Cameron Johnson

Founder and CEO NICKSON

“Ask questions to determine if a candidate has an inherent alignment with your values. For example, if your work requires extreme attention to detail, you can ask a person, ‘How often do you proofread emails or cards you send to family?’ If you probe deeply enough into past behavior, you’ll be able to test for value alignment.” Johnson’s Dallas-based subscription furniture rental company closed a $12 million Series A round in 2021.

“Recently, external factors have impacted the evolution of our values. We introduced our value of ‘balance’ last year, after seeing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic was having on our team, personally. We value our employees and their overall well-being and want to make sure our company values reflect that. By introducing balance, we were demonstrating to them that it’s OK, and expected, to put yourself first when you need to.” Guarnaccia founded Kite Hill PR in 2013. The New York City-based agency has worked with clients including Snapchat, BuzzFeed, and Tripadvisor.