ElevenLabs CEO says non-traditional hiring outside LinkedIn led to finding a 'brilliant' researcher working at a call center

In a bold move away from conventional hiring methods, ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski has discovered exceptional talent by looking beyond traditional platforms like LinkedIn. During a recent podcast with A16z partner Jennifer Li, Staniszewski shared insights into the company's unique recruitment strategy, which began in Europe. Recognizing the need for diverse problem solvers, Staniszewski emphasized that the search for talent shouldn't be confined to places like San Francisco or the West Coast. With the co-founders hailing from Poland, he noted that ElevenLabs' inception might not have occurred in the U.S. without their European roots. Their initial drive stemmed from observing cost-effective dubbing practices for foreign films in Poland, which has led them to prioritize European talent. To further enhance their workforce, ElevenLabs has adopted a non-traditional hiring approach, deliberately avoiding LinkedIn. This strategy has yielded remarkable results, including the recruitment of an outstanding researcher who previously worked in a call center while developing open-source text-to-speech models. Now a key member of the team, this individual is recognized as one of the brightest minds in data processing at ElevenLabs. As the company has scaled, Staniszewski noted the importance of integrating employees from traditional backgrounds to train newcomers effectively. The startup has established a balance between remote work and in-person offices in major cities including New York, San Francisco, Warsaw, Bangalore, Tokyo, and London, fostering a shared culture among its global workforce. In a further departure from traditional norms, ElevenLabs has eliminated job titles to create a flat organizational structure. Staniszewski highlighted that this empowers new hires to make significant contributions from day one. The company encourages a culture where intelligence and passion can lead to rapid advancement. Moreover, Staniszewski discussed how this approach instills confidence in customers, assuring them they are engaging with top talent. Internally, the focus remains on employees' core responsibilities, with the company actively managing the flow of information to minimize distractions. By limiting access to certain communications, employees can maintain their concentration, leading to enhanced productivity.