How to find and keep a top team

Join us at Smart Cookies for an evening dedicated to one of the biggest challenges facing founders and business leaders today: attracting, nurturing, and retaining exceptional talent in the startup space.

In a highly competitive landscape, having the right team can make or break your success. But how do you attract top talent that not only has the skills but also aligns with your values? Where are these experts hiding, and how do you ensure they stay and thrive within your organisation?

This event will dive into crucial questions such as:

• How does rapid growth impact your culture, and how can you best prepare for it?
• How do you improve accountability and engagement within a team?
• How can you break down silos and foster collaboration across teams?
• How do you attract top talent to your organisation?
• What are the best ways to motivate your teams?

Join our industry experts and thought leaders as they debate these topics and more. You’ll leave with fresh insights and actionable strategies for finding and keeping the best talent. Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, and sharpen your approach to building a successful, people-driven business.

Meet our expert panel

Elle Chappell, CareScribe: Elle is a bold challenger of conventional HR thinking, passionate about transforming the workplace to meet the demands of tomorrow. With a focus on innovation in people strategy, she pushes the boundaries of traditional practices, seeking out novel approaches that create competitive advantage. Whether it's optimising performance, enhancing employee experience, or driving meaningful change, Elle brings a dynamic perspective to leadership and strategy.

Alan Furley, ISL Talent: Alan partners with ambitious founders and scaleup leaders to master the art of building exceptional teams. He provides tailored support to startups, from refining hiring processes to devising effective strategies for talent growth and retention. With deep expertise in aligning culture with hiring practices, Alan ensures that companies not only find the right talent but also retain top performers as they scale. As a mentor and advisor with experience across multiple accelerators and business networks, Alan’s insights are rooted in hands-on experience. He has a track record of guiding both founders and job seekers through the complexities of startup hiring, making him an invaluable resource for anyone looking to navigate the startup landscape.

Alicia Grimes, The Future Kind Collective: Alicia is a leader in crafting impactful, human-centred cultures for startups and growing businesses. With over 15 years of experience in service design and strategy, she focuses on building robust company Operating Systems that foster sustainable growth. Her expertise in culture development has led her to collaborate with renowned organisations like ITV, NHS, and Pizza Hut Digital Ventures, making her a go-to expert in designing scalable, customer-centric cultures. Alicia’s approach is all about integrating design thinking into the core of an organisation, transforming the way businesses operate and engage with their people. If you're looking to understand how culture can be a driver of business success.