Why I Keep Hiring the Same People

I'm a serial entrepreneur, and I owe my success to keeping my team consistent-from company to company.

- by MICHAEL LONDON

I have started five companies in education technology and have been fortunate to see several through successful exits. My latest venture launched in 2020 and is now profitable, bringing in $30 million a year.

Here's my number-one reason for success, and it's not something you'll find in a business textbook—it's a revelation that came to me at my first company, and it's simple: I try to hire the same people.

I'm not talking about a few top executives. I mean employees at every level. My goal is to have at least 50% of my team consist of familiar faces. At Uwill, the student mental health and wellness company I lead today, we have about 100 full-time employees. Roughly half have worked with me before, and many of those who haven't came through referrals from trusted colleagues.