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!