Get to know: Sophie Galant

Co-Founder & People Leader

Sophie (she/her) based in Los Angeles, CA, occupying Chumash and Tongva (Gabrieleno) land.

Sophie is passionate about supporting and empowering others to do and be their best at work. Her experience ranges from Human Capital Consulting at Deloitte, to being the first People/HR hire at two early-stage startups, to leading people operations at Upfront Ventures, where she supported over 50 early-stage startups. Her most treasured experience has been the opportunity to live in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East where she worked with with globally diverse teams. Trough this journey, she has developed pattern recognition for the challenges teams face when scaling a business, across several industries and cultures, and has created resources and frameworks to support them.

Sophie was born in London, grew up in Dallas, and has lived in San Francisco, Shanghai, and now Los Angeles. In her free time you can find her making hand pulled noodles, biking along the beach, hosting 30 people for brunch, or booking a trip to explore more of the world.

What’s the most inspiring part of your job?

I love collaborating with early-stage companies because the people who join a startup early-on exude unparalleled passion and determination. That, paired with the ability to get a sneak peek into the future, is what fuels my energy to support them in laying the groundwork for exponential growth.

What is your favorite food?

Tie between spicy hand pulled noodles and sprinkle cookies

What is your favorite genre of books or movies?

I love to read behavioral psych books + articles. Movie-wise, if there’s a heist / scheme / intricate plan: count me in. I’ll stay up all night watching until I know how they do it.

Which HENSLEE value do you connect with most, and why?

“Keep it wavy”

One of the best things I’ve practiced over the last few years is knowing how to stay calm and flexible when change and conflict inevitably come toward you.