. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 Not all customers are created equal; some may drain more resources than they are worth. Identify and engage with customers who align with your core offering and contribute to your growth. You should: →  Be willing to let go of customers who demand too much customisation or don’t fit your strategic direction → Focus on those who see the value in your product and are likely to become long-term partners → Continuously assess customer fit to ensure they contribute positively to revenue growth 3. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 Collaboration between sales, product, and marketing teams is vital for consistent growth. Foster a culture of open communication and shared goals to ensure everyone moves in the same direction. You must: → Prioritise regular check-ins and collaborative planning sessions → Align strategies and objectives across departments → Encourage open communication to ensure all teams work synergistically towards company goals When you have these 3 factors working for you ... growth is the result! 🚀 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠: https://lnkd.in/gwTZXjm8 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://lnkd.in/gifM5Was 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: https://lnkd.in/gSXRddGG REPOST ♻️ and help others see this great advice #CustomerRelationships #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #CustomerSuccess #scaleup #startup #switchgears

To all my #founder friends out there who are looking for additional perspectives on how to build teams: Thach Nguyen is one of the best in the business, and I know this webinar will be great. Check it out!

I didn't think I'd ever end up working in the People space 😅 But when you think about it, companies really are just a group of people working on the same project... Who you have on your team changes everything, and convincing the very best people to work with you is one of the most important (and hardest) jobs of any founder. Last Wednesday night I *finally* managed to meet Yoann Pavy and Jake Mayell to record the In Growth We Trust podcast to talk about all of this, and why flexible work isn't going anywhere any time soon 😎 Flexa #peopleandculture #startups #growth

What does it really take to build a successful company that stands the test of time? I love talking to experienced entrepreneurs who have seen companies through all stages of growth. I met Mark S. McNally when I invested in Nobody Studios, which is on a mission to launch 100 startups in 5 years. 100 startups? That seems crazy, but talking to Mark, I knew he’d be the one to pull this off. Mark has experience leading multiple companies from infancy through successful IPOs and bringing visionary products to market across various industries. When we chatted on the podcast, he told me about his 3 fundamental pillars that can make an entrepreneurial journey a success: 1️⃣ Obsess Over Real Problems Success starts by identifying genuine unmet needs and building solutions that directly solve tangible problems people face. While it sounds basic, Mark emphasized that without this customer-centric foundation, you simply won't create an enduring, successful business. 2️⃣ Cultivate a Fearless Founder Culture At Nobody Studios, Mark intentionally nurtures an environment where founders feel empowered to boldly experiment, learn from failures, pivot swiftly, and even let go of ideas when needed - free from stigma. Undying passion and deep domain mastery are non-negotiables. 3️⃣ Crystallize Your Strategic Intent As companies scale, maintaining laser-focus alignment on the strategic vision becomes make-or-break. Mark shared learnings from Airbnb's Brian Chesky on over-communicating intent, reorganizing structures seamlessly, and fostering an almost "militaristic" coherence across teams. Whether just starting out or an established founder, you’re going to love this conversation on how to build innovative, high-growth companies positioned for long-term success. What has been your biggest lesson in scaling an empowering culture or maintaining strategic focus? Share your insights below! Listen to the full episode on the Product Thinking Podcast today. Link in comments. #ProductThinking #VentureBuilder #Entrepreneurship #StrategicFocus #ScalingCulture