Avoiding the "Been There, Done That" VP Trap: Why Experienced Executives Often Fail at Startups

This article analyzes why hiring experienced VPs from successful companies frequently results in poor fits for startups. The author identifies three key problems: many candidates oversell their actual contributions, truly successful candidates often act as mercenaries motivated only by equity, and the best hires are typically one level below the VP role. The recommendation is to hire talented individuals on their way up or those with gaps that can be filled, rather than those with perfect pedigrees.