He had the perfect résumé from IBM and aced every interview. Six months later, he was out the door, and we were out nearly a year of progress and a massive amount of capital. The culprit? A fundamental clash of cultures.
In this minisode, Ed shares a raw, first-hand account of a disastrous executive hire that became a pivotal learning moment. We explore why experience on paper can be dangerously misleading and how a big-company mindset can cripple a fast-moving startup.
Join us as we break down the hard lessons learned and reveal a powerful framework for ensuring your next hire is not just qualified, but culturally aligned to accelerate your growth. We also dive into the two real, unglamorous jobs of a CEO.
Show Notes:(0:41) The Danger of Assuming a Candidate Will "Fit Anywhere"
(1:05) The Story of a Failed COO Hire from IBM
(2:45) Why Big Company Habits Don't Work in a Startup
(3:55) The Questions We Should Have Asked About Cultural Fit
(4:30) The CEO's Pre-Hiring Framework with the Executive Team
(5:55) How to Get Team Buy-In and Prevent Undermining
(7:20) Why People Are a Business's Greatest Strength and Weakness
(8:25) The Two Real Jobs of a CEO
(10:45) The Strategic Importance of Your CFO
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