FNDN Series

Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and a top HR influencer, shares his journey from recruiter to scaling the company from 400 to 4,000 employees in just 3.5 years. He discusses innovative strategies for startup compensation in a post-pandemic world, highlighting the importance of transparency and addressing generational priorities. Cadigan emphasizes maintaining company culture over mere compensation in talent attraction and navigates the complexities of pay transparency and evolving salary dynamics in today's workforce.

Ami Patel, Head of People at Immutable, shares her expertise in creating innovative compensation frameworks for the crypto industry. She discusses the challenges of building trust and a high-performance culture in a fast-evolving tech space. Ami emphasizes the importance of data-driven practices and transparency in managing compensation for startups. She also explores the emotional aspects of creativity and the significance of consultative decision-making in shaping effective compensation strategies, tailored to attract and retain top talent.

In this interview, Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, shares his expert insights on building effective startup equity programs, navigating global compensation challenges, and the evolving role of People Operations in driving transparency and alignment in today’s economic landscape.

Mark Frein, COO of Oyster HR, provides practical insights into building transparent and fair compensation frameworks for startups. He discusses the crucial role of clear communication and alignment with company values in successful pay practices. Mark highlights the importance of addressing complexities in global teams and emphasizes ethical considerations in compensation decisions. He also sheds light on the need for structured strategies, fostering trust among employees, and empowering leaders to discuss pay openly, ultimately creating a fairer workplace.

Paul Stovell, Founder and CEO of Octopus Deploy, shares how transparent compensation models can build trust and improve pay equity in tech companies.

Jess Blomfield, Head of People at Airtree, a venture capital firm, dives into the nuances of compensation in startups. She discusses the importance of fairness and market competitiveness while navigating the challenges of structured salary processes. Jess champions flexible compensation models, advocating for a total rewards approach to meet diverse employee needs. Her insights emphasize building strong compensation practices from the beginning and the critical role of effective change management in retaining talent. A must-listen for those in people operations!