One of the biggest issues founders face is finding amazing talent - it’s one thing to have an idea, but to build it you need talented people on your team.

What’s the best way to do it? Where is the best place to go? How has the pandemic changed it? How do you maintain a culture with a new team working in a hybrid format. 

We had the terrific opportunity to speak to someone who thinks about this more than anyone else,  Laura Wilming, Head of Portfolio Talent at Octopus Ventures. 

They are part of the wider Octopus Group who are eight entrepreneurially minded companies who are together focused on investing in the people, ideas and industries that will change the world, they are also a long term backer of this podcast 

Laura’s job is to oversee people and talent for all of the Octopus Ventures portfolio and so is a treasure trove of information about working, hiring and growing within startups: how to prepare for job interviews (whether you are hiring or trying to be hired!). 

We speak about the importance of having a professional network, the skills and jobs to look out for in the future, such as the increase in roles like Chief of Staff in start ups 

Laura spent several years working with start-ups in New York, notably at Harry’s razors, where she helped build the team to several hundred across the world. 

And, whilst still a student, she interned with Brewdog, being one of the first 8 to work there well before it became the globally recognized brand it is today.

I always say each guest is a fascinating episode - todays episode is no exception, but perhaps it is one of our most practical too …

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In this episode we discuss:

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