Honest Feedback and Hard Truths: Developing Startup Leaders

In this episode of the Startup CEO Show, Mark MacLeod sits down with Christine Song, a multi-time Chief People Officer with extensive experience in both established corporations and high-growth startups. They dive deep into the critical role of people and HR in scaling successful companies. Christine shares her journey from corporate HR to becoming a strategic partner for startup CEOs, offering a wealth of knowledge on building high-performance cultures, giving direct feedback, and balancing employee growth with business objectives.

The conversation explores how HR has evolved from a back-office function to a key strategic role, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Christine emphasizes the importance of HR leaders earning their seat at the executive table by tying initiatives to business outcomes and being willing to have difficult conversations. She also discusses the challenges of scaling company culture, the need for honest communication about work expectations, and the value of investing in high-potential employees. Mark and Christine debate the merits of pushing people out of their comfort zones versus prioritizing employee happiness, offering valuable insights for leaders grappling with these tradeoffs.

Listeners will gain practical advice on improving company communication, implementing effective coaching and talent development programs, and creating a culture of feedback and continuous improvement. The episode concludes with Christine introducing her new venture, Five to Nine Society, an exclusive network for elite operators and founders. Don't miss out on this compelling discussion - tune in now to elevate your leadership and people management skills!

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Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/