The Man Behind FMCG’s Top Dream Teams: Charlie Walker on Hiring & Equity

Through years of working closely with entrepreneurs, Charlie Walker has realised one main thing: behind most struggling startups isn’t a marketing problem, it’s a people problem. Charlie has spent his career at Harmonic helping founders build teams, structure equity schemes, and navigate the messy realities of scaling. He’s seen what works, but more importantly, has seen what quietly breaks companies from the inside. In this episode, he explains why founders chase “messiah hires” that don’t exist, how to reference-check properly before making senior hires, and breaks down the real mechanics of building a high-performing team. This is a masterclass for anyone who is moving beyond founder-led hustle into structured growth and wants to avoid the costly team mistakes that stall so many businesses.