Lauren Ipsen
Talent Partner at General Catalyst
Lauren Ipsen is a Talent Partner at General Catalyst and one of the most experienced product leadership recruiters in tech, having placed over 80 senior product leaders across major companies.
Dimension Profile
Key Themes
Episode Summary
Lauren Ipsen, one of tech's most accomplished product leadership recruiters, shares tactical advice on hiring senior product leaders, including why chasing big names often backfires, the three main archetypes of product leaders, and why founders must define specific mandates before starting a search. She also advises PMs on how to position themselves for the best opportunities.
Leadership Principles
- → Hire for what the company needs today, not the biggest name in the market
- → Always keep a pulse on the market regardless of whether you're actively hiring
- → Define the specific mandate and success criteria before starting any search
Notable Quotes
"Who is going to be best for this specific role at this specific time, not necessarily who is the best talent in the world or in the market. Those are two very, very different questions to ask."
— Advising founders on the most common mistake in hiring senior product leaders
"Regardless of whether or not you're hiring, you should always be keeping a pulse on the market. That is the most important thing."
— On the importance of continuous talent awareness for both hiring managers and candidates
"Product leaders can come in a lot of different flavors, and so I think it's trying to determine where this person should major and minor, where they should spike."
— Explaining how to define the right product leader archetype for a given company stage
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