As AI enables smaller, faster teams, companies need to hire people who are curious, adaptable and trusted to make independent decisions. That is the argument of Eric Francia, co-founder and CEO of Uniplay, who writes from his experience as a six-time founder.
Francia argues that "AI by design" means more than building autonomous systems. It also means creating autonomous humans. The people around a leader shape the company in ways that cannot be controlled, so leaders need colleagues they trust to make decisions when they are not in the room. Job roles are also shifting quickly. The World Economic Forum has said that 59% of employees will need to reskill by 2030 as AI reshapes the workplace, so hiring for a fixed set of skills will not be enough.
Curiosity is the trait Francia values most in a hire. He looks beyond experience and credentials to what candidates have built on their own initiative. A team that feels free to share new ideas and question outdated practices is better placed to adapt. Giving employees real responsibility also helps. People who understand and help drive company vision make better decisions, stay engaged and are often the first to spot problems in the product.
Retention matters more as companies shrink. Losing a top performer costs more when there are fewer people to begin with, and boredom spreads quickly in a small team. Francia recommends investing in development, keeping teams learning and continuing to encourage curiosity, because a bored employee is more likely to be lured away by a recruiter.
Source: Crunchbase News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing