About

Meet Dr. Heather Doshay

In my career, I’ve supported 100+ visionary founders, personally managed 75+ team members, and hired 2,500+ people. I was a startup’s first people leader 3 times. I was a startup’s first executive hire, where I helped take the company from seed stage to unicorn in 2 years. I was the head of talent and partner at a VC firm where I partnered with dozens of companies throughout their company building journey. I earned my doctorate in organizational leadership where my dissertation was focused on early startup careers. I know startups. I love startups.

I also spent a decade in the non-profit world, both as a university professor and administrator and working in fundraising and development for a large national non-profit. I understand different types of cultures. These are two different worlds, tech startups and non profits, but they share much in common. They want to have a massive impact on an ambitious mission, one that doesn't happen by itself...

...and the biggest lesson learned:
Ideas don’t build companies. Funding doesn’t build companies. People build companies.

When you get people right, incredible business outcomes happen. Products advance, funding and revenue skyrockets, and you get the growth story you dream of. When you get people wrong, you stall out with customer and employee churn, low morale, and rocky board dynamics.

The common assumption is hiring more experience means lower risk, but it’s also common to see a revolving door of senior leaders that are costly in more ways than one. Here’s what’s really going on:

It's the Slope, not the years of experience that determine the ROI of a hire. It's how quickly they grow, not how high they start. High Slope Talent is your greatest advantage as a growing organization. Look closely, and you'll see High Slope in the journeylines of all the greats.

This is why I founded Waypoint Works. I partner with brilliant leaders who see what many miss:  unproven, curious, high-agency talent is a strategic advantage.

Leaders often begin partnering with me because of my experience in seed to unicorn startup success stories and time in venture capital, but they stay because of how I show up. A lot of consultants are super polished and structured, speaking in vague corporate jargon you have to look up. I show up as myself. High-energy, sleeves rolled up, ready to dive in with you to the messy, exhilarating work of building something that matters. I believe the hardest challenges should also be the most energizing ones. I got my career start as a High Slope employee, and now as a founder I’m back on the climb.

My mission is straightforward: to help you turn your early bets on people into your greatest competitive advantage. Let’s climb together.