Organized Chaos

Nahed Khairallah

Organized Chaos is a podcast dedicated to helping 7-figure companies grow to 9-figure ones by turning HR into rocket fuel for their growth. I'm your host Nahed Khairallah, and I've been helping companies do just that for more than a decade. In each episode, I'll dive into HR topics that have a significant impact on your company's growth and leave you with actionable advice that will help your business reach its full potential.

  1. HR Compliance Essentials for Startups

    12/16/2025

    HR Compliance Essentials for Startups

    In this episode, I am joined by Halisi Tambuzi, J.D., an expert in HR workplace investigations, to demystify the often-intimidating world of HR compliance for startups. Many early-stage companies place HR on the back burner, but as Halisi explains, this can lead to significant legal, financial, and cultural consequences. We dive into the practical steps founders and leaders can take to build a compliant and resilient organization from the ground up. This conversation is a must-listen for any startup founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur who wants to understand the "when" and "how" of implementing HR best practices without breaking the bank. In this episode, you’ll learn: Common HR Blind Spots for Startups: Why are small companies and startups particularly vulnerable to HR compliance issues? We break down the common misconceptions and challenges they face.The Right Time to Focus on HR: Is it after the first hire? The tenth? The twentieth? We identify the key milestones and triggers that signal a startup must prioritize creating HR infrastructure.The High Cost of Non-Compliance: We explore the tangible risks—from legal liabilities and costly investigations to damage to company culture and morale—that come from neglecting HR compliance.Lean HR Strategies: Discover how resource-constrained startups can effectively manage HR needs through smart strategies like fractional HR support and leveraging the right technology.Avoiding Workplace Conflicts: We share insights into the most frequent mistakes that lead to internal investigations and how proactive HR policies can prevent them.The Future of HR: A look at how emerging trends like artificial intelligence and the permanence of remote work are reshaping the landscape of HR compliance and presenting new challenges for employers.Guest InformationHalisi Tambuzi, J.D., is a seasoned expert in workplace investigations and HR compliance. With a background that bridges law and human resources, she provides critical guidance to companies to help them foster fair, respectful, and compliant work environments. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halisi-tambuzi-j-d-657b7227/Company Website: https://wpihr.com/ Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content. Got a Question or Topic Suggestion? Connect with me on LinkedInReach out by email

    39 min
  2. Ep. 35 - The New HR Frontier

    12/02/2025

    Ep. 35 - The New HR Frontier

    In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Gwenevere Crary, founder of Guide to HR and host of the "Scaling with People" podcast. Gwenevere is a strategic visionary in the HR world and she shares her forward-thinking approach to AI-enabled HR strategies and the unique challenges startups face as they scale. Key Topics DiscussedGuinevere's Journey to HR: From a background in actuarial mathematics to leading people operations in high-growth startups.AI Enablement in HR: How to leverage AI to automate tasks you hate and augment your own skills, whether in writing or data analysis.The Future of HR with AI: A look at advanced AI applications, including a 24/7 AI coach for managers that facilitates role-playing for difficult conversations and tracks employee development goals.New Skills for HR Professionals: The need for HR leaders to possess deep business acumen, understand company financials, and think like a business operator. The traditional, admin-heavy HR role is obsolete.Challenges in Scaling Startups: Advice for HR professionals on how to gain credibility, present themselves as strategic partners, and build crucial relationships with leadership.HR's Role in Owning Technology: Why HR is positioned to own AI implementation, ensuring its use is safe, unbiased, and effective for the entire organization.The Hard Truth: Knowing when to leave a role if you no longer have the trust and alignment with leadership to be effective.LinksConnect with Guinevere on LinkedIn.Learn more at Guinevere's website: guidetohr.comTake the free AI Readiness Assessment to see where you and your organization stand.Listen and subscribe to the Scaling with People Podcast. Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content. Got a Question or Topic Suggestion? Connect with me on LinkedInReach out by email

    34 min
  3. Ep. 33 - Turning Startup Challenges into Opportunities

    11/04/2025

    Ep. 33 - Turning Startup Challenges into Opportunities

    In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Vijay Rajendran, an executive coach, advisor, and author who helps startup founders navigate their biggest challenges: fundraising, sales, and people management. You'll learn about: The Four-Phase Funding FrameworkPhase 1 - Storytelling: Moving beyond the pitch to craft a compelling narrative about your company's purpose and vision.Phase 2 - Organization: The importance of preparation, including having your data room and deck in order.Phase 3 - Strategic Outreach: Treating fundraising like an enterprise sale by targeting investors for whom your business is a perfect fit, avoiding the demoralizing "spray and pray" method.Phase 4 - Closing with Confidence: Why founders must aggressively project manage the closing process to avoid last-minute pitfalls.Founder-Led Sales and Product-Market FitHow to create a value proposition that speaks directly to what customers value (e.g., speed, cost savings) rather than just your own passion for the product.Identifying the early signs of product-market fit, where you feel a "pull" from the market.Scaling Teams and Organizational Structure:The common mistake of copying traditional corporate org structures and the importance of designing a structure that enables your specific business strategy.The evolution of a founder from "Chief Everything Officer" to a "Chief Enablement Officer."Building a Resilient Company Culture:Culture isn't about handbooks; it's about intentionally designing how your team works together based on shared values and purpose.If you don't define your culture, it will form on its own and can lead to resentment and dysfunction.A company's culture must be aligned with its value proposition to the market to ensure long-term success. Resources Mentioned: Book: The Funding Framework by Vijay RajendranWebsite: mystartupsystem.comSubstack: My Startup System Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content. Got a Question or Topic Suggestion? Connect with me on LinkedIn Reach out by email

    38 min
  4. Ep. 32 - Navigating Conflict in Startups

    10/21/2025

    Ep. 32 - Navigating Conflict in Startups

    In this episode of Organized Chaos, I interview Daneal Charney, a seasoned HR executive and leadership coach who has been in the trenches with scaling startups. We dive deep into the challenges and best practices for scaling startups through effective leadership, founder-team fit, healthy conflict, and strategic HR. The episode features real anecdotes, examples, and actionable advice for founders and startup leaders. Key Discussion Topics:Introduction to Daneal Charney: Daneal’s journey from her early days in leadership development to consulting with startups, eventually founding her own company, 5X. She discusses her passion for leadership, coaching, and startup culture.Mindset of Startup Leaders: The conversation covers the critical “ownership” mentality required to succeed in a startup. Daneal emphasizes personal responsibility, growth, and being proactive in both individual contributor and leadership roles.Founder Stage Fit & Leadership Challenges: Insight into the concept of “founder stage fit,” the importance of aligning founder roles with company growth, and the difficulties many founders face when it's time to “pass the baton” as their business evolves.Team Dynamics and Conflict Management: Healthy conflict is crucial for scale. Daneal shares stories about radical candor, toxicity, and the costs of “obnoxious aggression.” She offers strategies for building cultures where healthy, open debate leads to better decisions.HR’s Role in Growing Startups: When is the right time to bring in an HR leader? They examine scenarios from fast growth and acquisitions to distributed teams and organizational transformation. The pros and cons of full-time, fractional, and operational HR models are discussed, along with advice for founders considering their first HR hire.Closing Reflections & Contact Info: Daneal provides guidance to HR professionals and coaches on being strong business advisors and business-centric in their mindset. She closes by sharing that she can be reached via LinkedIn for listeners who want to learn more. Links:Daneal Charney's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/42Ybydh Visit the Organized Chaos website for exclusive content and HR resources for scaling startups.

    35 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Organized Chaos is a podcast dedicated to helping 7-figure companies grow to 9-figure ones by turning HR into rocket fuel for their growth. I'm your host Nahed Khairallah, and I've been helping companies do just that for more than a decade. In each episode, I'll dive into HR topics that have a significant impact on your company's growth and leave you with actionable advice that will help your business reach its full potential.