Fractional executive job postings have grown over 400% since 2020 according to LinkedIn's Workforce Report. That is a structural shift in how startups build leadership teams, and it changes the math on almost every hiring decision you will make for the next 5 years.

This episode is personal. I run a fractional HR practice and I have done this work across dozens of startups, and I have a clear perspective on what works, what does not, and where the model is heading. I am also honest about the limitations that most people in the space don't talk about.

I share my thoughts and observations from 15+ years offering fractional HR services and close with a 5-step playbook for founders who want to hire fractional leaders.

Most startup HR dashboards are noise. In this episode, I explain why the metrics built for enterprise HR teams fall apart at startups and what to track instead.

I walk through the 5 metrics every startup under 100 employees should actually track. Each one comes with a benchmark range pulled from credible sources, plus the formula and a real example from my work.

I also talk about how to set benchmarks with zero historical data, and how to translate HR metrics into the language CEOs and boards respond to.

Finally, I'll leave you with a 5-step plan you can execute this week to start using these 5 metrics.

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The AI hype on LinkedIn is not written by people who have run HR at a 50-person startup. In this episode, I take on the consultants, influencers, and vendors pushing the idea that you are falling behind if you have not adopted 15 AI tools yet.

I sort startup HR AI use cases into 3 categories: Real and useful today, Promising but wait, and Pure hype at your stage

I'll also leave you with the playbook for a solo HR person who wants to implement AI but doesn't know where to start.