HR Interviews Playlist

Jay Polaki, CEO and founder of HR Geckos, joins the Chad and Cheese Podcast for a session of Firing Squad. HR Geckos is an HR operations co-pilot that automates key HR processes, connects all HR systems, and provides an AI-powered help desk for HR. Jay shares her personal journey in HR and the inspiration behind starting HR Geckos. The company aims to replace fragmented HR systems with a unified, digital platform that connects employees to the information and services they need. Jay discusses the competitive landscape, pricing, go-to-market strategy, and the importance of partnerships. The hosts provide feedback and advice on raising funds, building a team, and scaling the business. Does she survive the Firing Squad? Gotta listen to find out.

In this episode of *Talent Chasing*, hosts Brian Johnson, Jasper Spanjaart, and Chad Sowash break down key insights from their interview with Fred Claire, the former General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This episode is part of their "Film Room" series, where they dissect impactful moments from past interviews, just like analyzing game footage.Fred Claire is highlighted for his leadership and transformative role in the Dodgers’ success during the 1980s and 1990s, taking them from mediocrity to a World Series victory. We discuss Claire’s leadership style, particularly his ability to make tough decisions without a background as a professional player, emphasizing the importance of identifying talent and building a strong team.We hope you enjoy this Film Room session!

Fred Claire, former general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, shares his journey from journalist to GM and the importance of relationships in the game of baseball. Fred discusses his love for sports and how it led him to a career in journalism and eventually to the Dodgers. Claire emphasizes the significance of scouting and player development in building a successful team, and the role of analytics in the game. He also shares stories about the legendary Fernando Valenzuela and the impact he had on the Dodgers. Fred Claire discusses his experiences in talent identification and team management in baseball, including his role in building a championship team in 1998. He emphasizes the importance of identifying talent gaps and making strategic acquisitions to strengthen the roster. Claire also shares personal anecdotes about players like John Shelby and Mike Piazza, highlighting the value of honesty and trust in player relationships. He also discusses his battle with cancer and his admiration for the City of Hope cancer treatment center.

The pace of change in recruiting technology continues to accelerate, and with it come opportunities to improve hiring outcomes, streamline operational efficiency, and make much-needed improvements to the candidate experience. When you add in increasing volumes of applications driven by candidate use of AI and the differing wants and needs of a new generation entering the workforce, it becomes evident that we are on the brink of a profound transformation in recruiting processes.So, what are the most forward-thinking companies already doing? My guest this week is Hollie Powell, Recruitment Business Partner at EDF. EDF is reinventing its recruiting process for early careers and improving the candidate experience by carefully balancing technology and automation with high-quality human interaction.In the interview, we discuss:The early careers strategy at EDFIncreasing volumes of applications through candidate use of AIHow EDF is evolving its recruiting processThe enormous benefits of effective video interviewingSpeeding up the process to improve the candidate experienceEnsuring high quality human interaction during the processUsing an organization wide strengths-based frameworkKeeping up with changing candidate wants and needsPlanning for the skills shortages of the futureConsumer brand versus employer brandHow will early careers evolve in the coming years?Follow this podcast in Apple Podcasts.

Welcome to a special edition of The Recruitment Flex recorded live from the Unleash America conference. In this episode, we dive deep into the future of HR technology and talent management in 2 separate interviews Mike Ehrle and Angela Hood.Join us as we explore their innovative approaches to onboarding, retention, and leveraging AI in the HR space.Interview 1: Mike Ehrle, Click BoardingMike Ehrle returns to discuss the latest developments at Click Boarding, focusing on enhancing employee engagement from pre-boarding through retention. Mike shares insights into integrating new retention products, the benefits of partnering with Alight, and the challenges of selling standalone HR solutions in a saturated market.Key Points: Click Boarding's Core Products: Transition from traditional onboarding to include cross-boarding, off-boarding, and retention solutions. New Retention Initiatives: Insights from their ongoing market traction and the need for embedded solutions rather than standalone products. Partnership with Alight: Discussion on the strategic alliance with Alight to streamline benefits enrollment and enhance the onboarding experience. Future Plans: Upcoming developments, including integration with Microsoft Teams, aiming to simplify corporate software ecosystems. Interview 2: Angela Hood, This Way GlobalAngela Hood, CEO of This Way Global, discusses her company's role at the forefront of AI implementation in HR tech, their approach to removing bias in recruitment processes, and the launch of the Sully Sandbox platform. Angela also reflects on her recognition in the business world and shares her vision for the future of HR technology.Key Points: This Way Global's Mission: Leveraging AI to enhance fairness and efficiency in hiring across various sectors. Sully Sandbox: A new initiative to help businesses utilize AI and data effectively without needing in-house expertise. Partnership with IBM Watson: Ongoing collaboration and its impact on This Way Global’s operations and market reach. Personal Insights: Angela's reflections on her career, the impact of age in the professional world, and her recognition as a top female founder.

Strap in for another episode of HR's most irreverent show where we dive headfirst into the HR abyss. The Chad & Cheese sit down with John Baldino, a man who’s been around the HR block longer than our interns have been alive, and dissect everything that's hilariously wrong (and sometimes right) in the world of human resources. Fear Factor: HR Edition: Why is HR so terrified of the C-suite? We'll explore the existential dread of asking for more budget and why HR prefers to live in the land of "No Money, Mo' Problems." Tech Wreck Tech Deck: Listen as we ridicule the shiny new HR technologies that promise the moon but deliver a piece of cheese. John breaks down why these tools often end up as expensive digital paperweights. The Boomerang Boomers: Why are retirees flooding back to the workforce? Is it for the love of the job or just because they can't afford Netflix on their pensions? We'll look at why the golden years are now being spent in cubicles rather than on cruises. Leadership or Lack Thereof: Get ready for John's rant on why today's HR leaders might just be masquerading as competent professionals. Spoiler alert: It involves a lot of snark and some uncomfortable truths about leadership (or the absence of it). Tune in for an episode that promises to be as enlightening as it is entertaining, with plenty of laughs, a few cringes, and maybe some existential questioning of your career choices. Don't forget to leave your sensibilities at the door—this ride isn’t for the faint of heart or the humorless in HR.

As I've said many times before, automation in recruiting and HR is inevitable. This means that every TA and HR leader should be thinking strategically about automation, its implications, and, most importantly, the value that it will add right now.So what are the benefits of automation, and where and how should talent functions be automated?My guest this week is Brandon Sammut, Chief People Officer at Zapier. Automation is in Zapiers corporate DNA, and they are successfully using it to drive their talent density strategy through automation in recruiting, onboarding, and skills development.In the interview, we discuss:What Talent Density means at Zapier and how they built itFocusing on what is uniquely humanBeing transparent about a remote-only employee experienceT shaped talentAutomated OnboardingUsing automation to solve hard problems and make things more personal at scale.Experience design and empathyUnderstand where to apply automation and where not to apply it.Developing AI skills across the businessWhat will the future look like?Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

It is becoming clear that job seekers' use of AI tools in the application process has profound implications for talent acquisition. Many employers report a significant increase in application volume, and there is a potential technology arms race as employers and job boards attempt to use AI to identify AI.While this may help in the short term, it won't work in the long term, and is job seeker AI use even a bad thing?My guest this week is expert job board consultant Alexander Chukovski. Alexander has been doing a deep dive into how job seekers use AI and its implications for recruiting. He has valuable insights about job seeker verification and its potential to create win-win situations for candidates, job boards, and employers.In the interview, we discuss:The implications of a new generation of AI-savvy job seekersThe different ways job seekers are using AI includeATS integrationThe drawbacks and risks for candidates using AI toolsA pointless tech "arms race."Why is it difficult to spot the use of AI in CVs and applications?How should the industry respond?The rise of verification technologyWhat can be verified now and what might be possible in the futureThe importance of job seekers owning their dataWhat does the future look like?Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

*Film Room* is a podcast series, part of the *Talent Chasing* show, hosted by Brian Johnson, Jasper Spanjaart, and Chad Sowash. In this episode, the hosts break down an interview with bestselling author Jeff Perlman, discussing themes such as mentorship, personal growth, and the value of humility.The conversation focuses on how Perlman's journey as a writer shaped his career, emphasizing the importance of fundamentals in any profession. The hosts discuss how leaders and mentors play a crucial role in helping individuals grow by pointing out areas of improvement, while maintaining a focus on humility and continuous learning.The episode also touches on the value of character versus individual performance, using examples from sports and business. The discussion explores the idea that even high-performing individuals can be detrimental to a team if their character is flawed, highlighting the importance of building strong teams over relying on individual talent.Throughout the episode, the hosts reflect on how these lessons from Perlman's career apply not only to sports but to leadership and corporate environments, making connections between success, mentorship, and the long-term health of a team.

Get ready to dive into the chaotic and often misunderstood world of biography writing with the ever cynical yet oddly endearing, NYT best-selling product of Mahopac, NY Jeff Pearlman. This episode of "Talent Chasing" isn't just another polite exchange of niceties and anecdotes. Oh no, we’re here to ruffle some feathers! Join us as Jeff, a man who’s interviewed everyone from the disgraced to the dazzling, spills the beans on the gritty challenges of capturing the full spectrum of human messiness. From John Rocker’s rage to Dwight Gooden’s struggles, no stone is left unturned. Jeff dissects the importance of keeping your biases in check and shares his secret sauce for hunting down stories that are as untold as they are scandalous. We're talking hundreds of interviews per biography and he's written 10! And just when you think it can’t get more Californian than this, Jeff waxes poetic about how living in the land of sun and underdogs has colored his narrative lens. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride filled with truth bombs and reality checks!