Founders: when to hire your first Head of People
Too early and they have nothing to manage. Too late and the cultural damage is done. Here's the timing we see work.
Too early and they have nothing to manage. Too late and the cultural damage is done. Here's the timing we see work.
The headcount trigger
Between 25 and 40 employees is where the first People hire becomes urgent. Before 25, the founders can run it. After 40, you are already firefighting.
Hire for the next 18 months
A People leader for a 30-person company is a different person from one for 100. Hire for where you will be next year, not where you are today.
Operator before strategist
The first People hire should be 70 percent operator. Strategy is what the founders are still doing. The new hire's job is to systematise what already works and stop what's breaking.
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