You know that brutally honest mate who tells it like it is? That’s exactly what you’re getting in this unfiltered chat between HARWELL. founders Adam Powell and Harvey Rivers.

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Join them as they dive into the gritty reality of building a startup business from scratch.

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The lads also share their “hot takes” on the decisions that keep entrepreneurs up at night - from hiring and culture, to leadership and growth.

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It's a real-time look at the challenges and contradictions every early-stage founder faces.

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Key business questions covered:

✅Is company culture more important than salary when hiring top talent?

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✅Should founders hire friends, or is that a recipe for disaster?

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✅What is the most effective leadership style?

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✅When should you fire fast, even if someone is performing on paper?

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✅Is LinkedIn more powerful than your website when you're building your brand?

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Adam & Harvey also reveal the cost of growth, how they handle toxic top performers, and why business leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room.

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They also explore:

👉The real ROI of team perks, culture-building retreats, and founder vulnerability

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👉Why personal branding and authenticity matter more than polished websites

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👉How values, identity, and lifestyle impact your ability to scale

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👉The uncomfortable truth about replacing underperformers

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👉How to scale a business without losing yourself in the process

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Key Moments:

00:01:00 Hot Takes Introduction

00:02:20 Culture vs Salary

00:08:00 Company Culture Responsibility

00:12:00 ROI on Perks

00:16:00 Fire Fast Philosophy

00:20:40 Toxic Top Performers

00:22:20 Leadership and Likability

00:25:40 Founders Hiring Friends

00:30:00 Founder as Brand

00:34:00 LinkedIn vs Website

00:41:00 Rapid Fire Round

00:48:40 Business Hill to Die On

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Whether you're a recruiter, consultant, startup founder, or just figuring out how to grow a business - this episode gives you a dose of truth and reality that you might need.