Defining Talent: Startup Superheroes with Hustle Hunters

Nikki Adamson
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The show exploring the intersection of talent and team building, through investigating and defining qualities that make great startup builders, and providing actionable tips to help hire and join impactful teams. nikkiadamson.substack.com

  1. (E14) The Future of Feedback: Insights from Mel Miller (Co-founder & COO @ Tandem)

    05/03/2024

    (E14) The Future of Feedback: Insights from Mel Miller (Co-founder & COO @ Tandem)

    Welcome to Episode 14 of Defining Talent: Startup Superheros! This week feedback expert, Mel Miller, introduces us to innovative AI tools designed to enhance HR capabilities. Mel gives us invaluable advice on integrating feedback into daily routines and leadership practices, ensuring that constructive feedback becomes second nature. Join us as we uncover how to revolutionize feedback culture to foster high-performing teams and thriving workplace environments. 1:06: E14 Intro 1:43: When did you first start thinking about talent and team building as part of your career? 3:46: Mel’s background as a “career feedback professional.” 5:39: What Tandem does 06:45 AI notices behavior tied to company values, trends. 9:44: “People management isn’t complex but it is hard.” 11:05: The Three E’s 15:25 Clear expectations are crucial in fast-paced environments. 17:07: “That which gets measured gets done.” 19:57: “Continuous feedback is a lifestyle.” 22:41: Peer-to-peer and IC-to-manager feedback as big organization unlocks. 27:10: What makes Mel a great teammate. Links/ References:  8:48: Radical Candor by Kim Scott 10:29: Five pieces of positive to one piece of constructive feedback Harvard study.  14:40: Mel’s free one-on-one templates. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    29 min
  2. (E13) Startup Hiring Strategies: Aligning Vision with Talent Featuring Tiffany Bassford, PMP (Mentor @ Techstars)

    04/17/2024

    (E13) Startup Hiring Strategies: Aligning Vision with Talent Featuring Tiffany Bassford, PMP (Mentor @ Techstars)

    I'm excited to have a very special guest with us – Tiffany Bassford, a seasoned expert in team building and talent acquisition within the startup ecosystem. Together, we'll delve deep into the art of assembling a rockstar team for your company and discuss the associated challenges, like the crucial missteps to avoid in hiring. Tiffany brings strategies for maintaining a company's North Star while building a lean, effective team. She advocates for a culture where vulnerability, failure, and learning are not just accepted but celebrated. This is an episode packed with takeaways for anyone involved in startup growth and culture, and we can't wait for you to join us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    34 min
  3. (E12) Trust, Bets, and Onboarding: Team Building with Justin Reesor (Director of Customer Success @ Polly)

    04/03/2024

    (E12) Trust, Bets, and Onboarding: Team Building with Justin Reesor (Director of Customer Success @ Polly)

    Host: Nikki Adamson (me! she/her), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Justin Reesor (he/him), Director of Customer Success @ Polly (transforming the mortgage industry with modern, efficient technology) As a leadership and support superstar, Justin shares his insights and experiences on hiring and nurturing dynamic teams. From discussing the importance of trust in leadership to the value of taking calculated "bets" on new team members, Justin offers valuable perspectives that are both insightful and practical in this episode of Defining Talent: Startup Superheroes. 0:56: E12 Intro 1:45: When did you first start thinking of team-building/talent? 3:04: Justin’s career background/ how he got started in leadership. 3:50: “Sure-things” vs. “bets” 4:55: Finding balance in hiring 7:00: Aptitude vs. experience; entry-point vs. entry level 8:38: Justin’s “anti” model of leadership 9:15: Qualities of a great “bet” 11:41: “Trust starts at leadership.” 13:50: The importance of onboarding 15:13: Onboarding milestones Justin looks for 18:49: What makes Justin a great teammate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    22 min
  4. (E11) The Founder Qualities that this VC Invests In : Sydney Thomas (Founding General Partner @ Symphonic Capital)

    03/20/2024

    (E11) The Founder Qualities that this VC Invests In : Sydney Thomas (Founding General Partner @ Symphonic Capital)

    Host: Nikki Adamson (me!), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Sydney Thomas, Founding General Partner @ Symphonic Capital (which focuses on closing access gaps around health and wealth for overlooked communities). You can follow her amazing Substack “Firm Building Chronicles” here Sydney Paige Thomas Nikki and Sydney delve into the indispensable role community plays for founders, why it's vital to focus on doers over talkers, and discuss the importance of backing not just any entrepreneurs, but those with a personal connection to the problems they're solving. You'll hear Sydney's unique takes on the pre-seed stage of company development, how she brings her sensitive nature to create deep connections in the workspace, and what she dubs the “passion economy.” 0:03: Defining Talent Intro 2:03: When did you start thinking of talent and team-building as part of your career? 3:34: “Passion economy” 4:12: How Sydney got into venture capital and how she launched Symphonic Capital. 6:40: The magic of the pre-seed segment of the ecosystem and what pre-seed exactly is. 7:39: The impact of low -code no-code tools. 8:12: Founders who are builders (who happen to be underrepresented). 9:30: Diversity not as a pat-on-the-back but because it strengthens your portfolio. 10:35: The importance of serving communities that founders have experience being in vs being an “MBA class project”. 11:50: “The most successful entrepreneurs are actually over 40.” 15:07: Company traction + founders ability to succeed 15:40: Personal investment is why underrepresented founders, or founders who are part of the community they’re serving, have longevity. 17:10: The vulnerability needed of a founder to admit what they don’t know and who they need to bring on. 18:06: What have you been surprised by? 18:34: Being perfect vs being good-enough. 22:16: The first-time founder learning-curve. 23:49: What advice do you have for early-stage founders? 25:49: To be a successful founder you need community. 26:44: Sydney’s hot takes on pre-seed funding. 27:18:  What makes you a great team-mate? Books mentioned: “We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power” by Rachel Rogers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    29 min
  5. (E10) Navigating Work and Caregiving: Sehreen Noor Ali (Founder @ Sleuth)

    03/06/2024

    (E10) Navigating Work and Caregiving: Sehreen Noor Ali (Founder @ Sleuth)

    Host: Nikki Adamson (me!), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Sehreen Noor Ali, VC-backed Founder of Sleuth In this episode of Defining Talent, Nikki and Sehreen discuss Sehreen's early career experience managing a team at the State Department, the influence of curiosity and persistence in personal and professional growth, and the importance of accommodating work flexibility for caregivers. Sehreen also shares insights about her approach to team building, her company Sleuth's mission, and the types of talent they are seeking. Join us as we explore the qualities that make for an exceptional teammate and the strategies for creating a thriving, diverse workplace. 00:51 : E10 Welcome 1:40: When did you first start thinking of talent and team-building as part of your career? 2:28: Soccer team mentality 2:49: Why the family analogy doesn’t suit the work place. 4:06: How your life priorities change your work relationships. 5:47: Why impact-driven candidates end up in start-ups. 6:08: How Sleuth came to be 10:09: How do you build a soccer team? 10:20: Founders are looking for proactivity. 11:26: The juxtaposition between being a good student and being a creative, curious, proactive thinker. 12:26: Failure as a story-telling component. 13:05: Entrepreneurship is failure. 15:09: How do you think about building a team around skills and experiences that maybe aren’t on a resume? 17:05: How do you navigate work/life balance as a mom, founder, teammate, and more? 18:08: Embracing the curious side of yourself. 19:19: How do we hire parents that also have medical caregiving needs (for themselves or their children), and how do we keep them in the workplace? 19:55: The persistance that medical needs parents demonstrate is remarkable and great for the work place. 20:49: Work is important for people’s sense of identity and control. 22:14: When someone has an identity shift in their personal life, they may need an identity shift at work too. 24:00: How do we build roles and a company that can encompass all seasons of life? 24:41: Your amibiton is an amoeba. 25:05: What makes Sehreen a great teammate. Book Recommendations: Masters of Scale: Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs by Reid Hoffman The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle MiJung Kim This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    27 min

  6. 02/13/2024

    (E9) Intentional Team Building: KC Crosby (Co-Founder, COO @ Pronto Housing)

    Defining Talent: Startup Superheroes Podcast Host: Nikki Adamson (me!), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: KC Crosby, Co-Founder + COO @ Pronto Housing (their innovative technology solution streamlines application processes within public housing) This episode digs into the nitty gritty of what KC looks for in building the team at Pronto, a dynamic startup that’s solving very real problems that anyone who has ever considered public/affordable housing has faced (DYK - the IRS is the largest provider of affordable housing?). KC’s ability to bottom-line big topics makes this one a must-listen! Images: KC + Nikki too the “team building” conversation to a NY Liberty WNBA game at Barclay’s Center in 2023 0:00: Intro music0:03: Defining Talent intro1:04: E9 Welcome1:45: When did you start thinking about talent and team-building as part of your career?3:07: KC Crosby’s background from hospitality to tech-start ups to real-estate to running a Caribbean resort.4:02: Industry agnostic threads KC has noticed (trainability vs. experience).4:50: When you’re doing something totally new, it’s impossible to hire with experience.5:35: What is Pronto?5:45: The IRS is the largest providor of affordable housing.7:35: Processing problem vs. supply problem for why affordable homes stay vacant.8:10: Most major cities have open, available apartments waiting to be processed.9:00: Hiring outside of the typical tech industry demographics.9:26: Key traits KC looks for when hiring (passionate about problem-solving, willingness to learn and grow).10:25: Why “scrappiness” is a trait of high-performers.11:41: How to identify this scrappiness in an interview.12:42: “Translation test” in interviewing.14:28: The importance of moving with a sense of urgency.15:48: Urgency as empathy.16:37: Time as a business ethic.18:44: Rest is Resistance.19:35: What makes KC a great teammate.21:04: How do the child-care crisis, the housing crisis, and the hiring process all intersect.22:08: Outro music. Thanks for checking out this podcast episode of Defining Talent: Startup Superheroes! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    22 min
  7. (E8) Maintaining High Performance + Designing Performance Solutions: Lauren Mason Carris (Product + Learning Design @ Codingscape)

    12/08/2023

    (E8) Maintaining High Performance + Designing Performance Solutions: Lauren Mason Carris (Product + Learning Design @ Codingscape)

    Host: Nikki Adamson, CEO + Founder @ Hustle Hunters (startup recruiting firm focused on making high stakes hires for human-first teams) Esteemed Guest: Lauren Mason Carris, Product + Learning Design @ Codingscape (US based technology consultancy that provides enterprise with custom software services, integrations, and development solutions to transform business) Book Recommendations from this episode: * Radical Candor (12:00) * The Empathy Advantage (13:00) * The Adaptability Challenge (18:20) Segment Topics and Highlights (with chronological time stamps): * The intersection of People and Product (2:10) * growth and performance * The start of “talent and team building” in Lauren’s career (3:20) * How we can think about value and unique talent. asa team (4:45) * High performing basketball teams (6:10) * A proud win for the “dream team” (7:30) * Maintaining a high level of autonomy (10:00) * The “people project” Lauren’s working on right now (10:30) * Productizing an entire strategy to ID skills, roadmaps and pathways for these exceptionally talented individuals, but also building a framework of continued development * Rethinking what “Senior” means (11:50) * Book: Radical Candor and the “rock star” path (12:00) * Book: The Empathy Advantage (and thinking differently about leadership) 13:00) * How many teams and tools think about building out performance management (15:00) * Her current approach to building an internal performance management solution (15:30) * Critical domains that distinguish a business (16:35) * What’s important to our teams (16:40) * uniquely human skills * Adaptability as a core concept (18:20) * Book: The Adaptability Challenge) * Audience Design (18:50) * Allan Bell (Sociolinguist) * Defining and exploring adaptability (22:00) * Measuring Adaptability (23:45) * Self Evaluation Frameworks (24:50) * Open fields (27:00) * Assumptions around SWE’s and craved nuance (28:30) * Activating team members in hiring processes (29:50) * Empowering them (29:50) * What makes Lauren a great teammate (31:55) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    35 min
  8. Episode 7: Upleveling Hiring AND Retention with DEIB Practices: Desiree Morton (Founder + CEO @ Aginci)

    11/09/2023

    Episode 7: Upleveling Hiring AND Retention with DEIB Practices: Desiree Morton (Founder + CEO @ Aginci)

    Desiree Morton, CEO + Founder of Aginci joined our host Nikki Adamson to discuss this people business from a lot of angles, especially within the most important lens we can apply: one of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. This episode gets really deep really fast, and is one you won’t want to miss. She shares insights on: * Where she’s seen hiring go wrong * Why she’s building Aginci * Where retention, inclusion and belonging often slip * Activating curiosity to elevate talent teams * How to regulate our bodies and “feels” * Anchoring to company values and metrics * $$, impact, outcomes, metrics * How employees are still discovering what wellness means to them * Building balanced and diverse teams * Hot takes! * “can you fire family?” This episode is especially relevant for folks considering how to weave human-first values across organizations, both theoretically and of course tactically. References from the Episode: Desiree Morton (linkedin) Follow her for concise and insightful #HotTakes Aginci Katherine Castro (taught Nikki about healthy tension) Book: Radical Candor by Kim Scott (the “dissentor” in meetings) Nonviolent Communication (NVC) webinar referenced around “self-compassion” Host and Sponsor: Hustle Hunters Startup Recruiting partner) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nikkiadamson.substack.com

    26 min
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The show exploring the intersection of talent and team building, through investigating and defining qualities that make great startup builders, and providing actionable tips to help hire and join impactful teams. nikkiadamson.substack.com

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