The most important cultural decisions are made when hiring, as the culture becomes the people around you.

Culture is about who you are and how you behave; it's essential to be intentional about the culture you create within your team.

Culture is our biggest challenge as a company; good culture means having engaged team members who get more out of their job than they put in.

To create a successful culture, be demanding and make tough decisions about team members who aren't working out, as their performance affects the entire team. Transparency is crucial in both the early days and at scale; everyone in the company should know everything except for sensitive information like salaries.

If a culture requires certain cognitive skills, individuals may choose jobs that align with their cognitive abilities, which can be misinterpreted as a deficiency when it may simply be a matter of personal choice or cultural context.

A strong culture is defined by how well it supports high performance and retains talented individuals, not just by surface-level benefits.

Culture is a nebulous concept, but it's crucial for early-stage founders to break it down into manageable action items to foster a positive work environment.

Strong cultures align the values and behaviors of the team with what the company needs to succeed; it's about intentionality in building that culture.

Company culture is vital for long-term success, even if it doesn't seem like an immediate risk. As The Muse grew from 12 to over 80 employees, I realized that establishing core values and ensuring alignment during hiring is essential for maintaining a strong culture. The culture screen of asking if you'd want to get a beer with someone can overlook incredible candidates who are different from you.