What HR trends happening in the startup space? We asked HR professionals from different startups to share their insights.

Last April 1, 2022, HR professionals and founders from different startups gathered at Draper Startup House Manila for mixHR to discuss culture & trends among HR teams from different startups.

The pandemic has changed the way we work, introducing a new culture to companies. We asked HR teams how they adapted to this new setup of remote and hybrid work, while also managing employee concerns over the pandemic.

Gino Cabigao, Head of Culture & People at Tier One Entertainment suggests, “Get the culture right first, then HR practices follow”. Nowadays, employees have 5-7 revenue as backup. For them to stay in their full-time jobs, Gino believes that implementing a “Culture over HR” mentality will help startups last longer.

Fleur Saguid, Senior Vice President for Culture at Kumu adds, “Companies should be transparent and make sure that the people they hire are aligned to the company values beyond the role.” She also suggests that “companies should make sure to allot HR a seat in the management to give advise on how we’re seeing the team and lend support on how to run the business.”

Leandro Fabregas, HR officer from Tier One Entertainment thinks that “Companies are now more focused on employee experience.” Right now, because the pandemic has significantly changed a lot of people’s priorities, Leandro explains that “it’s important for companies to sell their value and benefits.” He observed that “Companies are more transparent, goals are shared to have a better picture overall and for everyone work as one organization aligned to one goal”

On how company culture is formed, Justine Paraso, Country Operations Senior Associate from Kalibrr points out “Culture relies on expectations. It’s how its molded”. She advises for startups to start investing in their people, to provide them the support and tools they need. More than that, it’s also important for founders to give their people direction.

While the future of work remains uncertain, one thing is certain: HR must stay flexible & open and continue to keep their employees best interests at heart. At the end of the day, it’s the people that make startups grow.

Want to network with startups and founders? Like Draper Startup House Manila on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on our upcoming events!

This event is in partnership with Sinigang Valley

About Sinigang Valley:

Sinigang Valley is a place for startups, enablers, funders, or any organizations that brings synergies in helping potential and future entrepreneurs, innovators, creators, or any passionate individuals, to turn their ideas into a successful venture.

For more details, visit Sinigang Valley’s website here.

This event was sponsored by:

Pocofino Coffee

Here to bring a true Italian taste to Asia, Pocofino values an authentic coffee experience down to the finest detail. With poco meaning small, and fino meaning fine, we choose to focus on making small moments powerful– like how the tiniest coffee beans can brew a strong cup of coffee, and how that simple cup of coffee done well can turn one’s whole day around.

Selvarey Rum

SelvaRey Rum is the creation of international music sensation and life-long rum aficionado Bruno Mars. Hand crafted in the jungles of Panama, SelvaRey White elegantly blends three and five-year-old rums, distilled in 1922 copper column stills and aged in bourbon casks. The three-year-old brings the youth and vibrancy of fresh-cut sugarcane which is rounded out by the full-bodied maturity of the five-year-old. SelvaRey White is fine enough to sip on the rocks while also acting as an exceptional base for classic Cuban cocktails such as the Mojito and Cuba Libre.