WHAT I BELIEVE

More hills I'll die on

The People/Ops takes I'll defend.

1. 01

   In start-up world, 80% and shipped beats 100% and stuck. Perfect is a trap, not a standard.

2. 02

   If it's not a hell yes for a candidate, it's a no. Need the skill that badly? Hire a contractor.

3. 03

   Interviews are a performance — scrutinise their deliverables, you'll soon see the cracks.

4. 04

   I'll take five years of experience and scar tissue over a qualification.

5. 05

   Vulnerable leaders build stronger teams.

6. 06

   In a high-growth start-up, asking me for "professional development" is a red flag. Top talent drives their own.

7. 07

   Firing someone for performance is the kind option — the alternative is watching them fail in public while their team quietly loses respect for them.

8. 08

   If I have to raise a performance issue before the manager brings it to me, that manager isn't building a high-performing team.

9. 09

   HR should never fire someone. The manager owns the decision and delivers it — HR does the before, the after, and the mop-up.

10. 10

    Know your bottom 10% at all times, and do something about it — that doesn't automatically mean firing them.

11. 11

    Calling someone out for non-delivery in front of their team isn't cruel — it's accountability.

12. 12

    Unclear ownership kills delivery, every time.

13. 13

    Don't tell me a team "isn't working hard" without evidence.

14. 14

    No feedback loop, no high performance. Full stop.

15. 15

    Chronic complainers who never leave are a bigger culture risk than the ones who quit.

16. 16

    Your quietest, highest performers are the most likely to be underpaid. Fix that before they leave.

17. 17

    No comp system is fair to everyone — let your top 10% be "unfairly" paid in their favour. Losing your best people costs more than internal equity complaints.

18. 18

    Be as open and transparent as you possibly can, with everything. It makes everyone's life 10x easier.

19. 19

    Ego is the enemy of both good culture and good work.

20. 20

    Showing emotion is strength, not weakness. I'm yet to be proved otherwise.

21. 21

    "I don't know, but I'll figure it out" beats fake confidence.

22. 22

    Closing the gender pay gap is on the employer, not something employees should have to negotiate their way out of.

23. 23

    If you don't have a woman on your exec team, you're missing out on a lot of candidates.