A Risky Recruiting Strategy Revealed in a Tale of Secrecy and Ingenious Hiring

Exploring the covert methods used to recruit exceptional talent in the midst of chaotic events like the Paris and Brussels bombings, revealing the nuances of clandestine meetings and discreet interviews for hiring young software engineers.

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This week Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church sit down with Peterson Conway, headhunter, investor, and advisor who shares insights from his epic career working closely with Silicon Valley greats like Peter Thiel, Kevin Hartz, Keith Rabois, and Joe Lonsdale. Conway has assembled talent for the founding/early teams of Xoom, Palantir, Founders Fund, and 8VC

Strap in for some crazy stories. Conway's journey highlights the significance of curiosity, optimism, and unconventional hiring practices in Silicon Valley. Conway reflects on the profile of talent he looks for and drills down to certain keywords he uses to search for seeking individuals with strong convictions and a "fight from the bottom" spirit.

HR Heretics is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co

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LINKS:

Zero to 1 by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters: https://www.amazon.com.au/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296Butthole Notorious: https://pconway-73418.medium.com/butthole-notorious-e4ac4ff12db4

Peterson Conway: https://www.petersonconway.com/

KEEP UP WITH PETERSON, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Peterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersonconway/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview

(01:49) Intro

(02:41) Peterson's Unconventional Path to Silicon Valley Success