How to Build High-Performing Teams at Every Stage of Your Startup

How to Build High-Performing Teams at Every Stage of Your Startup

Author: Burkland December 2, 2025 Duration: 27:35
(00:00:00) How to Build High-Performing Teams at Every Stage of Your Startup
(00:00:17) Introduction
(00:01:00) Lidiya’s Background
(00:01:44) Focus of Build It Labs
(00:02:54) Three Components of Operations
(00:04:12) The Importance of Getting “People” Right
(00:05:10) Hiring Across Startup Stages
(00:08:00) Early-Stage Hiring Challenges
(00:10:13) Hiring Pitfalls and Structured Interviewing
(00:14:42) Combining Data and Intuition
(00:16:05) Defining Success Up Front
(00:19:18) Tactical Interview Tips
(00:22:29) The Roundtable Decision Process
(00:25:55) Final Words of Wisdom for Founders

In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Lidiya Becker, a seasoned operator and founder of Build It Labs, who’s helped countless startups navigate the challenges of rapid growth. She’s been in the trenches and knows what it really takes to build operational processes and teams that can scale effectively.

Our conversation focuses on teams, and Lidiya walks through her Purpose, People, and Process framework—a simple but powerful way for startups to grow sustainably and build high-performing teams. She also shares must-hear advice on avoiding the hiring mistakes so many founders make, like failing to define the ideal candidate before interviews begin or skipping a rigorous interview process.

We discuss:
  • Who to hire at each growth stage of your startup
  • How to approach interviews as an investigation, not a vibe check
  • Lidiya’s “Hell Yes” rule for hiring
If you’re a founder gearing up to scale or preparing for your next mission-critical hire, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn
🔗 Learn more about Build It Labs: builditlabs.com


Chapters:

00:17 – Introduction
01:00 – Lidiya’s Background
01:44 – Focus of Build It Labs
02:54 – Three Components of Operations
04:12 – The Importance of Getting “People” Right
05:10 – Hiring Across Startup Stages
08:00 – Early-Stage Hiring Challenges
10:13 – Hiring Pitfalls and Structured Interviewing
14:42 – Combining Data and Intuition
16:05 – Defining Success Up Front
19:18 – Tactical Interview Tips
22:29 – The Roundtable Decision Process
25:55 – Conclusion & How to Connect

Tuning into Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors feels less like attending a formal lecture and more like pulling up a chair in a room full of people who have actually built and funded companies. Hosted by the team at Burkland, the conversations here move beyond theory to focus on the tangible, often messy, realities of scaling a business. You’ll find episodes that feel timely, addressing the specific challenges and opportunities that founders and investors are navigating right now. The dialogue is driven by guests who have lived it-founders recounting pivotal moments from their journey and investors explaining the nuances behind their decisions. This isn't about generic advice; it's about the operational details that make or break growth. Each discussion naturally narrows in on a single, critical pressure point, whether that's untangling a complex financing round, refining a go-to-market strategy, or building a culture that can withstand rapid hiring. The value of this podcast lies in its specificity and the credibility of the voices featured. It serves as a practical resource for anyone actively involved in the lifecycle of a startup, offering perspectives that are immediately applicable to your own work. By focusing on real stories and current trends, the series provides a grounded, actionable look at what genuine progress requires from both sides of the founder-investor relationship.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors
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