25/11/2025
I have worked and helped build many start-ups. I agree with much of the early part of this episode says, however, as a HR/People/OD strategist, I have intentionally built fantastic cultures that then scale and maintain as the business grows. It takes a blueprint from the start.
https://youtu.be/PDg7m489d1M?si=cRFr_Rnjg8UVNQ_o
Re co-founders, I can't tell you how many issues occur between co-founders and my advice is always have a very strong chairperson who can anticipate and manage co-founders, especially co-CEO's that are often difficult is required. Don't wait until it starts going sideways.
Being honest and having high-performance systems and strong people systems and leaders is critical to start-ups and medium-size businesses and any business wanting to scale. That's why I developed both the scaling leadership blueprint (https://hrexpertsinternational.com.au/scaling-leadership-blueprint ) and the scaling business blueprint.
Being a business leader is even more difficult as you are so limited in what you can do, but we must all keep trying! Nicola underestimates what an amazing leader she has grown to be.
Mental Health & Addiction issues:-
Regarding her discussion of her co-founder's situation, I have deep compassion. Over the last 30 years, I have supported and tried to help those with significant mental health and addiction problems, and I know how hard it is to get support for them to resolve issues.
How it all ended up is just so sad, but is not just entrepreneurs, it's employees, your colleagues, your clients, your friends and of course family members. Severe mental health issues are unbelievably difficult to get help for.
One thing that fails dramatically is the mental health systems - whether it's psychiatrists, mental health hospitals or other professionals in the area, it is often near impossible to get proper help,at least in the UK and Australia.
As a behavioural specialist, it is even more heart-breaking when you know there is something significantly wrong and the path, but a 15-20 minute consult with a "professional" tends to be unhelpful as they do not spend the time or have a holistic perspective. The system, like most things health-related, needs an overhaul.
I think we'd all be shocked about how many people actually fall into the abyss without help and depart us. It is terribly heartbreaking and so very stressful as someone trying to help, and I have deep compassion for this lady's story, but it is just one of thousands per year!
Let's hope systems improve dramatically for those that need proactive help. Yes, there is free will, and some people are self-destructive are very determined to self-destruct, but we need to have more specialised help early. The aftermath is also very important to process and deal with.
Being kind, having strong awareness, being empathetic, and having true care as a leader, family member, friend or a colleague, we need to remember, no one knows what people are truly going through.
Vanessa
About the Book Vanessa Giannos is an author, speaker, CEO and Founder of the Scaling Leadership and Scaling Business Blueprints. With 35 years of global experience (Start-ups to Corporates), Vanessahas helped thousands of leaders and businesses transform and scale-up. Vanessa is a world leading expe...
