We recently worked with Riccardo Pellegrini, CEO at Knode AI. Here we discuss whether early-stage CEOs should prioritize hiring top talent or developing the team they already have.

Ricky makes a clear distinction that resonates with many $1M to $5M CEOs. Large companies can afford structured development, long timelines, and formal training. Early-stage companies cannot. At this stage, you need people who can deliver fast, adapt daily, and grow by being thrown into real problems.

This mirrors a pattern I see repeatedly with first-time founding marketers. At zero-to-one, the role is not about waiting for enablement or perfect processes. It is about hiring someone who can educate product, earn sales trust, and build the playbook while executing it. Impact earns credibility. Speed earns influence.

The lesson for CEOs is simple. Early-stage growth rewards builders, not passengers. Hire people who can create momentum first, then help them grow inside the role as the company matures.

I dive deeper into this concept of building impact before infrastructure on page 164 of my bestselling business book Wisdom From Wizards. Check it out at: https://WisdomFromWizards.com/s

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