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Startups are sexy—until you realize they run on caffeine, chaos, and people who are trying to do five jobs at once. In this episode of Dear HR Diary, I chat with the brilliant Isar Bhattacharjee, startup whisperer, culture builder, and people strategist, about the beautiful, messy, fast-paced world of startups—and the very real people challenges they face.

Isar and I unpack the realities behind startup hype, from the invisible organizational debt that builds up faster than your Slack notifications, to why feedback without follow-through is just noise. If you’ve ever been in a startup, supported one, or even dreamed about launching your own—this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

🔥 What We Covered:

• The unique people challenges in startups—and why HR can't be an afterthought
• What the heck is organizational debt and how it quietly kills culture
• Creating a delivery culture that doesn’t burn people out
• Why employee engagement is critical even when you're building the plane while flying it
• The role of feedback, follow-through, and psychological safety
• Learning and development when your entire team is learning on the job
• How to drive recognition and motivation in high-growth, high-pressure environments

💡 Quote from Isar:
"Startups think speed is the advantage—but trust, clarity, and culture are what make speed sustainable."

🎯 This episode is for HR leaders, startup founders, and anyone navigating the wild ride of early-stage growth. Grab your coffee, and let’s get real about the people side of startups.

📎 Resources & Links:

• Connect with Isar Bhattacharjee: https://www.uncover.business/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isar-bhattacharjee/
• Explore Manage With Hart’s support for startups: managewithhart.com

📲 Like what you heard?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share! Tag a startup leader who needs to hear this. Your people will thank you (eventually, when they stop putting out fires).

#DearHRDiary #StartupCulture #PeopleStrategy #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalDebt #HRInStartups #FeedbackCulture #RecognitionMatters #ManageWithHart

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Website: www.managewithhart.com
Instagram: @managewithhart