The Organized Chaos Podcast
The show dedicated to helping Founders and HR leaders scale their startups from 7-figures to 9-figures by turning HR into rocket fuel for their growth.
Not enough time to listen? No problem! Find focused summaries of each episode’s key learning points below.
13 May 2025
Ep. 20 - From Service to Strategy: Elevating the People Function in Fast-Growing Startups
In this insightful discussion with Melissa Theiss, Head of People Ops at Kit, we explore critical aspects of scaling People Operations in startups, from finding the right balance in processes to challenging the traditional “people-first” mindset in favor of a business-first, people-centric approach. Melissa shares her expertise on optimal timing for first HR hires, building strategic HR influence, and the importance of business acumen in People Operations roles. The conversation emphasizes that successful People Operations today requires moving beyond administrative excellence to become true business partners who can drive organizational success through strategic alignment of people practices with business objectives.
29 Apr 2025
Ep. 19 - Fundamentals of Organizational Design for Startups
Discover the fundamentals of organizational design that can make or break your startup’s success. This comprehensive guide explores how organizational structures directly impact decision-making, business priorities, and employee interactions, helping founders and HR leaders create frameworks that align with their strategic goals. Learn practical insights on optimal span of control, management layers, and process design, along with key considerations for evaluating and evolving your org structure as your startup grows.
15 Apr 2025
Ep. 18 - Talent Density: Why It’s a Startup’s Secret Weapon
Talent density, the concentration of high-performing individuals, is the secret weapon for resource-constrained startups seeking to innovate rapidly and achieve more with less. Building this critical competitive advantage requires unwavering commitment to selective hiring practices, strategic retention techniques that go beyond salary competition, and a deliberately crafted culture that celebrates honest feedback and attracts specific types of high performers. In this edition, we’ll explore strategies for achieving talent density at your startup.
01 Apr 2025
Ep. 17 - From Startup to Scale-up: Essential Leadership Transitions for Founders
Is your startup’s success becoming its biggest challenge? From the hero-founder trap to cash flow mishaps, discover the hidden pitfalls that can derail even the most promising companies during rapid growth. In this week’s newsletter, we break down real-world examples of scaling gone wrong - including a SaaS company’s million-dollar mistake and how a Series A funding celebration turned into a layoff crisis. Learn the proven strategies to scale smarter, not just bigger.
18 Mar 2025
Ep. 16 - Leveraging AI in HR: My Experience in Startups
Explore the transformative power of AI in HR and uncover practical strategies to enhance your hiring processes, streamline feedback, and simplify administrative tasks. From crafting precise job descriptions to utilizing AI for insightful interview summaries, this piece highlights the essential tools and techniques that can elevate your HR operations. Learn how to strike the right balance between technological efficiency and the invaluable human touch that makes HR effective. This is your guide to harnessing AI for a smarter, more impactful HR practice.
04 Mar 2025
Ep. 15 - How to Avoid Layoffs as a Fast Growing Company
In today’s challenging economic climate, many fast-growing companies face the difficult decision of managing growth while avoiding painful layoffs. We’ll deep into proven strategies that help companies scale sustainably without resorting to workforce reductions. From implementing variable compensation models and building a strategic hiring culture to maintaining financial transparency and investing in workforce flexibility, we’ll explore practical approaches that protect both your business and your employees.
18 Feb 2025
Ep. 14 - Hiring for Capacity vs Capability: Why it Matters for Scaling Your Startup
Understanding the distinction between hiring for capacity versus capability can be the difference between successful scaling and costly missteps in your startup’s growth journey. Through real-world examples, I reveal the strategic frameworks needed to make smarter hiring decisions. Learn when to build internal capabilities versus when to rent them - insights that could save your company from the financial pitfalls that have derailed many promising startups.
04 Feb 2025
Ep. 13 - How to Evolve Your Hiring at 50, 100, and 500+ Employees
Discover how to transform your startup’s hiring process as you scale from a small team to a thriving enterprise. Learn key strategies for each growth phase and overcome common challenges to make hiring your competitive advantage and drive outstanding success.
21 Jan 2025
Ep. 12 - How to Identify Candidates Who Are a Bad Fit for Startups
Do you know what separates great startups from those that never make it past the launch pad? It’s not just innovative products or slick marketing—it’s the people. When you’re building your dream team, you can’t afford to make compromises. Simply put, the right fit can propel your startup to new heights, while the wrong one can be catastrophic.
07 Jan 2025
Ep.11 - The Broken Hiring Process and How to Fix It
Discover how startups can completely transform and elevate their hiring process to not only secure high-performing talent but also drive significant growth and innovation. This comprehensive guide provides in-depth, actionable insights for avoiding costly recruitment mistakes and optimizing every phase of your hiring strategy. Learn how to implement effective techniques that ensure you attract, evaluate, and retain the best talent in the competitive startup landscape.
24 Dec 2024
Ep. 10 - Hiring the First HR Leader for Your Startup
Hiring the first HR leader in a startup is a pivotal decision. In this episode, I outline three key indicators that will indicate when it’s time to make this hire. I’ll also talk about the ideal characteristics of a startup HR leader as well as some of the pitfalls that founders make during the hiring process.