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

(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 [https://www.radicalcandor.com/]by Kim Scott 10:29: Five pieces of positive to one piece of constructive feedback Harvard study [https://hbr.org/2013/03/the-ideal-praise-to-criticism].  14:40: Mel’s free one-on-one templates [https://tandem.team/four-types-of-1on1s-for-feedback-cultures/]. Get full access to Team Building with Nikki Adamson at nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe [https://nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

(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. Get full access to Team Building with Nikki Adamson at nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe [https://nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

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

Host: Nikki Adamson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-adamson/] (me! she/her), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters [https://www.hustlehunters.com/] (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Justin Reesor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-reesor-a692bb93/](he/him), Director of Customer Success @ Polly [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pollyex/] (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 Get full access to Team Building with Nikki Adamson at nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe [https://nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

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

Host: Nikki Adamson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-adamson/] (me!), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters [https://www.hustlehunters.com/] (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Sydney Thomas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-p-thomas/], Founding General Partner @ Symphonic Capital [https://www.linkedin.com/company/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 [https://substack.com/profile/152536796-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 [https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/we-should-all-be-millionaires-change-your-thinking-build-bank-and-claim-your-independence_rachel-rodgers/26738572/item/46963533/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=76897273066017&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=46963533&plc=&pgrid=1230353808544789&ptaid=pla-4580496735976160&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping+-+High+Vol+Scarce+-+%2410+-+%2450&utm_term=&utm_content=%7cdc%7cpcrid%7c76897273066017%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7cbe%7cproduct%7c46963533%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c1230353808544789%7cptaid%7cpla-4580496735976160%7c&msclkid=00750536c19e1b539bc160c1f79ffa13#idiq=46963533&edition=40540157]: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power” by Rachel Rogers Get full access to Team Building with Nikki Adamson at nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe [https://nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

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

Host: Nikki Adamson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-adamson/] (me!), Founder + CEO @ Hustle Hunters [https://www.hustlehunters.com/] (recruiting and team building partner for startups making high stakes hires) Guest: Sehreen Noor Ali [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sehreennoorali/], VC-backed Founder of Sleuth [https://open.substack.com/pub/hellosleuth] 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 Get full access to Team Building with Nikki Adamson at nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe [https://nikkiadamson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]