The Startup Talent Puzzle: Sourcing, Onboarding, and Retaining Top Talent
As the host of the Founders Unplugged podcast, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Beth N. , the founder and CEO of Developa a people and talent consultancy that supports founders in early-stage startups. Our conversation was a treasure trove of insights, and I'm excited to share some of the key takeaways with you.
Beth's Journey and the Birth of Developa
Beth's journey into the startup world is a fascinating one. After studying theology at university, she stumbled into the world of recruitment, specializing in startups and tech. "I was working with co-founders from pretty much a year out of University, guiding them, working across the full development life cycle and actually having a lot of cultural discussions, which is part of obviously very important for any company, but particularly so for early stage data," she shared.
This hands-on experience in the trenches of early-stage startups gave Beth a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of founders during those formative years. It was this insight that ultimately led her to establish Developa, a company that offers three core services:
The Challenges of Scaling a Startup
One of the key themes that emerged from our conversation was the importance of communication, culture, and data-informed decision-making as a startup scales. Beth emphasized that founders often struggle to articulate their talent needs, especially in the early stages. "Nine times out of ten, at the particular seed, it will even series, but definitely at seed, the thing they think they need is never ever what we end up with," she explained.
Beth's approach involves working closely with founders to understand their milestones and then mapping the required skills, behaviours, and attributes to achieve those goals. She also emphasizes the importance of founders continuously learning and engaging with the market to stay informed about emerging roles and industry trends.
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The Founder's Journey: Resilience and Empathy
One of the most poignant insights from our conversation was Beth's perspective on the personal journey of founders. She candidly shared, "I've seen everything, honestly. I've seen tears, and overwhelmed things in the family. It's like being in a marriage, everything you are comfortable on," highlighting the immense pressure and emotional rollercoaster that founders often experience.
Beth emphasized the importance of building empathy within the leadership team and recognizing that founders, even seasoned ones, will make mistakes. "It's their first rodeo, and they're going to make mistakes. There's a huge amount of pressure on them as an individual," she said.
Final Thoughts: Trusting Your Gut and Embracing Advice
As our conversation drew to a close, Beth left us with a powerful message: "Founders, be free. Trust your gut, use advisors when you need to, trust them, but you have to make a decision. You're sometimes gonna get it right, and you're sometimes gonna get it wrong."
She emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with the right advisors and being open to different perspectives, but ultimately, the decision rests with the founder. It's a powerful reminder that while advice and guidance are invaluable, the founder's vision and conviction are the driving forces behind a successful startup.
In conclusion, my conversation with Beth Nevins was a masterclass in understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that founders face as they navigate the treacherous waters of building a successful startup. Her insights, grounded in years of hands-on experience, offer a wealth of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned founders alike.
I encourage you to listen to the full conversation to gain even more valuable insights from Beth's wealth of knowledge. And if you're a founder looking for support in building your dream team or scaling your organization, be sure to check out the services offered by Developa.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/2jw2KjrcRmU
Founder & CEO at Viable | Scaling Startups into Global Ventures | Venture Builder & Investor | Forbes 30 Under 30
6 个月Talent truly powers startups - insightful perspectives on building dynamic teams. Greg Mccallum