How to Hire People Who Make Your Team Better: Eleonora Sharef (HireArt, YC W12)

How do you hire a stronger startup team and become a more effective leader? Eleonora Sharef, co-founder of HireArt (YC W12), joins Pioneer Fund founder and Managing Partner Jason Gray to share lessons on hiring, leadership, and defining success on your own terms. Eleonora is a Pioneer Fund Venture Partner, a former McKinsey partner, and currently Head of Philanthropic Services at Mercer Advisors. Drawing on her experience as a founder and adviser to large organizations, she explains why complementary skills matter when building a team, why recruiting starts long before a role opens, and why human connection still matters as AI changes hiring. Chapters 0:00 Defining success on your own terms 0:25 Building HireArt and learning from YC 4:55 What startups and large companies teach you 11:39 Hire people who make the whole team better 13:32 Wealth, philanthropy, and finding purpose 20:36 How leadership changes through a CEO’s career 28:06 Lessons from the pressure to grow 29:53 Adaptability without losing your identity 32:12 Measuring progress over the right time frame 35:05 Why listening makes you a better leader The Pioneer Fund Venture Partner Podcast explores the experiences and lessons of founders, operators, and experts in the Pioneer community. Subscribe for more conversations on startup building, leadership, and the founder journey. Learn more: Pioneer Fund: https://www.pioneerfund.vc/ Eleonora at Mercer Advisors: https://www.merceradvisors.com/meet-o... #StartupHiring #Leadership #YCombinator