Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our Careers
Your career is more than just a job—it’s a chance to create an impact and find personal fulfillment. This podcast explores the journeys of business leaders, uncovering how work shapes our lives, the world, and what makes a career truly meaningful.
Hosted by Greg Martin, a Toronto-based investment banker and M&A advisor, the show dives into the deeper questions behind our careers—why we work, what drives success, and how our professional lives shape the world around us. In an era of AI, career freedom, and globalization, the meaning of work is evolving, leaving many to question its true purpose.
Through conversations with founders, business leaders, and investors across private equity, public markets, and venture capital, the podcast uncovers insights from those who have built, grown, and influenced some of North America's most successful companies. It also features advisors, consultants, and investment bankers who help shape the future of business, sharing lessons from their wins, losses, and defining career moments.
Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our Careers
Going to Work at a “Rocket Ship” Startup to Make it Rich with Nahed Khairallah
Episode 85. Finding a fast growing business that is ready to grow like a rocket is tough, but we’ve all heard the stories of employees who join early and cash-in big with stock options on an exit. The nuances behind finding, nurturing and growing those companies is hard. Sometimes the great ideas with lots of momentum go to zero.
In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Nahed Khairallah, an HR expert and former founder who has worked with over 100 companies. Karela shares his unique journey from IT to HR, driven by curiosity about why successful companies fail.
They discuss the common pitfalls of scaling startups, particularly issues with founders hoarding work and rapid, unmanaged hiring. Karela offers insights into identifying when to hire, fixing internal processes first, and engaging employees in the company’s vision. Learn valuable lessons on building strong organizational infrastructure and the importance of effective communication from an HR professional who emphasizes process improvement over immediate hiring.
- 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
- 00:23 Meet Nahed Khairallah: HR Expert and Founder
- 01:20 Nahed's Journey into HR
- 03:39 Pro Bono Work and Building Expertise
- 11:42 Scaling Companies: Common Challenges
- 15:51 Identifying a Good Place to Work
- 21:21 Hiring the Right People for Startups
- 26:09 Hiring the Right People: Key Strategies
- 27:09 Addressing Internal Issues: A Case Study
- 34:58 Transforming Company Culture
- 42:14 The Role of HR in Scaling Startups
- 43:37 Podcast Insights and Common Themes
- 48:10 Connecting with the Podcast Host