CPO Katya Laviolette Hires for 1Password's Hypergrowth + B2B Evolution
Description
Katya Laviolette, Chief People Officer at 1Password, joins Rob to unpack how the company scaled from a scrappy, consumer-first startup to a 1,500-person B2B security powerhouse. She shares why shifting from B2C to B2B hiring isn’t just about adding new roles—it’s about evolving core competencies. Katya also explains how her team uses “anti-recruiting” to scare off the wrong candidates, why the “Apply Now” button is dead, and how being brutally honest during the hiring process actually leads to better retention. Plus: why every company is a train ride, and you don’t have to ride the whole way.
📌 Key Takeaways
-
Why 1Password eliminated the “Apply Now” button—and what it means for candidate experience
-
How hiring changed as the company shifted from B2C to enterprise B2B
-
The buy-vs-build approach to talent in cybersecurity and SaaS
-
Why “anti-recruiting” is a crucial part of high-growth hiring
-
How to design an interview loop that screens for ambiguity tolerance
-
The difference between relevant experience and transplanting culture
-
Why some hires are “lifers” and others join for a chapter—and that’s OK
-
Katya’s metaphor for growth: scaling a company is like a train ride
-
Why strong employer branding should repel as much as it attracts
-
How candidate curiosity and specificity signal long-term success