187. Scaling Smart, Staying Human: How HiBob Is Getting IPO-Ready with Ronni Zehavi

In this episode, we’re joined by Ronni Zehavi, Co-Founder and CEO of HiBob—one of the fastest-growing HR tech platforms on the planet. With nearly 5,000 customers across the globe, HiBob is redefining HR through its modular, AI-powered platform “Bob,” built for modern, multinational, midsize businesses.

We spoke with Ronni about what it really takes to build a high-growth SaaS business that's not just growing fast—but growing right. From IPO readiness and leadership transitions to why putting people first is still your strongest moat in the AI era, Ronni shares the inside story of HiBob's 10-year journey to becoming a category leader.

Here are some of the key questions we address:

• What’s the real reason HiBob is preparing for an IPO—and why now?
  
  
• What are the internal changes a company must make to be IPO-ready? (Think finance ops, governance, reporting, culture)
  
  
• How do you lead a company through different stages of scale without burning out—or stalling?
  
  
• Why are line managers the true AI-era heroes inside organizations?
  
  
• What’s the biggest mistake CEOs make on the path from $50M to $250M ARR?
  
  
• What does “people-first” actually mean in practice—and how does it translate to business growth?
  
  
• How is HiBob using AI internally, and how are they helping customers do the same?
  
  
• What should you know about secondary events, long-term vision, and building a sustainable culture?
  
  

🎧 Tune in to hear how Ronni and his team are scaling HiBob into a global category leader—without compromising on values, velocity, or vision.