Teenage Years of Slack and Finding a Sales Leader
In this episode, James Sherrett narrates the journey of Slack in its formative years, focusing on the challenge of hiring a VP of Sales. As the company moved beyond its development-driven roots, it realized the need for an experienced leader who could steer the Sales strategy. Despite internal skepticism about Sales, the team embarked on a rigorous interview process, eventually landing on a top 1 candidate, Bob Frati. Bob's readiness to learn and adapt made him a strong fit, and marked a key turning point in Slack's strategy to scale up its Sales functions. This episode is full of the growing pains and excitement of evolving from a startup to a larger commercial entity.
00:23 The Challenge of Hiring a New Boss
01:46 Internal Struggles and Realizations
06:12 The Search for the Right Candidate
10:19 Interviewing Bob: A Standout Candidate
14:47 Bob's Impact and the Future of Slack
15:47 Conclusion: Expanding Horizons
