Culture, Diversity, and Long-Term Relationships

#TalentBuzz Episode Recap: Building Teams and Culture in SaaS with Celine Fosse

Introduction to the Guest and Company

• Guest: Celine Fosse, CMO and Co-founder of Niimblr
• Company: Niimblr, a B2B SaaS company helping creative and media agencies with feedback management
• Host: Samuli Salonen, TalentBee

Journey to Founding Niimblr

• Celine has extensive experience in advertising and B2B software.
• Niimblr was founded to bring Celine's vision of company-building to life.
• The company is currently in a growth phase, raising over a million in funding to expand globally.

Co-Founders and Team Dynamics

• Niimblr was founded by three co-founders with diverse backgrounds and complementary skills.
• Diversity among co-founders brings different perspectives, enhancing decision-making.
• Importance of building trust and alignment among co-founders for a successful partnership.

Importance of Culture Fit

• Culture is an inevitable and powerful aspect of any company.
• Hiring for culture fit involves finding individuals who understand and contribute to the company’s vision and goals.
• Culture fit includes people who can adapt, challenge, and improve the existing culture.

Hiring for Life, Not Just the Job

• Emphasizes nurturing long-term relationships with employees.
• Celine’s career experiences highlighted the importance of developing and maintaining professional relationships.
• Hiring with a long-term perspective can lead to future collaborations and mutual growth.

Transparency in Recruitment

• Being transparent about company challenges and expectations helps set realistic expectations for candidates.
• Transparency builds trust and ensures candidates understand the company's mission and vision.

Behavior vs. Experience in Hiring

• While experience is important, behavior and mindset are critical for long-term success.
• Celine looks for candidates with curiosity, accountability, and a willingness to learn.
• Leaders must nurture and support employees to bring out the best behaviors.

Key Learnings from the Episode

1. Diverse Co-Founder Teams Enhance Decision-Making: Different perspectives among co-founders lead to better decisions and a stronger company foundation.
2. Culture Fit is Crucial: Hiring individuals who align with the company’s vision and values is essential for growth and success.
3. Long-Term Relationships Matter: Investing in long-term professional relationships can yield future benefits and opportunities.
4. Transparency Builds Trust: Being open about company challenges and expectations helps attract the right talent.
5. Behavior Trumps Experience: Hiring for the right mindset and behavior is more valuable than solely focusing on experience.

Actionable Tips

• When building a founding team, seek diversity in skills and perspectives to enhance decision-making.
• Focus on hiring individuals who not only fit the current culture but can also contribute positively and bring new ideas.
• Cultivate long-term relationships with employees and colleagues; these can lead to future collaborations.
• Be transparent during the recruitment process to set clear expectations and build trust with potential hires.
• Prioritize hiring for behavior and mindset, and provide the necessary support to help employees thrive.

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