#1. Can today’s startups be as employee-obsessed as they are customer-obsessed?
“If employee well-being and company culture aren’t as equal a measure of success,” writes Jaime Schmidt, former CEO and founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, “then it begs the question: Have you created an environment that encourages the pursuit of profit, in spite of the human costs?” The question arises because of the scandal surrounding Away, the luggage company that replaced its CEO amid reports of a toxic working culture. Schmidt considers whether the startup world’s determination to be ‘customer obsessed’ can create a poor environment for employees. This is an interesting read filled with examples from Schmidt’s own experience.