Startups can't afford to waste time—or budget—on the wrong tools. In this episode, Amir sits down with June Lee, Global Head of People and Culture at Twelve Labs, to unpack how to choose the right people and culture tools at the right stage. From evaluating platforms to navigating AI hype, June shares battle-tested strategies for building scalable, high-impact systems that grow with your company.

Key Takeaways • The best tools don't always come from the loudest vendors—June explains why a listening-first approach trumps cold pitches. • Buying software is only step one. Success depends on how well you manage change and adoption across your team. • You don't need a tool for everything. Manual processes still win in early-stage environments if they save time and budget. • Don't fear migrations. With the right planning, switching tools doesn't mean sacrificing historical data. • AI features are everywhere—but June only pays attention when they solve real, intentional problems (like reducing bias in feedback).

Timestamped Highlights 00:54 — The art (not science) of picking tools that match startup stage 02:30 — Listening tours as the foundation for tool evaluation 05:50 — When a tool is too niche or the manual way is just better 08:05 — How June balances "best-in-class" vs. "emerging" tools 10:50 — Involving HR ops, finance, and security in decision-making 14:55 — Why change management fails when you rely solely on vendor training 17:50 — What real AI value looks like in people platforms 21:20 — The global language bias in AI tools—and why it matters

Quote of the Episode "The best vendor demos won't save you if you haven't figured out what your team actually needs. Listen first, then build."

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