On this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with Tiffany Slowinski, owner of Team Spark Advisors and an Executive Advisor using Culture Index to help leaders stop guessing about people. Tiffany shares how a zigzag career through psychology, journalism, counseling, and local media sales led her to people analytics—and why builders should treat talent like any other core system: define the job, measure the fit, and manage to how people are wired.

They break down how a quick word-choice survey surfaces innate drives, making it easier to place the right people in the right seats and coach them effectively. Tiffany walks through real-world scenarios—stuck employees, misaligned roles, and the lure of “industry experience”—showing how data clarifies whether to coach, re-seat, or part ways. The result: better hires, clearer management, and teams that actually build.

Key Takeaways

Stop winging it: use people data to hire and manage with intent.
A 10-minute survey can reveal innate strengths and role fit.
Coach to wiring: adjust communication, motivation, and expectations.
Hire for fit within existing team dynamics, not just résumés.
Don’t over-index on industry experience; look for the right drives.
Distinguish managers from doers—align the job to the person.
When performance doesn’t rebound, make the hard (humane) call.
Software makes the data actionable—no manual number-crunching.

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