Six Leaders on Staff Positions They Didn't Think They Needed: 'This Hire Made Me Happier' Sometimes, the most important hires are ones you underestimate.
By Frances Dodds Edited by Frances Dodds
This story appears in the July 2024 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Most businesses are only as good as their employees, and sometimes they're much better off because of one particular employee. The delightful thing is that we don't always know who these magical unicorns will be until we hire them. Sometimes it's a full-time position we aren't sure was necessary; sometimes it's a freelance expert we thought might be a waste of money. And yet, very often, these people can change everything. Here, six business leaders share the hires that surprised them in the best way.
1. A project manager who enables innovation
"Several years ago, a member of my management team convinced me we needed to hire a project manager to oversee research and development. I was reluctant; my skepticism stemmed from a lack of understanding about how critical that role was to help everyone on the team better manage their projects. Now I know how wrong I was. I don't know how any company can be innovative without meticulous project management across the organization." — Frank Jaksch, CEO, Ayana Bio
2. A CEO who handles what the founders can't
"I never thought I would hire a CEO for my own company. I had successfully guided us to 30 employees, but started to feel like that growth was coming at the expense of my own personal fulfillment. I was constantly bogged down in contracting, resourcing, accounting, cash flow, payroll, etc. It became clear that to scale the business the way I wanted, I'd have to hire someone who took more joy in the numbers than me. This hire made me happier, and has allowed the business to flourish in ways I never thought possible." — Lillian Marsh, cofounder and managing principal, TinyWins
Related: How to Find an Employee Who Will Be Perfect for Your Business
3. A designer who improves products
"Hiring an illustrative designer was unexpectedly pivotal. Despite being a product visionary, my drawing skills were lacking. For years, designers executed my visions with precision, but something was missing: collaboration. Partnering with an illustrator who could merge their creativity with my insights transformed the process. It underscored that combining diverse talents can surpass individual imaginations." — Launi King, founder and CEO, Claspees
4. A brand photographer who unlocks your confidence
"I invested in a brand photographer to capture the essence of who I am, and initially, the idea of scheduling a photo shoot for myself was uncomfortable. But from the meticulous planning stage, to sitting in the chair for hair and makeup, to finally stepping in front of the camera and letting your personality shine, each step fills you with a sense of confidence and power that's often elusive when you're buried behind a computer screen for most of the day." — Marina Middleton, cofounder and CEO, Create & Cultivate
Related: 3 Strategies to Optimize Your Hiring Process and Find the Best Employees
5. An employee who takes initiative
"Once I had a startup with a dozen employees and a new office. I went out for a day of meetings, and when I returned, I learned that the refrigerator had been beeping all day, driving the staff crazy. Finally, one employee had gotten up, looked up the manual on her phone, and fixed the fridge. Within a year, she was leading the most important department in the company. People with an innate sense of responsibility and competence are worth their weight in gold." — Andy Hunter, founder and CEO, Bookshop.org
6. A specialist who unlocks new opportunities
"Last year, we were recruiting for a U.S. wholesale manager, and were approached by someone far more senior than we had in mind. We hadn't thought 'Head of Wholesale' was a position we needed, but after meeting the applicant, we saw the opportunity to build a proactive, sales-focused wholesale team. Bringing in someone with extensive specialist experience has unlocked potential globally." — Becca Stern, cofounder and creative director, Mustard Made
