Jul 23, 2025
Startups can’t afford to waste time—or budget—on the wrong tools. In this episode, Amir sits down with June Lee, Global Head of People and Culture at Twelve Labs, to unpack how to choose the right people and culture tools at the right stage. From evaluating platforms to navigating AI hype, June shares battle-tested strategies for building scalable, high-impact systems that grow with your company.
Key Takeaways
• The best tools don’t always come from the loudest vendors—June
explains why a listening-first approach trumps cold
pitches.
• Buying software is only step one. Success depends on how well you
manage change and adoption across your team.
• You don’t need a tool for everything. Manual processes still win
in early-stage environments if they save time and
budget.
• Don’t fear migrations. With the right planning, switching tools
doesn’t mean sacrificing historical data.
• AI features are everywhere—but June only pays attention when they
solve real, intentional problems (like reducing bias in
feedback).
Timestamped Highlights
00:54 — The art (not science) of picking tools that match startup
stage
02:30 — Listening tours as the foundation for tool
evaluation
05:50 — When a tool is too niche or the manual way is just
better
08:05 — How June balances “best-in-class” vs. “emerging”
tools
10:50 — Involving HR ops, finance, and security in
decision-making
14:55 — Why change management fails when you rely solely on vendor
training
17:50 — What real AI
value looks like in people platforms
21:20 — The global language bias in AI tools—and why it matters
Quote of the Episode
“The best vendor demos won’t save you if you haven’t figured out
what your team actually needs. Listen first, then build.”
Call
to Action
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