Manijeh Noori

California, born and raised. ATX girl at heart. Former SVP of Engineering @TheZebraCo she/her

[MATT GRAY @matt_gray_]

Obsess over culture or perish

A toxic culture becomes an anchor dragging down potential as people lose purpose and conflict erodes harmony.

Clearly define and cultivate the values you aspire towards.

Culture compounds over time. Use it wisely.

[MATT GRAY @matt_gray_]

If you want A-players, be an A-player

You set the tone.

Your team mirrors your behaviors, standards, and operating rhythms.

To attract eagles, you have to soar first.

[Gokul Rajaram @gokulr]

HOW TO BUILD A HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE

Every CEO and leader wants to build a high performance culture. To do this, you need to be intentional about 3 things: managing out low performers, bear hugging high performers, and tying compensation to performance.

1. Manage out low performers: You must keep raising the bar by managing out the bottom 10% low performers. KPI: non regrettable annual attrition. For teams > 50, the minimum non regretted annual attrition should be 5%. If you see your company's non regretted attrition in the 1-2% range, that's not aggressive enough.

2. Bear hug high performers: You must ensure that the highest 10% performers are motivated, excited and see themselves progressing at the company. This means proactively giving them strong new opportunities, ensuring their comp over the next 1-2 years is strong, and constantly meeting 1:1 with them to listen to their concerns and express your appreciation for what they do as well as your belief that they are a pillar for the company. KPI: % attrition of top rated performers. I don't like an overall regrettable attrition metric, because what you really care about is your top performers.

3. Tie compensation to performance: Unfortunately the 4 year RSU/option grant is the enemy of this, because incoming employees get a large grant over 4 years, unrelated to their performance at the company. Many companies are rectifying this by making the initial grant 2 years long, and giving a new performance based grant at the end of Y1 (this grant vests in Year 3). And at the end of Year 2, give another performance based grant that vests in Year 4. So this way, the employee always has 2 years of stock comp ahead of them, and the comp is much closely tied to performance. KPI: % of employees on 1-2 year stock grant cycles, tied to performance.

PS: Be careful of managers trying to game the system by classifying regretted attrition as non-regretted attrition in order to hit the 5% threshold (I've seen it happen).

PPS: The move from a 4 year grant (one of technology's most hallowed institutions) to shorter grant cycles is wrenching but can be really powerful. And it MUST start from the C-suite.

PPS: As you can see, the most important people to really focus your time on are the bottom 10% by performance (coach them or manage them out) and the top 10% by performance (bear hug). The middle 80%) can be "business as usual".

[7CTOs @7ctos]

7CTOs helped me build a different perspective and become a better leader.
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@naje23
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#cto #chieftechnologyofficer #businessmentorship #engineering #startup #vpe #leadership #businessmentor #businessmentoring #companygrowth #engineer #scaling #scale #companies #testimonials

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

This handsome boi is ready for St. Patty’s Day! We need to find Mac a foster or fur-ever family asap. If you’re in ATX and know anyone I’d appreciate the share. He deserves the bestest life ♥️☘️ https://t.co/EO7tGeo8VQ

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

@nateritter 100%. IMO this relates to other roles also. We shouldn’t assume someone wants new/different responsibilities, or act as tho they should be grateful for them. Everyone’s path is different. Set folks up for growth and success that aligns w/ their goals

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

I’ve been fostering this adorable, energetic boy for a few months. If you’re near Austin, TX and interested in adopting Mac, take a look at his profile: https://t.co/PN2LZHX1dT

[Nazanin Boniadi @NazaninBoniadi]

#ShervinHajipour has won the Best Song for Social Change Award at the #Grammys2023 for his song ‘Baraye’ which has become the anthem for the #IranRevolution & #WomanLifeFreedom. Thank you @FLOTUS for presenting this award which means so much to all freedom-loving Iranians 💚🤍❤️

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

@AngelaRiggs_ So sorry for you loss. Sending lots of love your way

[Chelsea Hart ۴۰۳۰ @chelseahartisme]

URGENT APPEAL!!!

DO WHAT YOU DO BEST, INTERNET.

MAKE HIM FAMOUS. SAY HIS NAME.

#MohammadGhobadloo #IranRevolution

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

@nateritter 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Manijeh Noori @naje23]

@nateritter Love this! (And needed to hear it 🙌🏼) miss you man!

[Karim Sadjadpour @ksadjadpour]

Two more Iranian protestors, Mohammad Mehdi Karami (age 22) and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini (age 39) were executed today after sham trials and tortured confessions. “These men weren’t executed after a judicial process, they were lynched.” @hadighaemi of @ICHRI https://t.co/NzU9tF3k8A

[Karim Sadjadpour @ksadjadpour]

Another 23-year-old protestor, Majidreza Rahnavard, was just executed in Mashhad, Iran. No lawyer, no due process, tortured confession, sham trial. He was hanged for "waging war against God." This cruelty in the name of religion is what has secularized so many young Iranians.

[Jason Brodsky @JasonMBrodsky]

The West did not react strongly enough to #MohsenShekari's execution. Now #Iran's regime has executed #MajidrezaRahnavard. The response has to be greater than just statements & piecemeal sanctions on mid-level security officials. Try diplomatic isolation. https://t.co/RxkutAxVlo

[Jason Brodsky @JasonMBrodsky]

Very concerned over another imminent execution in #Iran of 22 yr old #MahanSadratMadani just a month after a grossly unfair trial. Summons, statements, & piecemeal sanctions on mid-level officials alone will not deter Tehran. Diplomatic isolation needs to be employed. #MahsaAmini

[Nazanin Boniadi @NazaninBoniadi]

Devastating. #MohsenShekari has been executed and the Islamic Republic refuses to hand over his body. His family are reportedly searching for his corpse in cemeteries.
Our collective silence and inaction is costing innocent lives.
#MahsaAmini

[TIME @TIME]

The Women of Iran are TIME's 2022 Heroes of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/ZAKOOKS9zA

[Nazanin Nour @NazaninNour]

The Islamic Republic does not represent Iranian culture.

The Islamic Republic does not represent Iranian culture.

The Islamic Republic does not represent Iranian culture.

The Islamic Republic does not represent Iranian culture.

[Jason Brodsky @JasonMBrodsky]

Two common complaints and requests that I continue to receive from Iranian friends: (1) they want to be known as revolutionaries, not protesters and (2) they want the media to make the distinction between #Iran and the Islamic regime occupying it which is not Iranian. #MahsaAmini