For founders moving fast and feeling pressure to scale, that insight alone could save months of frustration and lost momentum.

We also explore how to balance urgency with long-term fit. Darren makes a strong case for clarity before speed. Know exactly what you are hiring for. Separate cultural alignment from core competency. And resist the temptation to drag out decisions when the fundamentals are not working. His perspective is grounded in experience, including lessons learned from hires that did not close deals or deliver results.

Another standout theme in this episode is partnership. Darren explains how Vader-Rey positions itself beyond transactional recruiting. From executive succession planning to long-term workforce strategy, he describes what it really means to be trusted by leadership teams from the warehouse floor to the boardroom. For founders who want to build companies that last, long-term thinking is worth listening to.

We also dig into modern workforce models. Darren discusses his approach to building distributed teams using virtual professionals, many based in the Philippines, and how treating them as valued team members rather than outsourced support changes performance and loyalty. There is also a practical conversation around using AI for contracts, process design, and operational efficiency, something many early-stage founders will find immediately actionable.

And because no Startup Builders episode is complete without a little personality, we also touch on the story behind the Vader-Rey name, pro wrestling, hot sauce, Rocky movie montages, and the creative balance required to build a business without losing yourself in the process.

If you are a first-time founder about to make your first three hires, or a startup leader wrestling with scale, culture, and delegation, this episode offers grounded advice from someone who has built the plane while flying it.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. What was the most expensive hiring mistake you have seen, or made, and what did it teach you?