Shows
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 51. Shaping Roles Before HiringThis episode discusses the critical importance of shaping roles before hiring. Our guest, Daryn Edgar - CEO & Mentor for ScaleUps - shares insights from her experiences, highlighting the challenges faced when hiring individuals with varying experience levels and the stress that can arise in new leadership roles. The conversation also touches on the differences between hiring from startups versus scale-ups and the significance of assessing candidate fit through meaningful conversations.2025-01-1333 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 50. From Scaleup to SpinoffIn this episode of Startup Recruitment Failures, the host discusses with Vykintas Maknickas - CEO of Saily - about his journey of transitioning from a Product Owner at NordVPN - the second Lithuanian unicorn - to a CEO of the Spinoff - Saily. Vykintas shares the challenges of building a new product and the importance of hiring strategies in early-stage startups. The conversation delves into cultural fit, recruitment failures, and lessons learned from rapid hiring. The guest shares insights on navigating team dynamics, integrating cultures in new ventures, and competing in a crowded market, concluding with key advice for...2024-12-0334 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 49. The Future of WorkIn this episode, host Indre Kaikare engages with Laura Galdikene, a Principal Economist at ConnectPay, to discuss the evolving landscape of recruitment and the significant challenges posed by an aging workforce, the role of AI, and the importance of lifelong learning. They explore how societal changes, technological advancements, and shifting employee expectations are reshaping the recruitment process and workplace dynamics. 2024-11-261h 01
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 48. The Founder-Investor RelationshipIn this episode, Indre Kaikare interviews Marijus Andrijauskas, a seasoned entrepreneur and Partner at FIRSTPICK VC fund. They discuss the complexities of startup dynamics, including the founder-investor relationship, the challenges of fundraising, and the importance of co-founding teams. Marijus shares insights from his extensive experience in both entrepreneurship and venture capital, emphasizing the need for alignment among founders and the significance of understanding the fundraising process. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of startup life, the necessity of preparation, and the critical role of ambition in achieving success.2024-11-1452 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 47. Anti-bias hiringIn this conversation, Ben Fletcher, Co-Founder and CEO of The Mothership, discusses the evolution of recruitment, emphasizing the importance of hiring processes that prioritize mindset over traditional metrics like CVs and years of experience. He shares insights on the impact of AI in recruitment, the challenges of bias, and the unique anti-bias hiring process implemented at The Mothership. Ben also reflects on past recruitment mistakes and offers valuable advice for startup founders on creating a personalized and effective hiring experience.2024-11-0943 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 46. Solo vs. Co-FoundersImagine reaching $30M in turnover in 3 years and the board asks you to leave your startup. This happened to Christophe Garnier - CEO & Co-Founder at Upflex. They had an $80M offer on the table from Groupon - to sell the company. But they got into a disagreement.
Solo Founders don't face such situations. But does it mean working alone is better than having co-founders?
In this episode, the differences between being a solo founder and having co-founders are discussed. 2024-11-0136 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 45. Sales Strategy MisstepsIn this conversation, Indre Kaikare interviews Juozas Sargunas, Co-Founder of MELP - an HR tech startup. They discuss the challenges faced in startup recruitment and sales strategies, particularly focusing on the lessons learned from failures in cold outreach and the importance of building relationships in B2B sales. Juozas shares insights on adapting sales approaches, and the significance of empathy in sales, and offers advice for new startup founders based on his experiences.2024-10-2934 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 44. Hiring Tech-StarsIn this conversation, Alex, the founder and CTO of Joiner App, shares his experiences and insights on startup recruitment, the challenges of hiring in a tech environment, and the importance of learning from failures. He discusses the innovative approach of the Joiner App, which focuses on future events rather than past activities, and emphasizes the need for quick decision-making in hiring and product development. Alex also reflects on his own hiring mistakes and the lessons learned, particularly in marketing strategies and the significance of understanding acquisition costs.2024-10-1827 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 43. Recruitment for Deep TechIn this conversation, Indre Kaikare interviews Luis Valente, CEO and Co-Founder of iLoF, a deep-tech health company focused on personalized medicine. They discuss the challenges of recruitment in deep tech, emphasizing the importance of cultural fit over technical skills, the need for compassion in handling relocations and terminations, and the significance of aligning incentives within the team. Valente shares insights from his experiences, including the necessity of learning from recruitment failures and the value of building relationships before hiring. He concludes with advice for young entrepreneurs about the realities of startup life and the importance of being passionate about...2024-10-1144 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 42. Scaling to 300 employees in just seven monthsIn this episode, host Indre Kaikare interviews Andrius Bogdanovicius, the founder of CTO2B. With over 20 years of experience in the financial technology sector, Andrius shares his journey and insights on recruitment challenges faced while building his startup. He recounts a notable experience of scaling a company to 300 employees in just seven months, highlighting the importance of evaluating candidates' soft skills for team compatibility rather than solely focusing on hard skills.
Andrius discusses the high attrition rates experienced after this rapid hiring phase, attributing some issues to the pressure of quick recruitment that compromised cultural fit. He...2024-10-0731 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 41: Growth vs. fixed mindsetWhat separates the great leaders from the rest?
For Margaret Sherer, my guest on this week’s episode of Startup Recruitment Failures, it comes down to having a growth mindset instead of a fixed one. Margaret is a fractional CMO and entrepreneur and formerly worked at both Google and Microsoft. She has so much wisdom to offer when it comes to building out a great early team and scaling it successfully.
Early-stage founders, this is an episode not to miss! 2024-09-2734 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 40: Risk in careerIn this week’s episode of Startup Recruitment Failures, I’m joined by Ana Jakimovska, former CEO of Culture Trip to discuss the challenges of leadership and entrepreneurship.
We covered a lot of ground, including:
↳ What it’s like to lead a company after a management buyout
↳ The importance of taking calculated risks, no matter your career
↳ The devastating reality of having to scale down a team by 90%
↳ Working out whether or not you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.2024-09-2555 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 39: Hiring mini-mesIt was a pleasure to interview Nicolas Buteau, former Head of Recruiting for @Uber (EMEA), for the first episode of the new season of Startup Recruitment Failures.
We discussed:
↳ Why hiring managers want to hire people ‘like them’
↳ The problems this can cause
↳ (and how AI can potentially help avoid it)
As well as some practical tips for testing the culture fit of prospective employees, and much more. 2024-09-1356 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 38: EU Bureaucracy DemystifiedIn this episode, get ready to gain invaluable insights on overcoming the challenges of EU bureaucracy and making the most of your startup's EU funding. Drawing from his extensive experience, Bruno Miguel Pires dives into the critical factors startups must consider when applying for EU funding.2024-09-1226 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 37: The Power of ConnectionsIn this episode, we interview Miguel Morgado, the CEO of Hunter. We delve into the fascinating world of hiring strategies and the challenges faced in securing investors in the US. Discover the untold stories of hiring failures and the determined efforts of Hunter to attract investment opportunities.2024-09-1221 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 36: Navigating Web3 Hiring2024-09-1232 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 35: From Fixed to AgileWith an astounding track record of personally hiring over 700 individuals, Kunal Gupta is a true luminary in the world of talent acquisition. In this captivating conversation, Kunal Gupta delves deep into the realm of hiring, shedding light on the paramount importance of agility in today's fast-paced business landscape.2024-09-1224 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 34: Scaling for SuccessSheerME is a revolutionary platform that has disrupted the beauty and wellness industry and has recently launched in Brazil. During our conversation with Miguel, we explored the intricacies of hiring and recruitment in the startup ecosystem, particularly in contrast to corporate environments. Miguel provided valuable insights on the significance of cultural fit and how it can significantly impact team dynamics.2024-09-1220 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 33: The Art of NetworkingIn our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of featuring Edmundas Balčikonis, the co-CEO at TripAdd, a leading digital marketplace for all travel-related needs. During the episode, Edmundas shared his expertise on a wide range of topics, including the unstoppable impact of AI and the importance of building a strong professional network. He also highlighted the value of hackathons in fostering innovation and shared his insights on the hiring process.2024-09-1249 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 32: Avoiding BurnoutIn this podcast episode, we talk with Bernardo Tavares, CTO and Co-Founder at Lever.tax and mentor at Startup Lisboa. He shares his insights on avoiding burnout, building tech teams, hiring entrepreneurs, and the importance of connecting with candidates during the interview process. With a focus on growth and mentorship, Bernardo's experience both as a mentor and founder provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a successful startup.2024-09-1229 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 31: Grit & Transparency: The Power DuoIn this episode, Steven shares valuable insights on overhiring, leaving a lasting impression on candidates, and the importance of grit in individuals working for small early-stage startups. He also emphasizes the power of clear and transparent communication to make hiring processes more efficient. So if you want to level up your hiring game and build a strong team for your business, give this episode a listen now!2024-09-1238 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 30: Unlocking Your PotentialWhether you are looking to improve your career, relationships, or overall well-being, this episode provides valuable insights on how to unlock your full potential through personal growth. We had a conversation with Briony McKenzie, the Founder of Untapped. Briony shared her personal story of transitioning from corporate law into coaching and entrepreneurship.2024-09-1247 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 29: Interview the CompanyIn this episode, we talk about how important it is for candidates to be honest about whether they would be happy and prosperous working in a small company. Small companies often require employees to be flexible, wear multiple hats, and work closely with a tight-knit team. Ultimately, both the candidate and the company should be invested in ensuring a good fit before making a hiring decision.2024-09-1222 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 28: The Generation for ChangeFor the 28th episode of the Startup Recruitment Failures podcast, we sat down with João de Sousa Aroso, Founder and CEO at Leadzai. He talked about the differences between generations with regard to how they perceive their career development and specifically about Portuguese societal dynamics.2024-09-1239 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 27: Working at the same paceIt's critical to work at the same pace when you're in a tiny, early-stage startup. Speed delivery and collaboration are the keys to success in this stage. In this episode, we discussed it with Pavel Racu, Co-Founder at Flair - a powerful AI tool for analyzing people's engagement in video calls.2024-09-1215 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 26: Fierce Fight for TalentA company's culture is at the forefront of every decision. If you want to attract and retain top talent, constantly work on your culture so you can walk the walk and not just talk the talk - states Ross Jardine, CEO and Founder of Architus. Showcase not only the growth opportunities or day-to-day tasks but paint the picture of what it's like to belong to your team.2024-09-1224 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 25: Don't Force the MatchIn this episode, Pedro Henriques, CEO and Founder at Bridge In shares a few recruitment failures and talks about how important it is not to force a match between an employee and a company. Sometimes it's better to let people go in a kind way and then find them thriving someplace else.2024-09-1216 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 24: Internship EssentialsIn this episode, Vitor Soares, CEO at Tap My Back talks about interns and what they should bring to the table. It's hard to make up your mind and to know exactly what your career aspirations are while young, but one must know how an internship can help one grow and develop.2024-09-1216 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 23: Global Mindset in BusinessIn this episode, Afonso Pinheiro shares the 3 hiring failures that he faced during different stages of his career. Why the Portuguese market is more open than Spanish, the importance of language and culture in business, and why is it critical to learn from people with international mindsets - all in this episode.2024-09-1219 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 22: Impact of Employer BrandingOnboarding begins with the first interview - you present your vision, culture and see if both parties are fully aligned. As Pedro Pinho Veloso, CEO and Founder at Near Partner says, they had quite a few near misses, when having doubts proved to be a bright red flag for hiring somebody. Not faking on social media, managing your company's image right, and retaining people - this and more on this episode.2024-09-1225 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 21: Managers on BoardThe 21st episode of Startup Recruitment Failures brings us to Portugal, where we'll talk with the local startup founders. Mindaugas, CEO, Co-Founder at Coho and an ex-recruiter, will share his insights into the startup recruitment process. He's convinced, that the worst mistake is not carving out the time for the recruitment process while being a hiring manager.2024-09-1217 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 20: Diversity as a Business StrategyInterviewing process is a theater, states Olegas, Engineering Manager at Meta. Candidate can dress the part and act as described by the script. If you know your role well enough, you can easily fake even passion or approach to diversity. Since diversity is vital not only for the team's mental health but also for business, being objective and searching for historical signals can help to identify the impostor.2024-09-1237 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 19: Dealing with a know-it-allTuring College is the first Lithuanian company backed by Y Combinator, at the moment having students from 20 countries. In this episode, Benas Šidlauskas, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer shares how Turing College developed and encountered a few tricky hiring failures, and talks about the importance of in-depth screening and having insightful data about the candidate.2024-09-1221 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 18: The Perks of Being RemoteEven before the pandemic, MailerLite practiced a fully remote way of working. Until now they think it's the best way to work and cooperate within your team. In this episode, Ilma Tiki, the CEO, and Co-Founder at the Remote Company (the COO at MailerLite) shares her insights on hiring - proceeding with selection using writing tasks, not falling for a candidate's positivity, and making sure your company is inclusive.2024-09-1228 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 17: Get Things DoneRevolut is conquering the world - currently having almost 6,000 people employed. Andrius Biceika has been a part of this incredible journey for six years. In this episode, he shares tips and tricks on hiring, talks about the importance of the probation period, and choosing the right questions for filtering that perfect match for your startup.2024-09-1236 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 16: The Invisible AdvisorHostinger can be proud of more than 1,000 employees and offices successfully established abroad. In this episode, Arnas Stuopelis, CEO at Hostinger, shares his experience on hiring decision-making, dealing with a pathological liar in the workplace, and staying true to yourself in times of emotional farewells.2024-09-1220 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 15: Breaking Through Internal BiasDo everything that it takes to find a hidden, talented hire. Fight your internal, unconscious biases, go through hundreds of applications if needed, and make sure you have a diverse talent pool. These are only a few pieces of advice from the Ex-Director of Product at Shopify, Andrius Šlimas. From a small team in Lithuania to being a part of a massive company - learn from one of our inspiring stories.2024-09-1232 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 14: Super Glue for Team BuildingBuilding the team is like making soup: each ingredient affects the taste, quality, and consistency of the final result - just how a new hire can change the overall vibe of a team. That's why Linas Armalys, CEO at Noviti Finance advises on starting a business with people you trust completely and have an emotional glue with.2024-09-1231 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 13: The Road to BlitzscalingDo you know how hard it is to build a company of 2000 employees and deal with the issues on the way? In this episode, Jonas Karklys, Co-Founder a NordVPN, talks about the difficulties of scaling internationally and shares some tips on how to overcome them. There will be perseverance and hustling involved, but success will be yours - keep pushing!2024-09-1231 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 12: Grinding With AttitudeIf there is one thing that people should know about startups, it's the culture and attitude. This is what matters the most - says Julius, CEO at Cloudvisor. We can gain experience and learn new skills, but changing the approach and mindset is a tough task. Listen or read more about how hiring less skilled colleagues could benefit your startup growth and why you need to experiment in the early stage of business.2024-09-1219 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 11: Is Grass Greener on the Other Side?In this podcast, Marius, Co-Founder at Orbio, shares his personal approach to the situations that happened in the past and advices on how to not get attached to failures personally. Listening to his gut feeling and taking risks is an integral part of success. You'll hear about the right attitude towards dealing with setbacks and how he navigated several difficult situations throughout the life of Orbio.2024-09-1230 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 10: Handling Peer PressureHow to deal with a complex, antagonistic, or misaligned employee? Strong feedback process, good knowledge of labor law, and relying on hard data instead of playing an opinion game - that’s only a few of the tips Rimante, COO at Omnisend, gave. Omnisend suggests how to remain strong and standing when facing a disturbance within a team caused by one person - listen or read on Startup Recruitment Failures podcast.2024-09-1220 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 9: Failure as a Catalyst for GrowthIn the early stage of business, one needs to wear many hats - Egle Tumenaite, CEO & Co-Founder at CornerCase Technologies remembers these days were a bit overwhelming. She shares her insights about growing a company from scratch - encountering some tricky situations and various obstacles. Which, she says, is inevitable to make massive progress in the long run. Entering an unfamiliar market with a recruiter from a different sector, competing for IT specialists and their attention, contributing to the local market, and much much more - listen or read on Startup Recruitment Failures podcast.2024-09-1231 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 8: Long Flight Into HiringKilo Health culture is exactly what a lot of startups are seeking nowadays. Being the second fastest growing company in Europe, Kilo Health must have an exceptional team built. Ugne Civile - Talent Acquisition Partner at Kilo Health - provides us with a better understanding of what it feels like to belong to Kilo Health, the importance of cultural fit, homework for a candidate and following your emotion, when in doubt.2024-09-1220 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 7: Why Startups Need Hustlers?Whatagraph can be proud of its wide diversity - having people of 20 different nationalities and coming from all religious backgrounds. Justas Malinauskas - CEO & Co-Founder has been with Whatagraph since the very beginning. In the process of hiring more than 100 people, he learned a lot. In this episode, Justas shares some thoughts on navigating the company's culture, having an open-door policy, the importance of diversity, and hiring those who do not follow the rules set in stone.2024-09-1224 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 6: When Hiring Juniors Just Doesn't Cut ItWhen you are a young bootstrapped startup, you cannot afford a C-level manager for sales. So you hire juniors and expect them to grow. CoinGate Co-Founder Dmitrijus reflects on how this strategy backfired and shares valuable insights from this experience.2024-09-1224 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 5: Making Product and Engineering Relationship WorkVinted is a second-hand clothing marketplace valued at over a cool billion (the first unicorn in Lithuania - yay!). Mindaugas joined 10 years ago as employee #13, and now he leads a team of 400 engineers. What a ride! He shares about a Senior Manager who had a very strong background, but just couldn't thrive at Vinted.2024-09-1220 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 4: Sailing Through a StormBitDegree recently raised a $1M investment led by Taizo Son, the younger brother of Masayoshi Son of Softbank. Danielius shares stories about the loss of a good CTO candidate, friction when working in an international team, and challenges facing an exodus of 10 people after changing the company’s direction.2024-09-1227 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 3: Investing in New Employee's OnboardingIt seems so obvious: when you hire, you need to invest in onboarding. However, we often tend to forget what is obvious and expect new employees to join the team and start delivering.2024-09-1224 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 2: The Gut vs Procedures When Hiring PeopleSurfShark Founder & CEO Vytautas Kaziukonis talks about relying more on procedures rather than the gut when hiring people and shares an amusing story about a Head of Sales who could not sell because of a basic skill missing that nobody checked for.2024-09-1215 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEpisode 1: Dealing With a Toxic HireCo-Founder & Chief Growth Officer Bosko Todorovic @trember shares his experience of building a sales team. He tells a story about a Head of Sales hired in desperation who turned out to be toxic. One such employee in a small team can derail the atmosphere. Learn how to spot a toxic employee and get practical advice on how to avoid them in the first place.2024-09-1220 min
Stevens Show#1 Indre Kaikare & Dr Miguel Damas | Optimising your health by tracking results and applying that to the worldGet ready to prioritize your health and discover the power of building great health habits with our special guests on the podcast, Indre Kaikare and Dr. Miguel Damas. In times of uncertainty, it's crucial to remember that health should always take precedence.
Both Indre and Dr. Miguel are not only pioneers in their respective industries but also advocates for cultivating discipline and accountability when it comes to personal health. They understand that great leaders not only prioritize their own well-being but also help others develop these essential habits.
Let's meet our guests:
Indre...2023-07-0758 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresEU Bureaucracy DemystifiedIn this episode, get ready to gain invaluable insights on overcoming the challenges of EU bureaucracy and making the most of your startup's EU funding. Drawing from his extensive experience, Bruno Miguel Pires dives into the critical factors startups must consider when applying for EU funding.2023-06-0726 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe Power of ConnectionsIn this episode, we interview Miguel Morgado, the CEO of Hunter. We delve into the fascinating world of hiring strategies and the challenges faced in securing investors in the US. Discover the untold stories of hiring failures and the determined efforts of Hunter to attract investment opportunities.2023-05-3121 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresNavigating Web3 HiringPedro Cerdeira is the Founder of businessplug.com, a boutique consultancy that specializes in bringing web3 technologies to the corporate world. Curious to learn about web3 hiring? This and more in this episode.2023-05-2432 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresFrom Fixed to AgileWith an astounding track record of personally hiring over 700 individuals, Kunal Gupta is a true luminary in the world of talent acquisition. In this captivating conversation, Kunal Gupta delves deep into the realm of hiring, shedding light on the paramount importance of agility in today's fast-paced business landscape.2023-05-1724 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresScaling for SuccessSheerME is a revolutionary platform that has disrupted the beauty and wellness industry and has recently launched in Brazil. During our conversation with Miguel, we explored the intricacies of hiring and recruitment in the startup ecosystem, particularly in contrast to corporate environments. Miguel provided valuable insights on the significance of cultural fit and how it can significantly impact team dynamics.2023-05-1120 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe Art of NetworkingIn our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of featuring Edmundas Balčikonis, the Co-CEO at TripAdd, a leading digital marketplace for all travel-related needs. During the episode, Edmundas shared his expertise on a wide range of topics, including the unstoppable impact of AI and the importance of building a strong professional network. He also highlighted the value of hackathons in fostering innovation and shared his insights on the hiring process.2023-05-0349 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresAvoiding burnoutIn this podcast episode, we talk with Bernardo Tavares, CTO and Co-Founder at Lever.tax and mentor at Startup Lisboa. He shares his insights on avoiding burnout, building tech teams, hiring entrepreneurs, and the importance of connecting with candidates during the interview process. With a focus on growth and mentorship, Bernardo's experience both as a mentor and founder provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a successful startup.2023-04-2629 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresGrit & Transparency: The Power DuoIn this episode, Steven shares valuable insights on overhiring, leaving a lasting impression on candidates, and the importance of grit in individuals working for small early-stage startups. He also emphasizes the power of clear and transparent communication to make hiring processes more efficient. So if you want to level up your hiring game and build a strong team for your business, give this episode a listen now!2023-04-1938 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresUnlocking your potentialWhether you are looking to improve your career, relationships, or overall well-being, this episode provides valuable insights on how to unlock your full potential through personal growth. We had a conversation with Briony McKenzie, the Founder of Untapped. Briony shared her personal story of transitioning from corporate law into coaching and entrepreneurship.2023-04-1347 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresInterview the CompanyIn this episode, we talk about how important it is for candidates to be honest about whether they would be happy and prosperous working in a small company. Small companies often require employees to be flexible, wear multiple hats, and work closely with a tight-knit team. Ultimately, both the candidate and the company should be invested in ensuring a good fit before making a hiring decision.2023-04-0322 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe generation for changeFor the 28th episode of the Startup Recruitment Failures podcast, we sat down with João de Sousa Aroso, Founder and CEO at Leadzai. He talked about the differences between generations with regard to how they perceive their career development and specifically about Portuguese societal dynamics.2023-03-2239 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresWorking at the same paceIn this episode, we talked with Pavel Racu, a Co-Founder at Flair, an early-stage AI startup. Listen and find out how to get your team working in synch and what is important when hiring your core team.2023-03-1515 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresFierce fight for talentA company's culture is at the forefront of every decision. If you want to attract and retain top talent, constantly work on your culture so you can walk the walk and not just talk the talk - states Ross Jardine, CEO and Founder of Architus. Showcase not only the growth opportunities or day-to-day tasks, but paint the picture of what it's like to belong to your team.2023-03-0124 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresDon't force the matchIn this episode, Pedro Henriques, CEO and Founder at Bridge In shares a few recruitment failures and talks about how important it is not to force a match between an employee and a company. Sometimes it's better to let people go in a kind way and then find them thriving someplace else.2023-02-2234 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresInternship essentialsIn this episode, Vitor Soares, CEO at Tap My Back talks about interns and what they should bring to the table. It's hard to make up your mind and to know exactly what your career aspirations are while young, but one must know how an internship can help one grow and develop.2023-02-1516 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresGlobal Mindset in BusinessIn this episode, Afonso Pinheiro shares the 3 hiring failures that he faced during different stages of his career. Why the Portuguese market is more open than Spanish, the importance of language and culture in business, and why is it critical to learn from people with international mindsets - all in this episode.2023-02-0819 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresImpact of employer brandingOnboarding begins with the first interview - you present your vision, culture and see if both parties are fully aligned. As Pedro Pinho Veloso, CEO and Founder at Near Partner says, they had quite a few near misses when having doubts proved to be a bright red flag for hiring somebody. Being sincere on social media, managing your company's image right, and retaining people - this and more on this episode.2023-02-0125 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresManagers on BoardThe 21st episode of Startup Recruitment Failures brings us to Portugal, where we'll talk with the local startup founders. Mindaugas, a CEO at Coho and an ex-recruiter, will share his insights into the startup recruitment process. He's convinced, that the worst mistake is not carving out the time for the recruitment process while being a hiring manager.2023-01-2517 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresDiversity as a business strategyIn this episode, Olegas, Engineering Manager at Meta, shares multiple tips on how to hire, lead, and be open-minded in a super diverse workplace. According to him, we should not focus on our differences but search for the common ground and things that unite us.2022-11-2437 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresDealing with a know-it-allTuring College is the first Lithuanian company backed by Y Combinator, at the moment having students from 20 countries. In this episode, Benas Šidlauskas, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer shares how Turing College developed, encountered a few tricky hiring failures, and talks about the importance of in-depth screening and having insightful data about the candidate.2022-11-1621 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe perks of being remoteEven before the pandemic, MailerLite practiced a fully remote way of working. Until now they think it's the best way to work and cooperate within your team. In this episode, Ilma Tiki, the CEO, and Co-Founder at the Remote Company (COO at MailerLite) shares her insights on hiring - proceeding with selection using writing tasks, not falling for a candidate's positivity, and making sure your company is inclusive.2022-11-0928 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresGet things doneRevolut is conquering the world - currently having almost 6,000 people employed. Andrius Biceika has been a part of this incredible journey for six years. In this episode, he shares tips and tricks on hiring, talks about the importance of the probation period, and choosing the right questions for filtering that perfect match for your startup.2022-11-0236 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe invisible advisorHostinger can be proud of more than 1,000 employees and offices successfully established abroad. In this episode, Arnas Stuopelis, CEO at Hostinger, shares his experience on hiring decision-making, dealing with a pathological liar in the workplace, and staying true to yourself in times of emotional farewells.2022-10-2620 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresBreaking through internal biasIn this episode, Andrius Šlimas, Ex-Director of Product at Shopify shares his experience in blitzscaling business. He talks about the importance of fighting your implicit biases, being patient, and not falling for big, catchy corporate names when selecting new hires.2022-10-1232 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresSuper glue for team buildingIn this episode, Linas Armalys, CEO at Noviti Finance, shares his experience in hiring – finding some strange details in the candidates' CVs and saying goodbye to new hires. Linas also talks about the importance of homework tasks and how to use them in the hiring process.
Listen or read and find out how to avoid mistakes earlier and build a strong, glued team.2022-10-0531 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe road to blitzscalingDo you know how hard it is to build a company of 2000 employees and deal with the issues on the way? In this episode, Jonas Karklys, Co-Founder at NordVPN, talks about the difficulties of scaling internationally and shares some tips on how to overcome them. There will be perseverance and hustling involved, but success will be yours - keep pushing!2022-09-2831 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresGrinding with attitudeIf there is one thing that people should know about startups, it's the culture and attitude. This is what matters the most - says Julius, Founder, and CEO at Cloudvisor. We can gain experience and learn new skills, but changing the approach and mindset is a tough task. Listen or read more about how hiring less skilled colleagues could benefit your startup growth and why you need to experiment in the early stage of business.2022-09-2119 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresIs grass greener on the other side?In this podcast, Marius, Co-Founder at Orbio, shares his personal approach to the situations that happened in the past and advice on how to not get attached to failures personally. Listening to his gut feeling and taking risks are integral parts of success. You'll hear about the right attitude toward dealing with setbacks and how he navigated several difficult situations throughout the life of Orbio.2022-09-1430 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresHandling peer pressureHow to deal with a complex, antagonistic, or misaligned employee? Strong feedback process, good knowledge of labor law, and relying on hard data instead of playing an opinion game - that’s only a few of the tips Rimante, COO at Omnisend, gave. Omnisend suggests how to remain strong and standing when facing a disturbance within a team caused by one person - listen or read on Startup Recruitment Failures podcast.2022-09-0720 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresFailure as a Catalyst for GrowthIn the early stage of business, one needs to wear many hats - Egle Tumenaite, CEO & Co-Founder at CornerCase Technologies remembers these days were a bit overwhelming. She shares her insights about growing a company from scratch - encountering some tricky situations and various obstacles. Which, she says, is inevitable to make massive progress in the long run. Entering an unfamiliar market with a recruiter from a different sector, competing for IT specialists and their attention, contributing to the local market, and much much more - listen or read on Startup Recruitment Failures podcast.2022-08-3131 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresLong Flight Into HiringKilo Health culture is exactly what a lot of startups are seeking nowadays. Being the second fastest growing company in Europe, Kilo Health must have an exceptional team built.
Ugne Civile - Talent Acquisition Partner at Kilo Health - provides us with a better understanding of what it feels like to belong to Kilo Health, the importance of cultural fit, homework for a candidate, and following your emotion, when in doubt.2022-08-1720 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresWhy startups need hustlers?Whatagraph can be proud of its wide diversity - having people of 20 different nationalities and coming from all religious backgrounds. Justas Malinauskas - CEO & Co-Founder has been with Whatagraph since the very beginning. In the process of hiring more than 100 people, he learned a lot.
In this episode, Justas shares some thoughts on navigating the company's culture, having an open door policy, the importance of diversity, and hiring those who do not follow the rules set in stone.2022-08-1024 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresWhen hiring juniors just doesn't cut itWhen you are a young bootstrapped startup, you cannot afford a C-level manager for sales. So you hire juniors and expect them to grow. CoinGate Co-Founder Dmitrijus reflects on how this strategy backfired and shares valuable insights from this experience.2022-08-0324 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresMaking Product and Engineering relationship workVinted is a second-hand clothing marketplace valued at over a cool billion. Mindaugas joined 10 years ago as employee #13, and now he leads a team of 400 engineers. What a ride! Mindaugas is sharing his recruitment failure in hiring a Senior Manager. The clash was that the Manager was from a well-structured company, and Vinted, at that time, was a Startup that grew fast and didn't have time to define all the procedures and policies.2022-07-2720 min
Startup Recruitment Failures#4 Sailing through a stormBitDegree recently raised a 1M dollar investment. The investment is led by Taizo Son, the younger brother of Masayoshi Son of Softbank. Danielius shares stories about the loss of a good CTO candidate, friction when working in an international team and challenges when facing an exodus of 10 people after changing company’s direction.2022-07-2027 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresInvesting in new employee's onboardingIt seems so obvious: when you hire, you need to invest in onboarding. However, most of the time we tend to forget about what is obvious and expect new employees would just join our team and start delivering.2022-07-1324 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresThe gut vs procedures when hiring peopleSurfshark recently merged with NordVPN and became a unicorn. Founder & CEO Vytautas Kaziukonis talks about relying more on procedures rather than the gut when hiring people, and shares an amusing story about a Head of Sales who could not sell because of a basic skill missing that nobody checked for.2022-07-0615 min
Startup Recruitment FailuresDealing with a toxic hireCo-Founder & Chief Growth Officer Bosko Todorovic @ Trember shares his experience of building a sales team. He tells a story about a Head of Sales hired in desperation who turned out to be toxic. One such employee in a small team can totally derail the atmosphere. Learn how to spot a toxic employee and get practical advice on how to avoid them in the first place.2022-06-2120 min