#TalentBuzz Samuli Salonen

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In today's episode, we delve into the dynamics of building effective teams and fostering a strong company culture with our special guest, Celine Fosse, CMO and Co-founder of Niimblr. Join us as we explore the key aspects of talent acquisition and leadership in the SaaS industry.

Episode Highlights:


The Journey of Founding Niimblr: Insights into Celine's background and the founding story of Niimblr, a B2B SaaS company.
Diverse Co-Founder Dynamics: How diverse perspectives among co-founders can enhance decision-making and company growth.
The Importance of Culture Fit: Understanding what culture fit means and how it impacts the hiring process and company success.
Hiring for Life, Not Just the Job: The value of nurturing long-term relationships with employees and the benefits it brings.
Transparency in Recruitment: The role of transparency in building trust and setting clear expectations with potential hires.
Behavior vs. Experience: Why hiring for the right mindset and behavior can be more crucial than focusing solely on experience.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Celine as we uncover the secrets to building successful teams, fostering a positive culture, and the importance of long-term professional relationships in the SaaS industry.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In this episode, we dive into the world of Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) with our special guest, Jarno Lehikoinen from Heeros. Join us as we explore the journey of building an in-house SDR team, the challenges faced, and the strategies employed to ensure success.

Episode Highlights:


Introduction to Jarno Lehikoinen and Heeros: Learn about Jarno's extensive background in sales and the role of Heeros in providing business-critical financial and payroll software.
Transition from External Partners to In-House SDRs: Discover the reasons behind Heeros' decision to bring the SDR function in-house after experiencing declining quality with external partners.
Hiring Strategy: Insights into the process of hiring SDRs in pairs, defining the right candidate profile, and navigating the challenges of finding experienced SDRs who are not looking to immediately transition to account executive roles.
Effective Recruitment Process: Explore the streamlined recruitment process, the importance of feedback, and how to balance validation and selling the opportunity to candidates.
Compensation and Incentive Models: Understand the chosen salary model and the criteria set to ensure the quality of booked meetings.
Onboarding and Training: Learn about the practical onboarding process at Heeros, focusing on one product at a time and getting SDRs operational quickly.
Early Success Indicators: Review the initial results and effectiveness of the in-house SDR team compared to previous external partners.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Jarno Lehikoinen as we uncover the secrets to building a successful SDR function and the impact it can have on a company's growth and efficiency.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In this episode, we delve into the exciting world of remote work and talent acquisition with our special guest, Ken Weary from Hostaway. Join us as we explore the dynamics of building a distributed team, the challenges and benefits of a nomadic lifestyle, and the latest trends in recruitment.

Episode Highlights:


Ken's Journey to Digital Nomadism: From corporate America to traveling the world with his family, learn about Ken's unique path and how it shaped his career.
Building a Remote-First Company: Hostaway's approach to maintaining equity, transparency, and effective communication across a globally distributed team.
Effective Use of Communication Tools: Practical examples of how Hostaway uses Slack and other tools to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Meeting Management in Remote Teams: Strategies for optimizing meeting schedules to respect different time zones and avoid unnecessary meetings.
Trends in Talent Acquisition: Insights into the current job market, employer branding, and the importance of a strong company culture.
Compensation Strategies: Navigating the complexities of adjusting salaries based on geographical location and maintaining fairness.
Retention in Remote Work: Identifying signs of disengagement and the importance of career development and growth opportunities.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ken Weary as we uncover the secrets to thriving in a remote work environment and attracting top talent in today's competitive market.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In this episode, we delve into the nuances of SaaS sales recruitment with our special guest, Sara Archer, VP of Sales at ChartMogul. Join us as we uncover the strategies that have helped ChartMogul build a successful, data-driven sales team.



Episode Highlights:


The balance of speed and strategy in hiring: Insights from Sara’s experience with a 41-day hire cycle.
Treating recruitment like a sales process: The importance of continuous candidate engagement and pipeline building.
Leveraging both inbound and outbound recruitment methods: How to attract top talent while proactively reaching out to potential candidates.
Building a strong employer brand: The role of company and personal branding in drawing top-tier sales professionals.
Employee advocacy and transparent communication: Encouraging team participation in branding and maintaining honesty in selling job opportunities.
Evaluating candidates effectively: Key indicators such as writing clarity, technical competency, and speed in execution.
Post-hire evaluation and early success: Assessing new hires' performance and ensuring they fit well within the team.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Sara, as we explore the intricacies of building a high-performing sales team in the SaaS industry, balancing proactive and reactive recruitment strategies, and fostering a transparent and engaging hiring process.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In today's episode, we delve into the transformative world of talent acquisition with our special guest, Erika Ekstam from OneLab. Join us as we explore the essential tools and strategies that are shaping the future of recruitment.

Episode Highlights:


Erika's journey in HR and the mission of OneLab in enhancing employee health and wellbeing.


The critical role of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) in modern recruitment and when to invest in one.


Balancing applications and headhunting: How to efficiently manage both aspects using ATS.


The impact of AI in recruitment: Enhancing efficiency, reducing bias, and improving candidate experience.


Best practices for integrating hiring managers into the ATS process to streamline recruitment.


Building talent pipelines and the importance of proactive recruitment strategies.


Key metrics to track in ATS: Time to fill, source of candidates, and linking retention to recruitment sources.



Join us for an insightful conversation with Erika, as we uncover actionable tips and forward-thinking approaches to recruitment in the SaaS industry.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧

🎙️ Welcome to #TalentBuzz 🐝

In this episode, we're joined by Teemu Uotila, the dynamic COO of Quanscient, to delve into the monumental challenge of scaling a tech enterprise globally. We explore the strategic intricacies of building a diverse team culture, the nuances of international growth, and the pioneering intersection of quantum technology and talent acquisition.

Episode Highlights:

✅ The Genesis of Quanscient: Teemu shares the foundation story of Quanscient and its ambitious journey from a small team to a global powerhouse.

✅ Crafting a Global Brand Story: Insights into the multi-layered approach to storytelling for employees, customers, and stakeholders, fostering a culture of diversity and innovation.

✅ Strategies for International Talent Acquisition: The challenges and solutions in recruiting a global team, from local representation to evaluating candidates remotely.

✅ Building a Robust Organizational Culture: How Quanscient navigates the complexities of scaling its team while maintaining a cohesive culture and operational integrity.

✅ Navigating Leadership Challenges in a Startup: Teemu discusses the balance between current operational demands and strategic planning for future growth.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Teemu as we dissect the art and science of global talent acquisition, the future of work in tech, and the balance between human intuition and technological innovation in building a global team.

Make sure to follow #TalentBuzz on Spotify. 🎧