S. 2 Ep 18: Startups Are People Too with Isar Bhattacharjee

Send us Fan MailStartups 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 afterthoughtWhat the heck is organizational debt and how it quietly kills cultureCreating a delivery culture that doesn’t burn people outWhy employee engagement is critical even when you're building the plane while flying itThe role of feedback, follow-through, and psychological safetyLearning and development when your entire team is learning on the jobHow 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 #ManageWithHartSupport the showConnect with Dawn:Website: www.managewithhart.comInstagram: @managewithhart