One of the toughest challenges in early-stage startups is managing employee career development. Unlike big corporations, startups thrive on chaos, ownership, and self-driven growth, meaning traditional professional development programs often fall flat.

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down the harsh realities of career development in startups and explain why founders must rethink how they motivate and retain talent.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Why startups don’t (and shouldn’t) offer structured career development programs.
The key differences between career growth in startups versus big companies.
Why hiring A-players is just the start—and keeping them motivated is the real challenge.
How to spot red flags in employees who can’t thrive in unstructured environments.
Why startup culture, vision, and momentum matter more than promotions and titles.
How founders can maintain a culture of ownership and motivation without the luxury of corporate resources.
The uncomfortable truth about spoon-feeding employees and why self-driven growth is key.

Whether you're a founder feeling blindsided by employee demands or an aspiring startup employee, this episode provides invaluable insights to help you navigate the unique landscape of career growth in the startup world.

The Pact

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

Key links

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://chrissaad.com/advisory/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Chris on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits

Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Justin McArthur⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Content Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/
Intro Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeremiah Owyang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Career Progression at Startups - Caution: NOT How Big Companies Do It (Edu)

The Startup Podcast