Kimberley Gilmour, the founder and CEO of Sprinklr, is a seasoned people leader known for her pivotal roles in scaling companies like Icebreaker and Vend. In this discussion, she emphasizes the crucial need for startups to invest in people operations early on. Kimberley shares insights on transforming human resources from mere compliance to nurturing a supportive culture. She highlights how understanding human behavior can drive business success and advocates for effective talent recruitment to ensure sustainable growth.
Startups should prioritize effective people management early on, as it's a critical factor for long-term success and smoother operations.
A modern approach to people operations emphasizes authentic communication and employee support, fostering a resilient and engaged workforce.
Deep dives
The Importance of People Operations in Startups
Startups often overlook the significance of people operations, opting to focus on product and technology instead. However, the biggest expense for many companies lies within their workforce, making effective people management crucial for growth and success. Founders are encouraged to integrate people operations early, as this could be the determining factor in achieving their business objectives. Emphasizing strong hiring practices and establishing a supportive culture sets the foundation for employee engagement and retention.
Evolution of Human Resources to People Operations
The approach to managing talent has shifted from traditional human resources, which treated employees as mere resources, to a more holistic view of people operations that values human connection. This modern philosophy promotes a proactive, rather than reactive, strategy focused on enabling success and growth for employees at work. This transition reflects a cultural change that encourages organizations to prioritize support and mentorship over compliance and regulation. The emphasis is now on optimizing employee performance through engaged leadership and open communication.
Navigating Challenges in Fast-Growing Companies
Companies often face significant challenges during rapid growth phases, requiring leaders to adapt their strategies to changing circumstances. During high-stress periods, such as economic downturns or funding difficulties, maintaining a focus on employee well-being and transparency becomes even more critical. The management approach can enhance team morale, even in tough situations, where authentic communication fosters trust and understanding. Organizations that openly address difficulties while also providing support tend to emerge stronger and more resilient.
Creating a Sustainable Culture in Startups
Building a robust culture within startups involves establishing clear values and expectations from the outset, fostering an environment where employees feel valued and engaged. Founders are encouraged to solicit input from their teams to define what success looks like collectively, thus creating a sense of ownership and commitment. Regular check-ins and open dialogues enable teams to navigate challenges collaboratively and boost overall performance. By instilling a strong culture, startups can better position themselves for sustained growth and achievement.
Although the biggest spending line for most startups is people, most startups don’t get serious about people until they get pretty big. Doing so earlier might just be the biggest lever startups can pull to increase their chances of making it in the long run, and making the journey along the way as smooth as possible.
Kimberley Gilmour is one of New Zealand’s most experienced people leaders, having been instrumental in the scaling and operations of Icebreaker, Groov and Vend. Now the founder and CEO of Sprinklr, a new “people operations” company that is partnering with early-stage companies to help them grow, Kimberley joins the podcast to discuss her story, the origins of Sprinklr, and the two main pillars of great people management that she swears by.