The Pay Transparency Shift: Why Startups Can’t Afford to Wing It
Description
In this episode of Let’s Talk About EX, we sit down with Matt McFarlane—founder of Comp Strategy and brains behind the Startup People Summit—to talk all things compensation.
We unpack:
Why startups get compensation wrong (and what it costs them)
The rise of pay transparency—and how to prepare for it
What ‘getting it right’ really means (hint: it’s not just about numbers)
Why early-stage people leaders need better support (and how Matt’s fixing that)
Matt also shares the backstory behind launching the Startup People Summit—a new event tackling real-world people challenges in fast-growth environments.
Whether you’re a Head of People, a founder, or just compensation-curious, this one’s for you.
If you want to go deeper, check out:
Matt’s newsletter: The FNDN Series
His upcoming event: Startup People Summit
Or follow him on LinkedIn: Matt McFarlane







