Sales Talent Agency

In last week’s Topline Newsletter, Asad Zaman called BS on “Founder Mode” 💩 If you haven’t read Paul Graham’s essay Founder Mode, you should. It set the start-up world buzzing, with polarizing responses. In PG’s essay, he draws a sharp distinction between “Founder Mode” and “Manager Mode,” with a clear preference for a founder’s approach to leadership. A key worry about leaning into “Founder Mode” is that it alienates those non-founder operators who dedicate their careers to helping founders fully realize their visions. The reality is, there is NO one-person company in the S&P 500. Creating great companies means creating great partnerships and great teams. Partnership, trust, and teamwork are the necessary building blocks to any successful organization. While there might be some “professional fakers” out there who could damage your company, there are also fantastic leaders who will help you transform and scale your business. Perhaps the real lesson founders should take away from the discourse on “Founder Mode” is that they need to become better at hiring top talent and at taking ownership when they make hiring mistakes. Let’s celebrate the fantastic collaboration between founders and managers that takes place every day and strengthens the start-up ecosystem! Does “Founder Mode” help or hurt the balance between founders and professional managers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments 💭 We’ve linked PG’s full essay and last week’s TopLine newsletter below 👇🏽 #leadership #startups #foundermode #management #tech

It’s always worth it to keep your eye out for new opportunities, that might provide a step forward in your career 🚀 Here are our top five roles of the week: 1️⃣ Senior Account Executive, Public Sector (#Remote) with a developer of a stakeholder engagement and resource management platform offers digital services for budgeting, permitting, procurement, and transparency. The company's comprehensive suite of solutions supports state and local governments with essential functions such as procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, and permitting. 2️⃣ Account Executive (#Toronto) with a leading outsourced IT support provider in North America. They save time and reduce risk for IT teams at midmarket and enterprise businesses. They are seeking an Account Executive to start up a new vertical on their sales team. 3️⃣ Account Manager (#Windsor) with a leading provider of fire and life safety services. They offer inspection, maintenance, repair, design, and installation on a variety of systems for commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental facilities. 4️⃣ Account Executive (#Kelowna) with one of the leading Managed Service Providers in the Western Canadian market! With a strong technical team, brand recognition, and YOY growth, they are continuing to grow their sales team. At this moment, they are looking for a proven Account Executive to join their team in Kelowna to help grow their presence in the Interior region. 5️⃣ Territory Sales Representative (#Toronto) with a third-party logistics provider with a focus on freight transportation and supply chain management across Canada and the U.S. Founded in 1988, this company has decades of experience in delivering reliable and efficient logistics solutions. They pride themselves on their commitment to customer satisfaction by providing personalized services tailored to each client's unique needs and ensuring timely, cost-effective deliveries across various industries. The full job descriptions are linked in the comments. Please apply directly to any that interest you, and browse our job board for even more openings! 👇 #Hiring #Sales #CanadaJobs #STAtoday 

We have to admit, Georgia Masaki and Sheldon Derton are truly a dream team 🌟 There’s nothing better than knowing that a team of top-notch recruiters has your back! Our recruitment team provides support and coaching throughout the interview process, ensuring your career transition is easy and exciting. Thank you so much for this review, Michael! 💚 #SalesTalent #Recruitment #SalesRecruitment

Starting a company today is a complex, ever-evolving journey. (Remote work? COVID-19? AI? Inflation? Yikes! 😱) In last week’s Topline Newsletter, AJ Bruno explored the heightened complexity that start-up founders face in today’s market. While classic advice for start-up founders remains relevant, modern founders face unique challenges. AJ & Asad Zaman distill three key “secrets”  to navigate the path to start-up success: 🔎 Obsess Over the Problem, Not the Solution The best founders aren’t just passionate about their product—they’re deeply committed to solving the core problem. By focusing on understanding the problem, you open the door to innovative solutions. It’s not just about having an answer; it’s about making sure the problem you’re solving truly matters. 🌟 Build a Team of A-Players The success of your startup hinges on the people you bring on board. Never settle for mediocrity. A-Players drive excellence, while lower standards can create misalignment and hinder progress. Prioritize top talent to ensure your team is equipped to tackle the toughest challenges. 📈 Align Incentives with Outcomes Driving your company forward requires more than just good intentions. Clear, well-designed incentive structures ensure that every team member is motivated to achieve the organization’s goals. When everyone’s efforts are aligned with the company’s vision, sustainable growth follows naturally. In today’s fast-paced environment, these principles can make the difference between just another startup and a truly transformative company. We’ve linked the full newsletter in the comments below 👇🏼

Everyone on the Vancouver STA team is a fantastic recruiter … but we’re not all great bowlers 😅 Last week, the team came together for a friendly (ie. extremely competitive and frustration-fuelled) bowling tournament followed by a relaxed Happy Hour hang at The Parlour in Yaletown 🍻 Being a remote-focused organization, it’s not often that we all get to connect in person. This was a great opportunity to catch up and spend quality time as friends and colleagues. There’s nothing better than beer & pizza with friends! We’re looking forward to more days like these 🍕

Ready to take the next step in your career? 👀 Here are our top five roles of the week: 1️⃣ Sales Manager (#Toronto) with a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles here in Canada! Experts in low-speed vehicles, like ATVs, UTVS, and golf carts, the company has been dedicated to pioneering sustainable transportation solutions in Canada. 2️⃣ National Account Manager (#Montreal #Toronto) with a 60-year-old industry leader specializing in storage solutions, fleet management, lift trucks, and service, is seeking a dynamic addition to their sales team. With over 800 dedicated employees and a commitment to excellence, our client is renowned for their unparalleled customer service and innovative solutions. 3️⃣ Outside Sales Representative (#Edmonton) with a proudly Canadian-owned and operated wholesale distributor specializing in occupational health and safety equipment, clothing, gear, and more. With multiple warehouses across Canada, they have established themselves as a leader in the safety industry. 4️⃣ Account Executive (#Toronto) with a SaaS-based Vendor Management solution. They offer vendor management, contract management, and vendor portal solutions to help customers automate, delegate and gain control of their master data, reducing risk, improving compliance and maximizing value from their supply chain. 5️⃣ Territory Sales Representative (#Toronto) with a company with over 100 years of experience in crafting high-quality linens for the healthcare, hospitality, and retail sectors. As North America's leading textile provider, our client is dedicated to delivering exceptional value, personalized service, and sustainable solutions with reusable textiles and eco-friendly practices. The full job descriptions are linked in the comments. Please apply directly to any that interest you, and browse our job board for even more openings! 👇 #Hiring #Sales #CanadaJobs #STAtoday 

It's Friday! We did it. We've reached the end of the week AND the end of the month–and we're being rewarded with the last long weekend of the Summer ☀️ How will you be spending your extra time this Labour Day long weekend? 🏡 Enjoying some well-deserved downtime at home 🌲 Hiking, camping, or hitting the beach 📚 Diving into a book, art, or other passions 🚗 Exploring new places or visiting family and friends

Venture Capital was the worst performing asset class in 2022 & 2023. But, it was also #1 or #2 in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021. Private Equity (Growth & Buyout) was #1 or #2 in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. ----- There are many great asset classes in the world. Many places to deploy capital and make great returns for investors. But the best performing asset classes - like VC and PE - also have lots of risk associated with them. By understanding the risks, knowing how to mitigate them and picking well, investors are able to create alpha for their LPs. Investors are also able to spread their capital across multiple bets to hedge against risk, and by playing this game, they can take an L in stride. Employees though can only work at one company at one time. So, picking well becomes a core competency that has to be developed IF you want a great career. And that starts with understanding the various types of businesses out there. In tech, that means really understanding the difference between a VC funded business, a PE owned business, a bootstrapped business or a publicly traded business. It also means understanding the difference between companies at various stages in their life cycle. The mission at the Series A stage is very different to the mission at the Series C stage. The mission at a $10M ARR PE owned business is very different to a $100M ARR PE owned business. How equity works in each of these businesses is also very different. Understanding these differences allows you to reflect and identify the right spot to deploy your most precious asset: your time. Most do not understand these differences. So they end up making bets that have a horrible risk vs upside ratio for them. Sometimes those bets workout. Most of the time they don't. By understanding the differences you won't be reducing risk to 0%. BUT, you will be reducing it significantly, and that's something worth investing time and energy into. -----

In last week’s Topline Newsletter, Asad Zaman warned against blindly placing trust in founders and start-ups that throw around ✨ “razzle-dazzle signals” ✨ (Razzle-dazzle start-ups seem glitzy and exciting, but haven’t figured out product-market fit or AT LEAST shared convincing data regarding smart capital allocation.) He says: “There’s a real difference between founders who shape the world, and founders who shape-shift to manipulate investors and employees. But rarely is it visible to the untrained eye. Part of the problem is that we love rooting for the underdog. When we come across a David vs Goliath story, we cheer for the little guy, suspending our skepticism. As employees, we know we are taking on significant risk when we decide to join a startup, so we tend to give them more leeway. But not all risks are equal. Some are worth taking, others are not. We need to focus on asking about the unglamorous data that will actually tell us what we’re getting ourselves into.” We’ve linked the full newsletter in the comments below 👇🏼

Brandon Miller was 43 when he took his life. Artem Tepler was 41 when he took his life. Nir Meir was in his late 40s when he allegedly spun a web of fraud that led him to Rikers. 3 very different tales, but all manifestations of the crushing pressures of being a real estate developer. A ten31 Media production📽️