Christina Tosi on the discipline of building a team

Tosi’s strategy centers on mastering the mechanics of the business from the inside out. By handling human resources, logistics, and delivery duties personally, she identified exactly what personality traits were required for each function. This hands-on immersion serves a dual purpose: it defines the requirements of the role and establishes a benchmark for the talent she seeks to recruit. Her goal is to find individuals who can ultimately outperform her in those specific domains.

Beyond technical proficiency, Tosi prioritizes cultural cohesion, seeking colleagues capable of navigating the trenches alongside her during difficult periods. This philosophy extends to her intentional focus on appointing women to leadership positions. Reflecting on her own career struggles, where she had to fight for entry into the industry, Tosi now actively recruits female talent that other employers might overlook. She treats this commitment as a competitive advantage, banking on the resilience and brilliance of women who have similarly had to prove their worth in challenging environments.