Sarah Moses, COO of Prefect, talks about fair compensation, handling remote work challenges, and the emotional impact of pay. She also shares her experience living in a Subaru and climbing canyons. The podcast also includes shout-outs to Molly Duffy and the founders of Compass Coffee.
Fair compensation and transparency are crucial in building a strong company culture.
Prefect implements a leveling system and conducts regular pay equity reviews to ensure fair and appropriate compensation.
Deep dives
Prefect: A Data-Driven Company
Sarah Moses, COO of Prefect, discusses the journey of the company, starting as a seed stage and growing to a Series B company with 85 employees. Prefect is a data flow automation tool designed for data engineers, data scientists, and data analysts. Sarah highlights the overlap between her role at Prefect and her previous experience coordinating teams of experts. She also emphasizes the importance of fair compensation and shares her personal experience with negotiation and being offered a fair deal that made her feel valued. Sarah also discusses the company's focus on culture and the impact of remote work on recruitment and diversity efforts. She mentions the three-geo strategy used for compensation and the importance of leveling to ensure transparency and fairness. Sarah also reveals her adventurous side, sharing her experience living in a vehicle and exploring national parks while fully remote. She gives a shoutout to Molly Duffy, an influential figure in her life, and also appreciates the founders of Compass Coffee, Michael and Harrison, for their investment and support on her journey with Prefect.
Building a Remote Culture
Prefect, a fully remote company even before the COVID-19 pandemic, focuses on building a strong remote culture. Sarah discusses the challenges and solutions to ensure employees feel connected and engaged. She mentions initiatives such as in-person meetups, pop-up events, and providing a monthly stipend to support remote work needs. Sarah believes that remote work has increased productivity and solidified the company's culture. She emphasizes the value of outcomes over physical presence and highlights Prefect's commitment to flexibility, allowing employees to work in their preferred environment.
Striving for Fairness: Compensation and Pay Equity
Prefect prioritizes fair compensation and pay equity. Sarah shares the company's initiatives to ensure fair pay, including conducting regular pay equity reviews and proactive adjustments to compensate employees appropriately. Prefect also implemented a leveling system to define clear career paths for employees, leading to increased motivation and growth. Sarah highlights the importance of transparency in compensation and the role of data in measuring performance and determining appropriate pay levels.
Investing in Culture and People
Prefect places a strong emphasis on investing in culture and people. Sarah discusses the company's core values and how they guide interactions and expectations. She explains the importance of training managers on these values to promote a consistent culture. Sarah also shares Prefect's approach to hiring, ensuring alignment with the company's culture and operating system. She highlights the success of the job leveling project, which provided clarity on expectations and career paths for employees. Sarah acknowledges the critical role of people in the success of a software company and the importance of prioritizing their well-being and development.
