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.

Emily Ramirez

Not only did I have a team from day 1 of opening BABS Comedy Club, but I don’t think I would have had the desire to start this business or the stamina to push through the opening day if not for my team. The people who started on the ground floor with me were my fellow cast members, producing partners, and friends. Read more>>

Jennifer Barnes

Building a Team Through Culture, Not Compromise When I started Optima Office seven years ago, I wasn’t starting from zero – but I was starting from scratch in a way that mattered most. At my previous firm, PBO Advisory Group, I’d developed a philosophy that became my north star: Happy Team = Happy Clients. Read more>>

Tessa Franchini

At the start, it was just the two of us, a lot of coffee, and a small private office in a collaborative woodworking studio in Seattle. We were surrounded by creative people making things with their hands, which felt fitting since we were building something, too, just in a different way. Read more>>

Cheri Knight

We opened our doors with just one employee (Travis Scarbrough) and one invaluable friend (Dan Warren) who helped us get started out of sheer kindness. He believed in us, had the time to spare, and simply wanted to see us succeed. Our very first employee had only worked as a delivery driver. Read more>>

Lamar Banks

The Story of LaFamilia Tour LaFamilia didn’t start as a brand. It started as a vibe. Back in high school, I was the new kid—nobody knew who I was, but that didn’t last long. My friends and I decided to throw a pool party, and honestly, we had no idea what was about to happen. It was lit. One of those nights that feels unreal. Read more>>

Joshua Halter

When I founded my business in 2017, I started with just myself and my wife. After about 6 months of 60 – 70 hour work weeks and my entire house becoming the shipping station/business product creation/customer care office I was able to expand into my first commercial space. That is when I decided to finally bring in some staff on a 1099 (contractors). Read more>>