Organized Chaos

podcast artwork

Podcast by Nahed Khairallah

Organized Chaos

Organized Chaos is a podcast dedicated to helping 7-figure companies grow to 9-figure ones by turning HR into rocket fuel for their growth. I'm your host Nahed Khairallah, and I've been helping companies do just that for more than a decade. In each episode, I'll dive into HR topics that have a significant impact on your company's growth and leave you with actionable advice that will help your business reach its full potential.
Listen onApple Podcasts
Listen onSpotify
Listen onPandora
Listen oniHeartRadio
Listen onDeezer

Latest episodes

episode artwork

13 January 2026

Ep. 38 - The Human Side of AI: Why Leadership, Not Technology, Decides the Future of Work

In this episode, I sat down with Nikki Barua to explore what it really takes to build a long‑term company in the age of AI. Together, we unpack when it makes sense to bootstrap versus raise capital, how misaligned investors can quickly push out founders, and why many businesses would be healthier if they grew more patiently instead of chasing funding as a badge of honor.

The conversation then turns to who should own AI enablement (IT vs HR), why putting AI solely in IT is a red flag, and how to rethink headcount: not as “how many jobs can we cut,” but as “which tasks and roles can AI absorb so humans can move into higher‑value work.”

Links:

  • Nikki Barua's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua
  • FlipWork website: https://www.flipwork.ai/

Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the newsletter to receive additional exclusive content.

Got a Question or Topic Suggestion?

00:00

37:41

episode artwork

30 December 2025

Ep. 37 - How Profit Sharing Turns Employees into Owners

In this episode of the Organized Chaos podcast, I explore profit sharing as a strategy for business growth with my guest Rob Gallagher, CEO of Profit X.

Rob shares his journey from an unplanned construction business owner to a seasoned entrepreneur advocating for strategic profit sharing. He illustrates how aligning employee and organizational goals can transform company culture and drive explosive growth.

Through personal anecdotes and insights, Gallagher emphasizes the importance of clarity and setting clear expectations in profit sharing, warning of initial pitfalls and highlighting the model’s potential to evolve companies into powerhouse businesses.

Links:

  • Rob Gallaher's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgallaher
  • ProfitX website: https://profitx.co
  • Profit Sharing book: https://a.co/d/bgTgdsk

Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content.

Got a Question or Topic Suggestion?

00:00

31:03

episode artwork

16 December 2025

HR Compliance Essentials for Startups

In this episode, I am joined by Halisi Tambuzi, J.D., an expert in HR workplace investigations, to demystify the often-intimidating world of HR compliance for startups. Many early-stage companies place HR on the back burner, but as Halisi explains, this can lead to significant legal, financial, and cultural consequences. We dive into the practical steps founders and leaders can take to build a compliant and resilient organization from the ground up.

This conversation is a must-listen for any startup founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur who wants to understand the "when" and "how" of implementing HR best practices without breaking the bank.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Common HR Blind Spots for Startups: Why are small companies and startups particularly vulnerable to HR compliance issues? We break down the common misconceptions and challenges they face.
  • The Right Time to Focus on HR: Is it after the first hire? The tenth? The twentieth? We identify the key milestones and triggers that signal a startup must prioritize creating HR infrastructure.
  • The High Cost of Non-Compliance: We explore the tangible risks—from legal liabilities and costly investigations to damage to company culture and morale—that come from neglecting HR compliance.
  • Lean HR Strategies: Discover how resource-constrained startups can effectively manage HR needs through smart strategies like fractional HR support and leveraging the right technology.
  • Avoiding Workplace Conflicts: We share insights into the most frequent mistakes that lead to internal investigations and how proactive HR policies can prevent them.
  • The Future of HR: A look at how emerging trends like artificial intelligence and the permanence of remote work are reshaping the landscape of HR compliance and presenting new challenges for employers.

Guest Information

Halisi Tambuzi, J.D., is a seasoned expert in workplace investigations and HR compliance. With a background that bridges law and human resources, she provides critical guidance to companies to help them foster fair, respectful, and compliant work environments.

Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content.

Got a Question or Topic Suggestion?

00:00

39:23

episode artwork

02 December 2025

Ep. 35 - The New HR Frontier

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Gwenevere Crary, founder of Guide to HR and host of the "Scaling with People" podcast. Gwenevere is a strategic visionary in the HR world and she shares her forward-thinking approach to AI-enabled HR strategies and the unique challenges startups face as they scale.

Key Topics Discussed

  • Guinevere's Journey to HR: From a background in actuarial mathematics to leading people operations in high-growth startups.
  • AI Enablement in HR: How to leverage AI to automate tasks you hate and augment your own skills, whether in writing or data analysis.
  • The Future of HR with AI: A look at advanced AI applications, including a 24/7 AI coach for managers that facilitates role-playing for difficult conversations and tracks employee development goals.
  • New Skills for HR Professionals: The need for HR leaders to possess deep business acumen, understand company financials, and think like a business operator. The traditional, admin-heavy HR role is obsolete.
  • Challenges in Scaling Startups: Advice for HR professionals on how to gain credibility, present themselves as strategic partners, and build crucial relationships with leadership.
  • HR's Role in Owning Technology: Why HR is positioned to own AI implementation, ensuring its use is safe, unbiased, and effective for the entire organization.
  • The Hard Truth: Knowing when to leave a role if you no longer have the trust and alignment with leadership to be effective.

Links

Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content.

Got a Question or Topic Suggestion?

00:00

34:06

episode artwork

18 November 2025

Ep. 34 - The Interview Question Framework that Predicts Success

Episode Overview

In this episode, I dive deep into how startups can turn chaotic, gut-driven hiring into a scalable, data-driven system that fuels high-growth.

I'll break down a six-step framework for building a structured interview process that dramatically improves hiring accuracy and reduces bias. The episode includes a practical guide, actionable templates, and introduces an AI-powered tool for automating competency-based interviews.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Pitfalls of Traditional Interviews

2. The Need for a Structured System

3. Identifying Core Competencies

4. Defining Proficiency Levels

5. Formulating Effective Questions

6. Writing Competency-Based Questions

7. Developing a Scoring Framework

8. Making the Hiring Decision

Tools & Resources

Free AI-Powered Interview Question Builder: Automatically extracts competencies from job descriptions and generates interview questions and rubrics based on the framework I discussed on the podcast.

00:00

17:11

episode artwork

04 November 2025

Ep. 33 - Turning Startup Challenges into Opportunities

In this episode of Organized Chaos, I am joined by Vijay Rajendran, an executive coach, advisor, and author who helps startup founders navigate their biggest challenges: fundraising, sales, and people management.

You'll learn about:

  • The Four-Phase Funding Framework
    • Phase 1 - Storytelling: Moving beyond the pitch to craft a compelling narrative about your company's purpose and vision.
    • Phase 2 - Organization: The importance of preparation, including having your data room and deck in order.
    • Phase 3 - Strategic Outreach: Treating fundraising like an enterprise sale by targeting investors for whom your business is a perfect fit, avoiding the demoralizing "spray and pray" method.
    • Phase 4 - Closing with Confidence: Why founders must aggressively project manage the closing process to avoid last-minute pitfalls.
  • Founder-Led Sales and Product-Market Fit
    • How to create a value proposition that speaks directly to what customers value (e.g., speed, cost savings) rather than just your own passion for the product.
    • Identifying the early signs of product-market fit, where you feel a "pull" from the market.
  • Scaling Teams and Organizational Structure:
    • The common mistake of copying traditional corporate org structures and the importance of designing a structure that enables your specific business strategy.
    • The evolution of a founder from "Chief Everything Officer" to a "Chief Enablement Officer."
  • Building a Resilient Company Culture:
    • Culture isn't about handbooks; it's about intentionally designing how your team works together based on shared values and purpose.
    • If you don't define your culture, it will form on its own and can lead to resentment and dysfunction.
    • A company's culture must be aligned with its value proposition to the market to ensure long-term success.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit organizedchaos.fyi and subscribe to the podcast newsletter to receive additional content.

Got a Question or Topic Suggestion?

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Reach out by email

00:00

38:06