Michael Castellano is the founder and CEO of engajer, which he began building in March 2010. In this 2012 Q&A he said the company was focused on sales and that finding salespeople who fit its culture was his main challenge.
A Q&A Session with Michael Castellano, CEO/Founder of engajer.
I began building engajer in March 2010 and it has consistently grown since then. (Answers below are from the 2012 interview.)
What do you think is the most exciting thing about the process?I love working with people. Building our team and working with talented people is probably the most thrilling part about working in a startup for me.
What are some of the things you have learned during the process of founding engajer?
One of the things that I have learned is the value of partnerships and relationships, not just with people but with companies. I have also learned how important it is to have patience. Things don’t always work out the first or second time around but if you just stay on task and keep working at it things will eventually iron out.
What were you focusing on at the time?
At the time we were trying to grow the business and our focus was on sales. We were trying to work on engajer accounts that had a high profile and could generate publicity.
What challenges were you having?
Finding good sales people is difficult and it has been a challenging process hiring people that fit well with our company culture. It also requires a particular type of sales person to sell a product that is so innovative.
Do you have advice for founders that are going through the hiring process?
You never know what someone is actually like until you actually work with them. My advice would be to work with someone new on a small scale or a temporary project before investing in them. In my experience, great people will rise to the top and it will be apparent if they will be a good asset to the company after you have given them a smaller task with limited engagement.
About Michael Castellano
Michael Castellano is the Founder and CEO of engajer, Inc. Michael graduated from Santa Clara University Cum Laude in three years, receiving a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and a Minor in Music. He was also a United States Senate Page for the 107th Congress. engajer now describes itself as an online platform for creating and distributing interactive video content and measuring audience engagement with lead scoring.
Want to learn more about engajer? Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Michael Castellano?
He is the founder and CEO of engajer, Inc. He graduated from Santa Clara University cum laude in three years with a bachelor's in Mass Communication and a minor in Music, and was a United States Senate Page for the 107th Congress.
When did Michael Castellano start engajer?
He began building engajer in March 2010.
What hiring advice does Michael Castellano give founders?
Work with someone new on a small scale or a temporary project before investing in them. In his experience, great people rise to the top and it becomes apparent whether they will be a good asset.
What has he learned from founding engajer?
He cites the value of partnerships and relationships, with people and with other companies, and the importance of patience when things don't work out the first or second time.
