Scaling Onboarding: From Startups to High-Growth Success with Sahar Naim

Aug 22, 2024

Sahar Naim, a seasoned People and Operations leader with experience at BetterHelp and Branch Metrics, discusses the art of scaling onboarding in high-growth startups. She delves into the importance of structured onboarding and shares how personalization and automation tools like Zapier can enhance the experience. Sahar highlights the challenges of transitioning from in-person to remote onboarding and its impact on employee retention. With insights on building trust with founders and creating a welcoming atmosphere, her tips are invaluable for any growing team.

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ANECDOTE

Onboarding in Tiny Startups

In a five-person startup, onboarding is minimal since employees usually know each other.
The focus is on essentials like HR tools, payroll, and compliance.

ADVICE

Begin Formal Onboarding Early

Start formal onboarding when hiring from outside your network, showing a white-glove experience.
Use buddy programs and department-specific onboarding to personalize it.

ANECDOTE

Branch Metrics Best Practices

At Branch Metrics, founders wrote personalized notes in onboarding books to new hires.
Regular check-ins and manager training were key to a strong onboarding program.

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In episode 9 of the "All Onboard" podcast, host Thomas Kunjappu welcomes Sahar Naim, an experienced People and Operations leader, to explore the intricacies of scaling onboarding programs in high-growth environments. Drawing from her extensive experience at companies like BetterHelp and Branch Metrics, Sahar shares insights on the critical role of automation, the importance of providing a white-glove onboarding experience, and the unique challenges of transitioning from in-person to remote onboarding.

Join us as we discuss:

The importance of structured onboarding in high-growth startups and how it supports rapid scale.
How automation tools like Zapier can streamline onboarding processes, particularly for small teams.
Creating a white-glove onboarding experience to ensure new hires feel valued and supported from day one.
Building trust with first-time founders by demonstrating the ROI of robust onboarding programs.
The challenges and solutions in transitioning from in-person to remote onboarding during the pandemic.
The crossover between Executive Assistant roles and People Operations, and how organization and executive communication skills are vital in both.
Scaling onboarding programs effectively as your company grows, including when to introduce more formal processes.

Discover how a strategic approach to onboarding, combined with the right tools and a focus on personalization, can enhance employee retention and set your new hires up for success. Sahar’s insights are invaluable for any HR professional or founder looking to build or refine their onboarding processes.

Tune in for actionable tips and strategies to elevate your onboarding program, ensure a smooth transition for your new employees, and create an onboarding experience that reflects your company’s values and culture. Don’t miss this deep dive into scaling onboarding programs with Sahar Naim!

Link to Onboarding Assessment: www.gocleary.com/onboarding-assessment
Link to ROI Calculator: www.gocleary.com/onboarding-ROI