The exciting process of growing a company rapidly can easily become an unmanageable beast if the right systems and values are not in place from the beginning. Today on Leveling Up we are joined by Kristen Wiley, who is the Founder and CEO of Statusphere, a company that has gone from strength to strength in its young lifespan. We hear from Kristen about her experiences at the helm of the ship and what it has felt like becoming the founder of such a successful company. We focus on the importance of responsible management practices and the most notable shifts and transitions that have occurred at Statusphere over this period. Our conversation touches on managing people in a remote environment, different types and styles of management, and how to balance these parts with the demands to grow. Kristen makes a clear point that her biggest role as a leader lies in her responsibilities regarding recruiting and training and all of her reflections are so filled with fresh wisdom, you are not going to want to miss this episode! Join us for a passionate and inspiring conversation with a young leader making waves!

Key Points From This Episode:

Basic information on Statusphere, the services they offer, and their journey thus far.

The growth of the company and the important points of the hiring process.

Important factors that Kristen kept in mind as she looked for new team members.

Kristen's experiences of managing a team and the lessons she learned early on.

Letting go of tasks that can stand in the way of the growth of a business.

The process of Kristen becoming a leader and reshuffling the way that Statusphere operated.

Concepts and values that Kristen prioritized when looking at candidates to hire.

Kristen's thoughts on the evolution of her management style before and during the pandemic.

The current remote setup at Statusphere and the tentative plans to go back into the office.

Challenges that Kristen and Statusphere have encountered through their transitions.

The mentors that have helped Kristen on her journey and helpful advice around smooth shifts.

Growth and succession planning at Statusphere; the meetings that address this area of sustainability.

The project of communicating a vision and goal to an entire team.

Advice that Kristen would give her past self: prioritizing a good fit, feedback, and punctual hiring.

Enabling team members to supply feedback and ask questions towards the goal of higher efficiency.

Kristen's thoughts on facilitating the right type of environment for good communication.

The skills that Kristen remains focused on sharpening and the best resources for this.

Quick advice from Kristen for anyone needing to rapidly build out a team.

Spreading expertise around a team and avoiding the trap of exclusive skills.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Leveling Up
Marlow
Kristen Wiley on LinkedIn
Statusphere
Kristen Wiley on Twitter
Nonviolent Communication