The Talent Tango

In this episode of The Talent Tango, Amir Bormand is joined by Alex Kim, Head of Talent at NewLimit, to discuss the nuances of expectations and requirements in talent acquisition. They dive into how talent professionals can better understand and serve domain experts, establish success criteria, and adapt to the unique challenges of niche and bleeding-edge industries like biotech. Whether you're an...

In this episode, we dive deep into community building and the hiring challenges founders face with Michelle McHargue. As an early-stage investor, Michelle has a front-row seat to the pressure founders experience when hiring top talent. We explore why founders are so selective , how curated communities can impact hiring , and why hiring at early-stage startups is uniquely difficult . Key Takeaways...

In this episode, Amir speaks with Tiffany Chandra, Director of People and Talent at Sapphire Ventures, about the intersection of program management and talent acquisition. Tiffany shares her journey into program management, the skills she cultivated, and how program management principles can transform talent functions in organizations of any size. Whether you're in a small company or a large organ...

In this episode, host Amir Bormand sits down with Meg Sahni, Senior Director of Talent at Radical Ventures, to explore the intricacies of hiring for early-stage AI companies. With AI's rapid growth, Meg shares valuable insights on navigating a highly competitive talent market, building effective early teams, and establishing a strong employer brand. Key Takeaways: AI Startup Talent Categories: Und...

In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand interviews Jim Conti, Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, about redefining the value of people and talent functions. Jim shares strategies for evolving the role from being process-driven to a core strategic contributor, while highlighting the importance of aligning with business goals, automating admin tasks, and building impactful employee experi...

In this insightful episode, host Amir speaks with  Tanaz Mody , Head of People Operations and Talent at Lerer Hippeau , to explore the unique challenges founders face in hiring and leadership. The conversation highlights the complexities of transitioning from founder to CEO, building trust, and making strategic hiring decisions in early-stage startups. Tanaz provides practical advice on delegation...

In this powerful episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Dena Singleton, Chief HR Officer at Kajabi, about the challenges women face throughout their careers. They explore key issues like balancing personal and professional life, navigating health-related workplace returns, and addressing menopause—a topic often overlooked in organizational conversations. Dena shares personal stories and actionable advi...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Loren Boyce, VP of Talent Acquisition at M13, to dive into the art of storytelling in recruiting. They explore how effective storytelling can transform hiring processes, align teams, and attract top talent. Whether you're a founder, a hiring manager, or in the talent space, this episode is packed with actionable insights on bridging the gap between job...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Hilliary Turnipseed, Senior Director of Talent at Kapor Capital, to explore the essential practices behind consciously inclusive hiring. They dive into how organizations can diversify their talent pools, avoid hiring biases, and create equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups. Hilliary shares how Kapor Capital's investment philosophy centers...

In this episode, Amir sits down with Kelsey Lang, Global Head of Talent at Techstars , to explore how organizations can achieve 'super agility' in talent management. Kelsey shares how startup-style adaptability can be combined with strong foundational processes to manage teams effectively in fast-moving environments. They discuss blending cultural nuances, balancing flexibility with structure, and...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Laura Hilton, Head of Executive Talent at Bain Capital Ventures , to explore how small but impactful actions in talent management can drive long-term success. They discuss the importance of relationship-building, effective follow-ups, and creating a standout candidate experience. Laura shares how successful companies differentiate themselves by masterin...

In this episode, Amir is joined by Cassie Chao Leemans, Vice President of Talent at Craft Ventures, for an insightful discussion on creating scalable and effective recruiting strategies. Cassie shares her expertise on building strong recruiting frameworks, defining competencies, and ensuring fair and consistent hiring processes. The conversation dives into crucial concepts like "interview debt," b...

In this episode, Erin Peterson, Head of Talent at Great Hill Partners, joins Amir Bormand to explore the evolving role of AI in talent management. They discuss how generative AI can streamline recruiting processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve candidate experience while maintaining a human touch. Erin shares insights on balancing automation with personal engagement and how technology...

In this episode, Chris Fahey, SVP of Talent and HR at Volition Capital, discusses the often-overlooked value of org charts for growing companies. He discusses how they can pinpoint hiring gaps and the importance of focusing on roles, not just people. Chris also highlights the importance of aligning your company's strategy with its structure and regularly revisiting this alignment for smoother scal...

In this episode, Amir interviews Keryn Koch, the Global Chief Human Resource Officer at Numerix, to discuss the M&A process from an HR perspective. They dive into the role of HR in mergers and acquisitions, the importance of culture, operational compliance, and effective communication. Keryn shares her experiences, strategies for integrating diverse company cultures, and emphasizes the importance...

In this episode, Amir hosts Jonathan Meyrowitz, Vice President of Talent and People at UP.Labs, to discuss the intricacies of hiring CEOs for early stage companies. They delve into topics such as the importance of deal dependency, the balance between hiring for the present versus future needs, and the unique context of venture studio operations at UP.Labs. Jonathan shares his experiences and insig...

In this episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Margaret Gabriel, Head of Talent at CoinFund, about the critical yet often delayed decision to hire a people leader in startups and VC firms. They dive into the concept of organizational debt , why talent leadership is undervalued early on, and how VCs and founders can shift their mindset to prioritize people strategy from the start. Key Takeaways 🚀 Peopl...

In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand hosts Matt Birnbaum from Pear VC, diving deep into the intricacies of managing equity for early-stage startups. Matt shares actionable advice and crucial considerations to set your equity structure right from the beginning, highlighting the significance of aligning compensation with risk, flexibility, and strategic foresight. Key Takeaways: Strategic Equity...

In this podcast episode, Erica Waichman, Head of Talent and Community at Canvas Ventures, discusses the intricacies and expectations of a talent role in a venture capital firm. The conversation covers various topics, including Erica's background, the unique challenges of transitioning from agency and in-house recruitment to venture capital, and valuable lessons learned. Erica also shares insights...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Jennifer "JR" Rettig, Chief People Officer at Pendo.io, to explore the complexities of leadership hiring. They cover key aspects such as managing stakeholder expectations, ensuring C-suite succession planning, and reducing bias through structured evaluation methods. Jennifer highlights how leadership hiring differs based on a company's size and stage, e...

In this podcast episode, Carolyn Carpaneti, a Talent Partner at Peterson Partners, discusses the complex subject of replacing a startup founder with a new CEO. The conversation covers the emotional and practical challenges founders face, the importance of recognizing different skill sets for company growth, and the criteria for successful leadership transitions. Carolyn also explains the types of...

In this episode of the podcast, Amir is joined by Jesse Sacks, the Head of Talent and People at Starshot Ventures. Jesse shares his experiences and insights on the operational aspects of managing talent, including reporting structures, building effective processes, navigating employment contracts, and legal alignments. He also provides valuable advice on achieving operational efficiency, understan...

In this episode, the host interviews Jen Kodner, a Talent Partner at Threshold Ventures and DFJ Growth, to discuss best practices and challenges in leadership hiring for startups. They explore the importance of finding the right leadership fit for different growth phases, professionalizing key functions, and balancing the hands-on approach required at early stages. Jen shares insights on the dynam...

In this episode, Amir talks with Nathan Fabian, Managing Director and Head of Talent at WestCap, about the essential qualities of great leaders. They explore the complexities of hiring leadership, assessing unique attributes, and balancing speed with thoroughness in the recruitment process. Nathan shares WestCap's approach, focusing on five key attributes—principles, curiosity, decisiveness, team...

In this episode, Amanda Poole, Vice President of Talent at DVx Ventures, discusses the intricacies of handling early-stage talent acquisition. Amanda explains the importance of being a strategic doer, asking the right questions before accepting a job, and understanding talent budgets. She also shares insights on the nuances of hiring at startups, balancing multiple roles, and managing tech debt in...