Organized Chaos

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In this episode, we dive into how startups can use intentional, data-driven workforce planning to protect their cash runway, avoid painful layoffs, and still grow strategically. Instead of defaulting to “just hire more people” when things get busy, we break down how to diagnose the real problem, when hiring is actually the right...

In this episode, I talk with Barbara Wittmann, founder of Digital Wisdom Collective, about why so many digital and AI initiatives quietly fail, and what it really takes to make transformation stick.

We go beyond tools and platforms to explore the deeper system of people, structures, and culture that Barbara calls “human infrastructure”, and why this matters even more in startups where the pace is fast and the margin for error is thi...

In this episode, I sat down with Nikki Barua to explore what it really takes to build a long‑term company in the age of AI. Together, we unpack when it makes sense to bootstrap versus raise capital, how misaligned investors can quickly push out founders, and why many businesses would be healthier if they grew more patiently instead of chasing funding as a badge of honor.

The conversation then turns to who should o...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, I explore profit sharing as a strategy for business growth with my guest Rob Gallagher, CEO of Profit X.

Rob shares his journey from an unplanned construction business owner to a seasoned entrepreneur advocating for strategic profit sharing. He illustrates how aligning employee and organizational goals can transform company culture and drive explosive growth.

Through personal anecdotes...

In this episode, I am joined by Halisi Tambuzi, J.D., an expert in HR workplace investigations, to demystify the often-intimidating world of HR compliance for startups. Many early-stage companies place HR on the back burner, but as Halisi explains, this can lead to significant legal, financial, and cultural consequences. We dive into the practical steps founders and leaders can take to build a compliant and resilient organiza...

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Gwenevere Crary, founder of Guide to HR and host of the "Scaling with People" podcast. Gwenevere is a strategic visionary in the HR world and she shares her forward-thinking approach to AI-enabled HR strategies and the unique challenges startups face as they scale.

Key Topics Discussed

• Guinevere's Journey to HR: From a background in actuarial mathemati...

Episode Overview

In this episode, I dive deep into how startups can turn chaotic, gut-driven hiring into a scalable, data-driven system that fuels high-growth.

I'll break down a six-step framework for building a structured interview process that dramatically improves hiring accuracy and reduces bias. The episode includes a practical guide, actionable templates, and introduces an AI-powered tool for automating competency-base...

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Vijay Rajendran, an executive coach, advisor, and author who helps startup founders navigate their biggest challenges: fundraising, sales, and people management.

You'll learn about:

• The Four-Phase Funding Framework
  • Phase 1 - Storytelling: Moving beyond the pitch to craft a compelling narrative about your company's purpose and vision.
  • Phase 2 - Organiza...

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I interview Daneal Charney, a seasoned HR executive and leadership coach who has been in the trenches with scaling startups.

We dive deep into the challenges and best practices for scaling startups through effective leadership, founder-team fit, healthy conflict, and strategic HR. The episode features real anecdotes, examples, and actionable advice for founders and startup leaders.

Key Discu...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos Podcast, I welcome Katie Barnes to discuss the complexities of startup scaling and the common pitfalls that companies face. Katie is a seasoned expert with over 14 years of startup experience and currently the founder of Rise and Optimize.

The discussion highlights critical areas such as founder bottlenecks, the power of SOPs, and the importance of bringing team members into the process.

Link...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, the co-founders of Buddies HR, Fabian Pinel and J.Y Delmotte, share their unconventional journey from Y Combinator to a successful bootstrapped company. They discuss their early career as software engineers, their initial ventures in automation and influencer marketing, and the critical decision to build Buddies HR without seeking traditional venture capital. Fabian and JY emphasize t...

In this episode, I explore six transformative trends that are fundamentally reshaping the HR landscape.

The discussion covers how traditional, compliance-focused HR is being challenged by business leaders who demand more strategic value, while AI technology is automating much of HR's transactional work. I examine the growing convergence between HR and IT functions, the complete redesign of HR roles toward more strategic positions, a...

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Hunter, also known as The Sales Hunter, a globally recognized sales consultant and bestselling author. Mark shares his invaluable insights on the unique challenges and strategies for building and scaling a high-performing sales team within the dynamic environment of an early-stage startup.

We explore the common pitfalls founders face, the essential traits to look for when hiri...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, I welcome Kristy Hissa, General Manager at Kairos, as we explore the pervasive issue of unproductive meetings, which can tie up to 70% of company payroll.

Kristy shares her journey from a VP of Operations in startup land to becoming an entrepreneur tackling the meeting conundrum. With insights into the research that shows companies waste $2 million annually on unnecessary meetings, Kri...

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I sit down with Mike White, a seasoned HR executive turned founder of Secchi, an innovative employee relationship management platform.

Drawing from two decades of experience in major corporations like Caterpillar and Master Lock, Mike shares his journey and the insights that led him to tackle the pressing challenges of employee engagement and retention in the manufacturing sect...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, I interview Anirudh Narayan, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Lyzr AI, a platform innovating the use of AI agents to automate business workflows.

Anirudh shares insights from his journey and discusses the rapid evolution of AI technologies in business operations. While AI brings increased productivity, there's an ongoing debate about its role in HR, with some worried about losing...

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, host Nahed Khairallah is joined by Tushar Makhija, co-founder of TeamOhana. Tushar shares his unique entrepreneurial journey, from his humble beginnings in India to building a successful workforce intelligence platform. The discussion delves into the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of a strong network, and the crucial role of people in a startup's success. Tushar also...

In this episode, I had a great conversation with Annemarie Penny, Founder of Dreamore.

Annemarie shared some fascinating insights from a 14-year study on startup founders and leaders. It really highlighted the different mindsets and personalities needed to thrive in a startup compared to a bigger, more established company. We explored what a healthy startup culture looks lik...

Entrepreneurship takes a significant mental toll, with 72% of entrepreneurs reporting mental health concerns according to research. The glamorous portrayal on social media contrasts sharply with the reality of 70+ hour workweeks, financial pressures, and personal sacrifices many founders experience.

In this episode, I'll talk about the entrepreneur's struggle to maintain boundaries between work and personal life, leading to burnout ...