Leading through Building: How Sreyas Paravastu Shapes the Future of People and Talent

In this episode of Becoming Better with StartupExperts, Jesse Freese sits down with Sreyas, Head of People and Talent at Stay AI, and one of this year’s 25 recognized community leaders within StartupExperts. Sreyas shares her journey from starting in recruiting to leading people operations in fast-growing tech companies, including her current work in the AI space. She discusses the evolution of her career, lessons learned from scaling teams, and what it means to bring a “builder mindset” to leadership — empowering others to create, experiment, and grow using the tools and technology available today. The conversation touches on themes that resonate across the StartupExperts community: The importance of finding your professional community early — and learning through others’ experiences. How AI is transforming people and talent work, and how leaders can embrace innovation without losing the human touch. The value of self-awareness and confidence — knowing your unique strengths and using them intentionally throughout your career. Sreyas’s thoughtful perspective is a great reminder that growth comes not just from expertise, but from connection, curiosity, and a willingness to build alongside others.