Unlock Value & Scale Faster By Betting On People Not Just Plans

Joe dives into the art (and risk) of hiring ahead of where your business is today. From bringing in talent before the role exists to structuring equity and vesting agreements, we explore how the right people can accelerate growth—or hold you back. Learn how to balance vision with reality when building your team.

5 Key Takeaways:

• Hire forward, not backward: Bringing in talent for where you’re headed—not just what you can afford today—can unlock faster growth.

• Roles can follow people: Sometimes the right person shapes the role, not the other way around.

• Know when to find partners vs. contractors: Equity can fill critical gaps when you can’t pay market salaries.

• Use vesting to de-risk equity grant: Protect both founders and hires by aligning incentives over time.

• Disruption requires buy-in: A great team challenges norms but stays aligned with the CEO’s long-term vision.