ProenX tackles an age-old question: hire externally or promote internally?
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Hi readers,
As I progress in my career, I’ve realized that what’s on someone’s resume doesn’t always predict performance. And that’s not to say they’re necessarily bad workers, but sometimes it’s more about “fit.”
Someone can be an alumnus of a top school or come from a leading consulting firm, but that doesn’t mean they are automatically a great hire.
That’s what Pavan Panchamukhi found out as he built his retail tech startup, ProenX. As the company grew, he decided to bring in senior salespeople from outside the firm.
But as it turns out, the fit wasn’t there. Instead, it was the startup’s longtime employees, who understood the company and its mission inside and out, that ultimately did a better job.
For more, check out my story on how ProenX navigated these hurdles on its way to profitability.
— Putra Muskita, journalist at Tech in Asia
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Image credit: Timmy Loen
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