Replay: Engaging Young Employees - How to Attract the Best & Brightest Minds w/ Dan Brockwell from Earlywork

Replay: Engaging Young Employees - How to Attract the Best & Brightest Minds w/ Dan Brockwell from Earlywork

Author: Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad November 3, 2025 Duration: 44:34

What do you need to do to keep employees engaged and committed? What should your position be on remote work? Side hustles? Ping pong tables? Should you offer all employees equity?


Bringing Gen Z employees to your workplace is well worth it, but it means a mental pivot from the hiring team, keeping in mind an entirely new set of criteria.


Chris and Yaniv discuss all this and more with Dan Brockwell, Founder and Chief Meme Officer of Earlywork, a vibrant community for early-career professionals.


In this episode, you will:

  • Understand the four key factors Gen Z professionals weigh when choosing startups: learning, culture, compensation, and impact.
  • Learn why “job risk” and “career risk” are not the same and why startups often offer safer long-term bets.
  • Discover how equity (ESOPs) can be both a powerful motivator and a cultural signal of respect for young talent.
  • Explore the pros and cons of remote vs hybrid work for early-career employees and how to design hybrid intentionally.
  • Recognize the rise of side hustles, and how founders can embrace them to retain ambitious, creative employees.
  • Get insights into how Gen Z finds jobs through online communities, Slack channels, and personal branding instead of traditional job boards.


[This is a replay episode. The original was published on May 26, 2022]


The Pact 

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

  • Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
  • Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe 
  • Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  
  • Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 
  • Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following


Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A 

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/


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/


Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/



For founders tired of abstract theory and looking for the concrete mechanics of building a high-growth company, The Startup Podcast offers a direct line to actionable knowledge. Hosts Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad bypass the usual interview format to deliver focused masterclasses and tactical advice drawn from their own decades in the trenches. Each episode digs into a specific challenge, whether it's navigating the nuances of raising Venture Capital, refining product strategy, or engineering sustainable growth. This isn't about general inspiration; it's a practical guide to adopting the distinct mindset and operational approaches that fuel Silicon Valley-style disruption. Listeners will find a clear roadmap covering the essential pillars: strategy, marketing, product development, and beyond. By consistently translating complex concepts into executable steps, this podcast serves as a vital resource for entrepreneurs determined to move beyond idea and into execution. Bernstein and Saad's combined experience provides a trusted foundation, making each session feel like a focused workshop aimed at building something that truly changes the game.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Startup Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Reviewing Our 2025 Tech Predictions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
Were we wildly wrong, or surprisingly on the money? As 2025 wraps, Chris and Yaniv revisit the bold predictions they made at the start of the year. They reflect on their calls about AI, robotics, VC markets, crypto, and…
Trends in Startup Funding w/ Carta's Head of Insights, Peter Walker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:09
Looking to fund your startup? If you're new to the process, fundraising can be difficult to navigate. Not only are there a myriad of ways to go about it, but it can be hard to tell whether the tips, tricks, and advice fl…
The 4 Biggest Execution Mistakes Founders Make [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:01
Think you’re executing well? Think again. Chances are you’re making one of these four common mistakes.Drawing from Chris’s latest essay and real-world advisory experience, Chris and Yaniv spend this episode breaking down…