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McKinnon: Radical transparency in recruiting self-selects better long-term talent

Todd McKinnon · 20VC: Okta CEO Todd McKinnon on How To Approach Effective Decision-Making in Leadership, When Is The Right Time To Hire Recruiters and Heads of People, Balancing the Expectations of Wall St with Long Term Vision and What Truly Successful Board Management · Feb 22, 2021 · at 18:59

Todd McKinnon, co-founder and CEO of Okta, discusses recruiting tactics and why honesty about company shortcomings attracts more resilient employees than over-hyping the company.

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“You should go the other way than your instinct. You should be super transparent about that and embrace what you are. Like, don't try to be the coolest thing on the block. Embrace what you're doing. It's more effective because it's just, it comes off as more genuine and self-selects the right kind of people. Like, it self-selects the right kind of people that are actually going to be motivated and stick around with what you're trying to do. And it's going to help people that are interested in solving the problems you have because you just told them the problems you have. Versus trying to hide them.”

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