Your Next Tech Startup

Engineering Leadership Hiring Stories: Philip Gollucci

Join host Isabel Rasmussen as she engages in an insightful conversation with engineering leader Philip Gollucci about hiring in the tech world. Philip shares compelling stories from his extensive experience, providing invaluable tips for both hiring managers and job seekers. 
Isabel Rasmussen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/Philip Gollucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgollucci/
 
Music by: https://www.bensound.com
Artist: Marcus P.
License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

From Zero to 100: Startup Hiring with Michael Cioni

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen and Michael Cioni discuss the intricacies of hiring and team building in startups, particularly as they scale from zero to 100 employees. Michael shares his experiences and insights on the importance of hiring versatile team members, the challenges of maintaining company culture, and the necessity of flexibility in both employees and founders. They explore the Shackleton approach to hiring, the significance of cultivating talent, and the impact of remote work on company dynamics. The discussion also touches on negotiating compensation and the evolving landscape of startup culture in the face of technological advancements like AI.
Host: Isabel Rasmussen   / isabelrasmussen  
Guest: Michael Cioni   / michaelcioni  
 
Music by: https://www.bensound.com
Artist: Marcus P.
License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

Why Engineering Managers Struggle with Hiring

Join host Isabel Rasmussen and guest Daniel Schotland, COO of Linqia, as they dive into the intricacies of engineering leadership, hiring practices, and the distinctions between technical and non-technical interview processes. They explore the importance of soft skills within technical teams, the evolution of engineers into management roles, and effective interviewing strategies to assess both technical and interpersonal competencies.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:34 Engineering Hiring Practices
01:25 Importance of Soft Skills in Non-Engineering Roles
04:22 Training and Process in Hiring
05:19 Defining Engineering Culture
07:33 Effective Interview Techniques
12:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Your Host: Isabel Rasmussen 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/
I'm a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, I bring a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments.
🎙 Host of Your Next Tech Startup — a weekly podcast featuring founders, engineering leaders, and hiring experts on what it really takes to build and grow startup teams.
Let’s connect if you're growing a team or want to talk startups, recruiting, or tech hiring trends.

Founder Interview: AI and Entrepreneurship with Matthew O'Meara

In this episode, host Isabel Rasmussen talks with Matthew O'Meara, founder with extensive experience from companies like OpenTable, Practice Fusion, and Sun Basket. They discuss how AI is reshaping the role of engineers and startups. O'Meara shares his extensive experience, the importance of learning to partner with AI, and provides practical advice for young engineers and entrepreneurs. 
Isabel Rasmussen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/Matthew O'Meara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-omeara/

Engineering Leadership: Negotiations and Non-Negotiable with Manisha Sahni

Join us as Isabel Rasmussen interviews engineering leader Manisha Sahni about her career transformation over the past 20 years. Manisha shares her experiences moving from India to the US during the 2008 recession, overcoming hurdles in the job market, and her journey from managing small to large teams. They discuss the importance of knowing your non-negotiables, evaluating company fit during interviews, and strategies for successful job offer negotiations. 
 
Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen
Guest: Manisha Sahni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishasahni/
 

What to Ask About Startup Financial Health when Interviewing and How to Join at the Right Time

Crucial tips on what to ask about startup financial health when interviewing and understanding how to join at the right time
In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen, founder of Proceso Talent, interviews Rob Owen, Founder of My Runway Health , about the key considerations for assessing the financial health of startups. They dive into crucial questions candidates should ask when considering joining an early to mid-stage startup, and how to evaluate company culture and funding status. Additionally, the discussion touches on the risks and opportunities at different stages of a startup’s funding and hiring phases, offering practical advice on negotiating salary and equity. This episode is essential for anyone looking to make informed decisions in their startup career.
Isabel Rasmussen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/
Rob Owen: myrunwayhealth.com
00:00 Introduction 00:12 Meet Rob Owen: My Runway Health02:28 Key Questions for Startup Candidates04:53 Understanding Company Culture07:37 Evaluating Startup Financials11:05 Risk Assessment in Joining Startups12:21 Negotiating Salary and Equity18:22 Final Tips for Startup Interviews22:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mastering the Art of Hiring Engineers: Insights from John Szeder

In this episode of Your Next Tech Startup we dive deep into the process of hiring software engineers with John Szeder, an engineering leader with 30 years of experience. John has directly hired between 500 and 1,000 employees and shares his wealth of knowledge on creating an effective hiring process that avoids common pitfalls. Learn why live coding interviews might be setting candidates up for failure, the importance of screening tests, and how to avoid false negatives. Discover practical strategies for revamping technical and non-technical interviews, the significance of resilience and curiosity in candidates, and why empathy in the hiring process is crucial. Whether you’re a hiring manager or a software engineer, this conversation is packed with valuable insights to improve your approach to hiring and interviewing.
 
Host:   / isabelrasmussen  
Guest: John Szeder:   / jszeder  

Conducting Technical Interviews with Empathy

Navigating the technical interview landscape can be a daunting task, both for candidates and interviewers alike. The conventional interview process often leaves much to be desired, typically failing to establish a meaningful connection between candidates and potential employers. This podcast episode explores the insights shared by host Isabel Rasmussen, CTO Kartik Lakshminarayanan, and Sr Software Engineer Levester Castaneda-Chaney, on creating an empathetic and constructive technical interview process. They emphasize the importance of moving away from a process that feels like a "firing squad" to one that resembles a genuine conversation.
 
Host:   / isabelrasmussen   
Guest:   / kartikl   
Guest:   / levesterchaney  

Can You Thrive in an Early Stage Startup? Insights for Software Engineers

Welcome to Your Next Tech Startup, hosted by Isabel Rasmussen, founder of Proceso Talent. In this episode, Isabel and Mark Roddy, a fractional VP of engineering, delve into the characteristics and mindsets that enable engineers to thrive in early-stage startups. They cover common misconceptions about startup life, the importance of being product-minded, and the ability to handle ambiguity and multiple tasks. The discussion aims to provide valuable insights for engineers considering a transition to an early-stage startup environment and help them determine if it’s the right fit for their career ambitions.
 
Host:   / isabelrasmussen   
Guest:   / markroddy   , https://www.launchit.ai/ 
Mark's Blog Post: https://www.launchit.ai/blog/who-succeeds-at-an-early-stage-startup