Do you remember your first hire? There is so much that goes into building a company, but few things matter as much the quality of the team you assemble. Given the immense importance of team building, we wanted to create a series where we ask entrepreneurs who have been there and done that, to share their stories and lessons with the community.

Danielle Yegge

From day one, my business partner, Joe, and I built Style & Structure together. With Joe’s deep roots in construction and my background in sales, marketing, and design, we naturally took on different roles to get the business off the ground. As we grew, we knew that bringing in the right people would be key to scaling successfully. Read more>>

Paul Rosenberg

I have always been a rebel hiring wise. While a good resume/cv is a starting point, I have always felt that a person who can show value trumps any lack of experience. That ability to connect with me has been proven over and over again. There are hundreds of “wow on paper” resumes that translated into not much else. Secondly, I have had some fab young hires, because the commitment and energy were there. The longer in the work force, the harder it is to overcome the ego. When I became a coach, after the first hour of my interview, my future boss said ” I like you but you are too white collar. Why should I put you in an industrial or blue-collar setting?” Read more>>

Sarah Whitson Katie Keller

We were both freelancing for ourselves and different agencies prior to joining forces and forming our own company. We had some great colleagues we knew individually, and asked if they wanted to join our team. Those first team members are truly so close to our hearts. Many of them have branched out to new locations, started families, started their own companies and product lines… we are always rooting for them. Recruiting now is a little more strategic, as we have multiple locations, and want to ensure we are providing services in a larger service range. Our training has become more specific over time, with a huge emphasis on inclusion and diversity, including styling naturally curly, coiled, kinky, and textured hair, which is often overlooked in a cosmetology school environment. Read more>>

Judy Kain

When I Opened Keep It Real Acting Studios, I had some teachers in place and they grew as we grew. I did have to hire a staff of people to help with the administration of the school itself, so I could focus more on coaching and teaching and the promotion of the Business in order to make enrollment for the acting classes easier. Enrollment is the most challenging part of having a studio. But We have been blessed with a great reputation and excelente Word of Mouth. Read more>>