Ep 28.Hiring for Startup Growth: Finding Stage-Appropriate Talent with Natalie Ledbetter

In this episode of The TroopHR Podcast, host Taylor Bradley sits down with startup talent expert Natalie Ledbetter to dive into one of the biggest challenges in high-growth companies—hiring the right people at the right time. Natalie, a seasoned Chief People Officer and startup advisor, shares her framework for identifying the ideal talent DNA for each phase of a company's growth.

They explore why hiring a big-name executive from a later-stage company can backfire in an early-stage startup, how founders should think about strategists, problem-solvers, and executors, and the hidden costs of misaligned hires—from lost runway to culture disruptions. Taylor and Natalie also tackle a hot topic: how to normalize “stage-appropriate” employee transitions so founders and teams can scale successfully without fear of inevitable attrition.

If you're a founder, HR leader, or startup operator navigating talent strategy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on building high-performing, stage-appropriate teams.

For more episodes and to join the TroopHR community, visit troophr.com.

Credits

TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin

Show Producer: Nicole Fealey

Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.