Jaclyn Johnson has huge plans for her enterprise.
She began internet hosting occasions for ladies entrepreneurs in 2011 and formally launched her firm, Create & Domesticate, in 2015.
Within the final decade, the founder has scaled the enterprise to host 2,000-attendee gatherings, offered the corporate for $22 million, purchased it again, introduced on a brand new CEO and constructed the “Coachella for career women” — a two-day pageant with programming that features Doechii, Ciara, Aeysha Curry and Paige DeSorbo.
Johnson, 40, is now Create & Domesticate’s chief inventive officer. When she hires somebody, she seems for somebody who can transfer quick and work with huge concepts for the startup.
Considered one of her favourite interview inquiries to ask a potential rent is, “What’s a time that you just put a fireplace out?”
Jaclyn Johnson purchased again her firm, Create & Domesticate, in 2024 and has been gearing as much as host the “Coachella for profession girls” ever since.
Britt Perkins Images
Her purpose is to see how somebody operates and solves issues when factor do not go precisely as deliberate. “People who find themselves in a position to flex and transfer and adapt shortly are all the time nice for a startup atmosphere,” Johnson says.
Johnson additionally appreciates individuals who aren’t afraid to debate when issues go mistaken, or errors they’ve made and the way they’ve since mirrored on them. “My green flags are individuals who can come to an interview and likewise speak concerning the good, the unhealthy, the ugly,” she says.
Her job-interview purple flag—and methods to keep away from it
Alternatively, Johnson says her greatest job interview red flag is somebody who shows up unprepared and does not perceive the position or the corporate.
“Doing all of your due diligence earlier than you do an interview is so essential,” Johnson says. To verify this, she asks another question to gauge how a lot the candidate understands concerning the firm’s work, and extra importantly, what they give thought to the work being finished.
As an illustration, if she’s interviewing somebody for a advertising position, she’ll ask, “What do you want concerning the advertising we’re doing? What do you suppose we may do higher?”
“I am all the time so impressed when somebody has actual suggestions to supply on the enterprise and the corporate,” Johnson says. In the meantime, “in the event that they don’t have any clue about what you are promoting and even what is going on on or what you are doing, I feel that may be a purple flag.”
Create & Domesticate’s staff is lean: Within the time since Johnson’s return, the corporate has grown from fewer than 10 staff to about 15 now. Once they’re not on-site at occasions, staffers work absolutely remotely throughout New York Metropolis; Boston; Washington, DC; Nashville; San Diego and elsewhere. The corporate additionally works with a community of company companions.
Johnson says hiring for the best match and {qualifications} is essential as a distant staff. A few of her concerns embrace, “What sort of vitality do they carry to the staff by means of Zoom, which I do know sounds loopy, however it’s [important],” she says. “How is the vitality and the way do they join with you, on-line and offline? What does that appear to be? You are making an attempt to create that tradition.”
Sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get suggestions and methods for fulfillment at work, with cash and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to attach with consultants and friends.
