Recorded live at Transform 2026, Benji shares the journey of building Ashby—from early research and deep customer conversations to creating a product designed for increasingly tech-savvy People teams.

He dives into key lessons from scaling a fast-growing company, including the importance of hiring with discipline, documenting clear operating principles, and maintaining strong alignment between founders and People teams.

Benji also explores how AI is changing the recruiting landscape, enabling teams to operate more efficiently while raising the bar for technical fluency across HR and talent functions.

From founder-led culture to the future of recruiting technology, Benji offers a thoughtful and practical perspective on what it takes to build and scale high-performing teams.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on hiring, culture, and the evolving role of People teams in a rapidly changing world!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Dutta shares key takeaways from a panel discussion on one of the most important questions facing organizations today: as AI adoption accelerates, who ultimately owns the risk?

He explores the need for strong governance frameworks, the importance of maintaining both efficiency and quality, and why keeping a human in the loop is critical when deploying AI in the workplace.

Dutta also highlights how company culture—especially around ownership and accountability—plays a key role in managing risk effectively.

Beyond AI, Dutta reflects on broader themes from Transform, including the growing importance of change management and the challenges organizations face in helping teams adapt to rapid technological shifts.

Whether you're navigating AI adoption, managing compliance, or supporting global teams, Dutta’s insights offer a thoughtful perspective on balancing innovation with responsibility.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on AI, risk, and building human-centered systems in a rapidly evolving world!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, guest host Michelle Arietta sits down with Jeet Mukerji, CEO and co-founder of Kinfolk, to explore how AI is reshaping the way People teams operate.

With a background in AI and HR tech, Jeet shares the story behind building Kinfolk—a platform designed to remove friction from work by automating repetitive but critical HR processes.

In this conversation, they cover:

• What “agentic AI” actually means for People teams
  
• How HR can move beyond repetitive tasks and focus on higher-impact work
  
• Why knowledge bases matter more than ever in AI adoption
  
• How leading organizations are approaching AI readiness and change management
  
• The shift from experimenting with AI to driving real ROI
  

Jeet also shares practical advice for People leaders navigating the next phase of AI adoption—from rethinking workflows to building internal capability before investing in new tools.

Whether you're early in your AI journey or looking to scale your efforts, this conversation offers a grounded and practical perspective on what it takes to implement AI effectively in the workplace.

Tune in for insights on AI, HR, and building more efficient, human-centered systems!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Payal Maheshwari sits down with Jared Kleinert, CEO of Offsite and a valued StartupExperts partner, for a conversation on why intentional in-person experiences still matter—especially in a remote and hybrid world.

Jared shares his background in the People space, his early experience at 15Five, and the journey that led him to build Offsite, a company helping teams plan more effective and engaging offsites at scale.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Why offsites are more than just a perk—they’re a strategic investment
  
• How remote and hybrid companies can think about connection, alignment, and culture
  
• What leaders often miss when evaluating the cost of gathering in person
  
• Why many teams still want a human partner, even in an AI-driven world
  
• Trends Jared is seeing across startup clients as companies rethink work, engagement, and ROI
  

Jared also shares practical insight into how companies can plan more intentionally, reduce unnecessary spend, and create experiences that actually support team performance.

Whether you're leading a People team, planning an all-hands, or rethinking how your company gathers, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the value of bringing people together.

Tune in for a practical conversation on offsites, culture, and building stronger teams through intentional connection.

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Payal Maheshwari sits down with JC Ramos from Network Right to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in startups today: building the right IT foundation early.

JC shares his journey from cybersecurity sales to partnerships at Network Right, and how his experience—and even a layoff—led him to a company focused on helping startups scale smarter through fractional IT and security support.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Why IT often becomes a bottleneck as startups grow
  
• The hidden cost of “just making it work” in early-stage teams
  
• How to internally advocate for external support and resources
  
• The role of AI in enabling (not replacing) teams
  
• Why human support still matters in high-stakes, real-world scenarios
  
• The importance of community for operators working as teams of one
  

JC also shares insights on what high-performing startups do differently—from investing early in infrastructure to staying intentional about how teams spend their time.

Whether you're in HR, operations, or leadership, this conversation offers practical advice on scaling efficiently without sacrificing focus.

Tune in to learn how to build smarter systems—and stronger teams—from the ground up!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Camino shares insights from working closely with People leaders and highlights what sets high-performing teams apart—intentionality, iteration, and a strong focus on human connection.

He explores the balance between technology and the human experience, emphasizing that while AI can support efficiency, meaningful onboarding and workplace culture are still deeply human challenges. Camino also reflects on evolving trends in HR, from AI adoption to the growing need for connection, belonging, and sustainable ways of working.

Whether you're building onboarding programs, scaling People teams, or navigating the intersection of AI and culture, Camino’s perspective offers practical and thoughtful guidance on creating better experiences for employees.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on how to build more intentional, human-centered workplaces!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Boost shares his journey into the StartupExperts community and reflects on the power of connection—especially during moments of transition and change.

From finding support after a layoff to building meaningful relationships, his story highlights the importance of community in career growth.

Boost also dives into some of the biggest questions shaping the future of People teams today. From reimagining performance management to exploring how AI may transform the role of HR generalists, he offers a thoughtful and grounded perspective on balancing innovation with responsibility.

Whether you're leading through hypergrowth, adapting to new technologies, or thinking about the future of work, Boost’s insights will challenge you to think more deeply about how we build, support, and evolve our teams!

Recorded live at Transform 2026, Farrah shares her experience as a first-time attendee and reflects on the power of community—from reconnecting with a life-changing mentor to instantly finding belonging within the StartupExperts network.

Farrah dives into key insights from the event, including how trust is built through shared experiences, the role of fun in strengthening teams, and the importance of connection in a world facing increasing loneliness. She also opens up about her personal journey of finding her voice and having the courage to share it with others.

Whether you're leading teams, navigating personal growth, or seeking deeper community, Farrah’s perspective is a powerful reminder of the impact of connection, vulnerability, and showing up fully.

Tune in for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation with one of the standout leaders to watch in 2026!

In this episode of Conversations with SuE Live at Transform 2026, Payal Maheshwari sits down with Misty Dodd, a StartupExperts member attending Transform for the first time.

Misty shares her journey of transitioning from Canada to the U.S. and how StartupExperts has played a key role in helping her build community, navigate new professional landscapes, and grow her network. She highlights the value of the Slack community as a space for both learning and giving back.

The conversation also touches on an insightful takeaway from the conference—AI bias in talent and HR systems—emphasizing the importance of thoughtful implementation and governance.

Overall, the interview captures the spirit of StartupExperts: connection, support, and continuous learning.

No writing block needed. In this episode of Conversations with SuE, Jesse sits down with Farrah Mitra—executive coach, former Bain consultant, and one of only 15 certified Radical Candor facilitators globally.

Farrah shares her unique career journey from strategy consulting to building people and culture functions in hypergrowth tech companies, and now coaching leaders on how to communicate with clarity and empathy.

The conversation explores her Communicating Challenges and Change Framework, designed to help leaders deliver difficult messages in a way that is both kind and clear—especially in today’s fast-changing, high-pressure environments.

You’ll learn:

• How to balance empathy with directness in leadership communication
• Why mindset matters just as much as skillset
• A practical approach to navigating tough conversations with confidence
• Real-world examples of delivering feedback and driving change
  

If you're a leader, operator, or manager navigating constant change, this episode offers actionable insights you can apply immediately.