Ben Byrne’s Post

How do you identify Star Performers for a startup? 🙌 Passion & Drive: They’re not just clocking in hours; they’re genuinely excited about the mission and their role. 🔄 Adaptability: Watch for those who thrive in uncertainty and can pivot quickly when needed. 👩🔧 Problem-Solving Skills: Star performers don’t just identify issues—they proactively look to implement solutions. 🧑🤝🧑 Team Collaboration: They’re not lone wolves; they elevate and support their fellows 📈 Growth Mindset: Look for individuals who seek feedback and are always eager to learn and grow. Invest in these qualities, and you’ll build a team that’s not just effective but exceptional. 🌟

Are you torn between joining a startup or a large company? 🧐 In a startup, your contributions can have a direct impact on the company's success. You'll likely have the opportunity to take ownership of projects and see the results of your efforts firsthand. It also offer a dynamic environment where you'll wear many hats and learn through hands-on experience. The fast-paced nature can accelerate your learning curve and broaden your skill set. Startup culture tends to be innovative and flexible, fostering creativity and collaboration. You may have more autonomy and the chance to shape the company culture. Whereas, Large companies typically offer structured career paths with opportunities for advancement. You may benefit from mentorship programs, professional development resources, and clear progression routes. They often have more resources and financial stability, providing a sense of security. You'll have access to established processes, support systems, and a larger network. Joining a large company can enhance your resume and provide valuable brand recognition. It may open doors to future opportunities and increase your credibility in the industry. Ultimately, the best fit depends on your career goals, preferences, and risk tolerance. Whether you thrive in the dynamic, fast-paced environment of a startup or prefer the stability and structure of a big company, both paths offer unique opportunities for growth and fulfillment. 🌱💼 #StartupVsBigCompany #CareerPath #ProfessionalGrowth

How often do you receive a (meaningful, useful) performance review? If you work at a startup, the answer is probably "not often enough." And if you work at a big company, you might still not be satisfied. For better or worse, performance reviews are one of the best ways to ensure your efforts are aligned with those of the larger organization. But too often, they're perfunctory where they should be thoughtful, abstract where they should be concrete, and detached from your actual role. I'm working on something I call "minimum viable perf," and I'd love to hear your hopes, dreams, criticisms, thoughts, and suggestions. What do you *wish* for from your perf? Let me know below, or shoot me a DM.

"And then in my second year, I took on the project again." Great hires do the hard work that stymies others. One of the reasons I love being a search professional is that I get to hear about the exceptional work done in orgs that are already considered quite high-performing. Just today I spoke to a candidate who took on a technically complex project. This project was so complex, that in past years other people had led it once and burned out. But she wasn't going to be stopped by the challenge -- she wanted it to get a forecasting engine a highly impactful state where it could be useful year after year, rather than needing to be rebuilt from scratch. So the first year taught her all she needed to know about how hard it was. And when the second year came up, she volunteered to lead the initiative -- and this time take it from accretive gains to a transformative reworking. As founders aim to hires who can inflect the growth curves at a company, this is the kind of example that stands out as extrordinary. Amidst a team of ambitious high performers, what made someone go the extra mile? Knowing a project could lead to failure, what led someone to take it on? Not having to do something, why would someone excitedly volunteer for the tougher challenge? How a candidate speaks to all of this gets at their core DNA and motivations, and gives a peek at how they might tackle similar situations at their next startup. So in the end, it comes down one simple thing: It's not always about what someone did. It's about what someone did that made them exceptional, especially in the company of impressive peers.

Here are 10 benefits of working in a startup over an MNC: 1. Greater Responsibility 🛠️ – You’ll have more hands-on roles and ownership of projects. 2. Faster Growth 🚀 – Startups often provide quicker career advancement opportunities. 3. Close-knit Team 🤝 – Smaller teams foster stronger relationships and collaboration. 4. Learning Opportunities 📚 – You gain exposure to multiple areas, not just your role. 5. Creative Freedom 🎨 – More flexibility to experiment with new ideas and methods. 6. Direct Impact 🎯 – Your work contributes directly to the company’s growth and success. 7. Startup Culture 🌱 – Dynamic and flexible work environments with a lot of energy. 8. Recognition 🌟 – Your efforts are noticed more quickly and appreciated. 9. Less Bureaucracy 🏃♂️ – Fewer layers of approval, leading to quicker decision-making. 10. Equity & Incentives 💰 – Potential for stock options or equity, leading to long-term financial gains.

Two Years In: Reflecting on My Startup Journey Two years ago, I took a leap of faith. Fresh out of college, while many of my classmates were landing high-paying, lucrative sales jobs at established companies, I chose a different path. I turned down a six-figure paying pharmaceutical sales position and joined a startup, instead. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Watching my peers secure six-figure offers with big-name companies made me second-guess myself more than once. They had stability, benefits, and a clear trajectory. Meanwhile, I was stepping into the unknown—an unpolished startup with no guarantees. No cushy perks, no big brand name to add to my resume. Just a dream, a team, and an idea we believed in. The easy way was right there. But something about it didn’t feel right for me. Looking back, that decision changed everything. Working at a startup has taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned anywhere else: How to embrace uncertainty: Every day is different, and nothing is guaranteed. It’s uncomfortable but exhilarating. How to build something from scratch: I’ve been in the trenches, learning by doing, and making mistakes along the way. How to wear multiple hats: I’ve been part of sales, marketing, customer success, hiring, and product brainstorming—experiences most entry-level jobs don’t give you. How to bet on myself: Every challenge pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t think were possible. Sure, the "safe" path might have been easier. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I’ve gained skills, resilience, and a mindset that will stay with me for life. To anyone considering a similar path: It’s not always glamorous. It’s not always easy. But the rewards—both personal and professional—are worth it. Here’s to taking risks, stepping out of comfort zones, and building something meaningful. Would love to hear—what was a decision you made after college that pushed you out of your comfort zone? #StartupLife #CareerGrowth #LessonsLearned #TakingTheRoadLessTraveled

Around 20 years ago, when I worked for one of the corporates, two intern engineers joined the company.   The first one was flamboyant, smart, intelligent, and overconfident. He was manipulative, projected himself as a tech wizard, never took feedback seriously, and bypassed immediate managers to reach top leadership through opportunistic conversations. He had big ambitions, thought big, and often dreamed in grand terms.   The second one was straightforward, sincere, and hardworking. He took feedback positively, worked on improving himself, and showed continuous progress—though not as flashy or flamboyant as the first one.   Today, both are settled in the US, and I happened to meet them separately. There is a common myth that Indians who move to the US live happily ever after. However, their journeys have been very different.   The first one left the corporate world long ago. He tried his luck in the startup ecosystem, failing in 3-4 ventures and is now attempting his fifth. He remains overconfident, talks only in terms of millions, and comes across as manipulative, which has led him to lose the trust of people around him.   The second one, however, climbed steadily. He is now a Leader in an top MNC, well-settled in the US. I recently happened to meet him, he continues to work hard, stays humble, helps others, and radiates contentment in both his career and life.   The lesson here is simple:   If you think you will become big, you probably won’t. But if you act consistently, work hard, hold onto your values, stay humble, and focus on growth, in the long run, success will naturally follow, and you will become bigger than you ever imagined.

🚀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱: 𝗠𝘆 𝟴-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 🚀  My journey in QA began eight years ago, fueled by a 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and a passion for ensuring digital excellence. Those early days were spent diving deep into testing theory, absorbing everything I could from textbooks and applying it to the real-world. Since then, I've had the privilege of working with companies of all sizes, from 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 such as Reface🇺🇦 to 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 VML, and across diverse technologies in both 𝘄𝗲𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 platforms.  This has been invaluable in shaping my understanding of effective QA. Over the years I was growing my technical skills in various testing methodologies, from functional and performance testing to automation and security. However, as I progressed, I realised the importance of soft skills, clear team communication and collaboration as well as 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Leading teams requires clear articulation of goals, active listening, and the ability to empower others. Two key experiences stand out in my journey. Working on large-scale projects in 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 provided invaluable insights into the best practices of structured testing. While, my time at 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 , taught me the agility and adaptability required to build robust testing processes in a rapidly evolving environment. These contrasting experiences highlighted the importance of tailoring QA approaches to the 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. My passion for testing and processes, especially within the 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, stems from a deep understanding of its crucial role in sustainable growth. QA isn't just about finding bugs; it's about 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. By catching potential issues early, we prevent costly rework down the line and lay the foundation for scalable and reliable products. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, and starting with a strong QA foundation is essential for long-term success. It's about building it right from the beginning, making scaling smoother and more efficient. #QA #QualityAssurance #SoftwareTesting #CareerJourney #Leadership #Startups #Tech #TestingProcess

🤨 Being labeled a ‘generalist’ during an interview sparked a crucial realization for me. An interviewer's recent description of me as a 'generalist' wasn't just a label to me though; it was a crucial insight into the roles I'm targetting. I've seen first-hand how this versatility fuels success in dynamic environments, particularly in startups. For starters (and I'm backing this with founder paraphrasing): we are cost-effective. But to go a bit deeper, these are some of the strengths on offer: 1. Versatility: Generalists thrive or operate more prominently in startup settings, switching context regularly and with ease, and switching between multiple projects. 2. Problem Solving: A broad knowledge base equips generalists to tackle complex challenges innovatively, where more seasoned generalists tend to have a specialization to compliment their width of experience. 3. Adaptability: There is of course, the ability to pivot with changing priorities that is not just beneficial—it's essential in the unpredictable landscape of startups, where teams are expected, if not able to operate at the pace of the founder or CEO. 4. Collaboration: The understanding across various domains is what I believe is behind the excellent work culture at startups, enabled by the movement space and ability for effective teamwork across different departments. In the world of startups, where agility and the ability to handle complex challenges are paramount, generalists don’t just fit in - they lead. 🤝 Are you a generalist who has carved out a niche in marketing or built a career through sheer adaptability? Let's connect! #marketing #generalist #career #pivot

Seek out positions that offer intense, fast-paced, and diverse experiences that propel your skills and knowledge at an accelerated rate. Such positions are typically found in high-growth industries, startups, or roles that demand rapid learning and high responsibility. However, it's important to note that these roles can also come with high stress and demands, requiring resilience, adaptability, and a strong commitment to personal and professional growth. #Contramindisms #ContramindsPodcast #RapidLearning #HighResponsibility #AdaptabilitySkills #ProfessionalGrowth #DynamicRoles #ResilienceInWork