Becoming Better with StartupExperts

Conversations with SuE: Benji Encz on Scaling Startups, Hiring with Discipline & Building Culture

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Benji shares the journey of building Ashby—from early research and deep customer conversations to creating a product designed for increasingly tech-savvy People teams. He dives into key lessons from scaling a fast-growing company, including the importance of hiring with discipline, documenting clear operating principles, and maintaining strong alignment between founders and People teams. Benji also explores how AI is changing the recruiting landscape, enabling teams to operate more efficiently while raising the bar for technical fluency across HR and talent functions. From founder-led culture to the future of recruiting technology, Benji offers a thoughtful and practical perspective on what it takes to build and scale high-performing teams. Tune in for an insightful conversation on hiring, culture, and the evolving role of People teams in a rapidly changing world!

Conversations with SuE: Dutta Satadip on AI Risk, Compliance & the Human in the Loop

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Dutta shares key takeaways from a panel discussion on one of the most important questions facing organizations today: as AI adoption accelerates, who ultimately owns the risk? He explores the need for strong governance frameworks, the importance of maintaining both efficiency and quality, and why keeping a human in the loop is critical when deploying AI in the workplace. Dutta also highlights how company culture—especially around ownership and accountability—plays a key role in managing risk effectively. Beyond AI, Dutta reflects on broader themes from Transform, including the growing importance of change management and the challenges organizations face in helping teams adapt to rapid technological shifts. Whether you're navigating AI adoption, managing compliance, or supporting global teams, Dutta’s insights offer a thoughtful perspective on balancing innovation with responsibility. Tune in for an insightful conversation on AI, risk, and building human-centered systems in a rapidly evolving world!

Conversations with SuE: Jeet Mukerji on AI, HR & Agentic Workflows

Recorded live at Transform 2026, guest host Michelle Arietta sits down with Jeet Mukerji, CEO and co-founder of Kinfolk, to explore how AI is reshaping the way People teams operate. With a background in AI and HR tech, Jeet shares the story behind building Kinfolk—a platform designed to remove friction from work by automating repetitive but critical HR processes. In this conversation, they cover: * What “agentic AI” actually means for People teams * How HR can move beyond repetitive tasks and focus on higher-impact work * Why knowledge bases matter more than ever in AI adoption * How leading organizations are approaching AI readiness and change management * The shift from experimenting with AI to driving real ROI Jeet also shares practical advice for People leaders navigating the next phase of AI adoption—from rethinking workflows to building internal capability before investing in new tools. Whether you're early in your AI journey or looking to scale your efforts, this conversation offers a grounded and practical perspective on what it takes to implement AI effectively in the workplace. Tune in for insights on AI, HR, and building more efficient, human-centered systems!

Conversations with SuE: Jared Kleinert on Remote Work & Building Connection

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Payal Maheshwari sits down with Jared Kleinert, CEO of Offsite and a valued StartupExperts partner, for a conversation on why intentional in-person experiences still matter—especially in a remote and hybrid world. Jared shares his background in the People space, his early experience at 15Five, and the journey that led him to build Offsite, a company helping teams plan more effective and engaging offsites at scale. In this conversation, they explore: * Why offsites are more than just a perk—they’re a strategic investment * How remote and hybrid companies can think about connection, alignment, and culture * What leaders often miss when evaluating the cost of gathering in person * Why many teams still want a human partner, even in an AI-driven world * Trends Jared is seeing across startup clients as companies rethink work, engagement, and ROI Jared also shares practical insight into how companies can plan more intentionally, reduce unnecessary spend, and create experiences that actually support team performance. Whether you're leading a People team, planning an all-hands, or rethinking how your company gathers, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the value of bringing people together. Tune in for a practical conversation on offsites, culture, and building stronger teams through intentional connection.

Conversations with SuE: JC Ramos on IT, AI & Scaling Smart in Startups

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Payal Maheshwari sits down with JC Ramos from Network Right to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in startups today: building the right IT foundation early. JC shares his journey from cybersecurity sales to partnerships at Network Right, and how his experience—and even a layoff—led him to a company focused on helping startups scale smarter through fractional IT and security support. In this conversation, they explore: * Why IT often becomes a bottleneck as startups grow * The hidden cost of “just making it work” in early-stage teams * How to internally advocate for external support and resources * The role of AI in enabling (not replacing) teams * Why human support still matters in high-stakes, real-world scenarios * The importance of community for operators working as teams of one JC also shares insights on what high-performing startups do differently—from investing early in infrastructure to staying intentional about how teams spend their time. Whether you're in HR, operations, or leadership, this conversation offers practical advice on scaling efficiently without sacrificing focus. Tune in to learn how to build smarter systems—and stronger teams—from the ground up!