emerging leader, jeff berger & social recruiting interview from Gilbert Melott | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.
Nextvoice247 Presents: An Emerging Leader Interview with Jeff Berger @GenYjobs, Co-founder and CEO of KODA @KODAus.
Q. According to a recent press release, you have partnered with a half dozen schools and anticipate having 25 more partners within the next 6 months. In addition, you have established relationships with over 400 employers. What have been your most effective methods for forming these partnerships?
A. Like all new products, we began with zero users and had to start somewhere. Our sales team ignited the initial spark and we have been able to build on that momentum through positive reviews and press in the recruiting industry. Once we demo the site for companies and schools, the odds that they will sign up are in our favor. The main challenge, though, is getting them to agree to the demo.
We continue to have more success getting new companies to sign up compared to universities because of the bureaucracy involved with higher education. However, we are pleased with the adoption from schools overall.
Q. Although you’ve received $3 million in funding and established numerous relationships with schools and employers, there is still some skepticism out there about KODA’s ability to “make waves in this space.” What do you think will make your network stick as you look into the next 3 to 5 years?
A. Young professionals with 0-5 years of experience will always need jobs. KODA serves a very functional purpose and sometimes I think that gets overlooked because jobs aren’t “sexy” in the web 2.0 world. KODA isn’t a novelty product or a fad, its serves a very real purpose.
Traditionally, job sites focus on the employer because the employer is the one who pays. The entire product is designed for employers and the unemployed job seeker is thrown to the wolves. While employers are still the paying customer on KODA, our focus is on the job seeker. We believe its all about the candidate and we develop the product with the individual in mind.
Q. How will you define success with KODA and what obstacles will you have to overcome to get there?
Jeff Berger, CEO KODA
A. To be the top online recruiting website for people with 0-5 years of professional experience. When people are leaving college and thinking about how to get a job, we want them to think of KODA. In order to achieve that goal, we have the challenge of providing people with the relevant and interesting jobs that they are looking for.
Q. What has been the most thrilling experience thus far in the KODA start-up saga?
A. Truthfully, the whole experience has been an adventure, with some ups and some downs.
Proving concept enough to raise a significant amount of money would have to be one of the most fulfilling moments thus far. As a start-up, you only have so much runway (cash until you go broke) and that puts a lot of pressure on you to perform or your dreams and months/years of work are all over. To raise additional money and keep going was definitely a rewarding moment.
Q. You just graduated from Tulane University in 2008. How does it feel to be the CEO of a start-up company right out of college?
A. Its been an incredible experience. I have made a lot of mistakes but just try to learn from them and make better decisions at my next opportunity. I love the mental challenge and the constant grind. I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a dedicated group of people that share a common vision.
The funny thing is that I’m the youngest KODA employee.
Q. What are two lessons you’ve learned about business through your experiences with KODA that you did not learn in college?
A. It’s honestly just an entirely different ballgame. I’d have a tough time answering the question the other way around, “name two lessons that you learned in school that have helped you in business”. That’s not really a knock on Tulane either, I think it’s a great university, but I don’t think its possible for the classroom to prepare you for what happens once your start-up is ready to launch.
Q. Before working with KODA, you were the top leasing agent for a real estate company, a role that allowed you to build skills in sales, negotiations, and communication. How has this experience helped you in your efforts to make KODA successful?
A. My real estate experience prepared me more for what I am doing now than school ever did. It was a commission-based sales job, in a very competitive atmosphere. I started doing it when I was 20 and was competing on commission with people in my office who were twice my age. I worked seven days a week and was constantly doing everything possible to close deals and it paid off – I always ranked as the top producing agent.
This experience helped me develop a work ethic needed to succeed as well as the confidence needed to sell KODA. Meetings with vendors and negotiations can be overwhelming when you are fresh out of college but because of my job in real estate, I always felt very comfortable in these situations.
Q. On your KODA profile, your description of the typical entrepreneur is quite interesting. In your opinion, what are three qualities that make a successful entrepreneur?
A. 1. Dedication – sleepless nights are a way of life.
2. Vision – you better be able to explain it also.
3. Execution – this is where ideas hit the pavement. Execution is everything.
Q. What advice do you have for those aspiring to start their own business right out of college?
A. Find the advisors who know your industry in and out. Not only are they critical to raising money from outside investors but they also have the experience to help you avoid costly mistakes. Your university should be able to recommend a person or two.
Q. So if “sleepless nights are a way of life”, when DO you sleep?
A. It’s all about the routine. I try to grab five hours a night. But the five hours might be from 4AM-9AM.
This interview was conducted by John Fowler an ongoing contributor and program developer for Nextvoice247.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nextvoice247: RT @Nextvoice247 BLOG interview with emerging leader KODA, CEO Jeff Berger http://bit.ly/4XZs31 #GenY…
John and Jeff thanks for giving us a great interview – Jeff keep up the great work at KODA. You have the opportunity to set recruiting for a whole new generation on its ear…
g
Mr. Fowler,
Loved the questions, looks like you really hustled with your research!
With the rapid growth and global adoption of services like LinkedIn and now more agile companies springing up like KODA, do you think the resume (from a traditional sense) is dead? Is it a requirement, at least a step in the process? Or, is detailed profile on KODA sufficient in (as Jeff Berger called it) “today’s web 2.0 world”?
I really want to see where KODA is in a couple years. I think they have a strong start and Jeff seems like a terrific young leader, however the online recruiting space is crowded. Good luck to Jeff and KODA!
- X
[...] Jeff Interviewed by Next Voice 247 Posted in In the Press, The Tribe by Katie Del Guercio on December 4, 2009 Check out this Emerging Leader Interview with our CEO Jeff Berger and John Ray Fowler from NextVoice247. Jeff talks about how we define success and the obstacles we’re facing to get there. (PS – we promise he didn’t give John the black eye…) Check it out [...]