Going to Work at a “Rocket Ship” Startup to Make it Rich with Nahed Khairallah

Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our Careers

Episode 85. Finding a fast growing business that is ready to grow like a rocket is tough, but we’ve all heard the stories of employees who join early and cash-in big with stock options on an exit. The nuances behind finding, nurturing and growing those companies is hard. Sometimes the great ideas with lots of momentum go to zero.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Nahed Khairallah, an HR expert and former founder who has worked with over 100 companies. Karela shares his unique journey from IT to HR, driven by curiosity about why successful companies fail.

They discuss the common pitfalls of scaling startups, particularly issues with founders hoarding work and rapid, unmanaged hiring. Karela offers insights into identifying when to hire, fixing internal processes first, and engaging employees in the company’s vision. Learn valuable lessons on building strong organizational infrastructure and the importance of effective communication from an HR professional who emphasizes process improvement over immediate hiring.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Nahed Khairallah: HR Expert and Founder
• 01:20 Nahed's Journey into HR
• 03:39 Pro Bono Work and Building Expertise
• 11:42 Scaling Companies: Common Challenges
• 15:51 Identifying a Good Place to Work
• 21:21 Hiring the Right People for Startups
• 26:09 Hiring the Right People: Key Strategies
• 27:09 Addressing Internal Issues: A Case Study
• 34:58 Transforming Company Culture
• 42:14 The Role of HR in Scaling Startups
• 43:37 Podcast Insights and Common Themes
• 48:10 Connecting with the Podcast Host