
The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly
The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly provides a candid look into the top companies in business and tech. Go behind the scenes with industry and workplace leaders and explore work culture, what it takes to land a role at these companies, and how to build, scale and thrive in your career. Hosted by Jack Kelly and Rick Chen and presented by the professional social network Blind.
Latest episodes

Jan 15, 2023 • 47min
Jack and Rick Take on the Goldman Sachs Layoffs and the Possible 2023 Recession
Jack Kelly and Rick Chen discuss Goldman Sachs' decision to lay off up to 3,200 people worldwide. We get a behind-the-scenes look into the typical Wall Street interview process and what business cycles and possible recessions mean for a career in banking and finance. Then, Jack and Rick make sense of how applying for a job differs in banking and finance compared to startups or the tech industry. Jack also explains why many software engineers and technologists would do well in financial services. Finally, we reveal what a hiring manager sees when you apply for a job and why a referral from a current employee might just be your surefire bet to your next career move.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/mhe5kscq
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/09/goldman-sachs-job-cuts-up-to-3200-employees-laid-off-this-week-.html

Jan 11, 2023 • 50min
Michal Pechoucek, Chief Technology Officer at Gen: Everything You Want to Know About AI
Michal Pechoucek, Chief Technology Officer at Gen
Before his career in cybersecurity, with stints at Cisco, Avast and NortonLifeLock, Michal was one of the first academics to study AI. We ask the founder of the Artificial Intelligence Center everything from the hottest opportunities in AI to the intersection of cybersecurity and AI and the dangers many people still need to consider.
https://bit.ly/blindambitionpodcast

Jan 9, 2023 • 14min
Blind Bytes: Jack Reveals Insider Tips About Working with Recruiters
With Blind Bytes, Jack Kelly and Rick Chen reveal insider tips about professional life, which you can use immediately to level up your career. In this episode, we take on how to work with recruiters.
Jack pulls back the curtain on recruiters and how they get hired and paid by companies. He explains why they might go from nagging to ghosting you and what their messages and phone calls actually mean. Finally, he shares how you can take advantage of working with a recruiter or headhunter and what you can do to find one that can level up your career.
With the onslaught of layoff announcements, this is understandably a difficult time for many people. If you need someone to talk to or have any questions pertaining to the job search, please feel free to reach out to Jack at jack@wecruitr.com.
Talent by Blind helps software engineers and technologists land job offers with some of the fastest-growing companies. Our recruiters work directly with you (for free!) to get you on the inside track with hiring managers and roles with better total compensation packages or impact.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/mhe5kscq
https://www.talentbyblind.com/

Jan 4, 2023 • 45min
Sagi Gidali, Chief Growth Officer at Perimeter 81: How Cybersecurity Works in the Tech Industry
Sagi Gidali, Chief Growth Officer at Perimeter 81
Sagi is a veteran of the Israel Defense Force's elite visual intelligence unit. Unit 9900, as it is called, has incubated dozens of startups and public companies valued at $1 billion or more, especially in cybersecurity. We get the "411" on why that has been the case and how security has evolved after the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote and hybrid work schedules. He also reveals what it takes to make a career in security and how Perimeter 81 hires its engineers and technologists.
https://bit.ly/blindambitionpod

Dec 20, 2022 • 12min
Blind Bytes: Jack Reveals Insider Tips About Bouncing Back After Getting Laid Off
With Blind Bytes, Jack Kelly and Rick Chen reveal insider tips about professional life, which you can use immediately to level up your career. In this episode, we take on bouncing back after a layoff.
Jack shares what you should do if you've been laid off. He explains how you can get leads for a new job or a job referral. Jack also outlines how you can start a plan for a new job.
With the onslaught of layoff announcements, this is understandably a difficult time for many people. If you need someone to talk to or have any questions pertaining to the job search, please feel free to reach out to Jack at jack@wecruitr.com.
Talent by Blind helps software engineers and technologists land job offers with some of the fastest-growing companies. Our recruiters work directly with you (for free!) to get you on the inside track with hiring managers and roles with better total compensation packages or impact.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/mhe5kscq
https://www.talentbyblind.com/

Dec 14, 2022 • 52min
Matt Spitz, Vice President, Engineering at Vanta: Silicon Valley vs. Other Tech Hubs, Explained
Matt Spitz, Vice President, Engineering at Vanta
Matt was previously one of the founding engineers at Dropbox New York. He reflects on how the office grew from zero to 160 employees. We touch on how he helped hire 90 engineers, whether geography or job-hopping matters for your career and how Silicon Valley engineering culture might differ from New York and elsewhere. Finally, he explains what it's like to be an engineer at Vanta, the tech challenges in security and compliance, and what he looks for before he makes a job offer to his team.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/ba2qbznm

Dec 12, 2022 • 13min
Blind Bytes: Jack Reveals Insider Tips About "Career Cushioning"
With Blind Bytes, Jack Kelly and Rick Chen reveal insider tips about professional life, which you can use immediately to level up your career. In this episode, we take on "career cushioning."
Jack explains what so-called career experts and media pundits mean when they talk about career cushioning. In short, it's the plan that professionals should have to protect their futures and perhaps even survive a layoff or reduction in force. He breaks down the trend and provides actual things you can do to get started. Finally, Jack tackles the future of quiet quitting amid concerns about a recession and all the layoffs, hiring freezes and job offers getting rescinded.
With the onslaught of layoff announcements, this is understandably a difficult time for many people. If you need someone to talk to or have any questions pertaining to the job search, please feel free to reach out to Jack at jack@wecruitr.com.
Talent by Blind helps software engineers and technologists land job offers with some of the fastest-growing companies. Our recruiters work directly with you (for free!) to get you on the inside track with hiring managers and roles with better total compensation packages or impact.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/mhe5kscq
https://www.talentbyblind.com/

Dec 10, 2022 • 11min
Blind Bytes: Jack Reveals Insider Tips About the "Hidden Job Market"
With Blind Bytes, Jack Kelly and Rick Chen reveal insider tips about professional life, which you can use immediately to level up your career. In this episode, we take on the "hidden job market."
Jack explores why some jobs are never posted on job boards or a company's career page. He explains what some companies are doing to get around New York City and some states' pay transparency laws, which require salary listings to be included in job descriptions. Finally, Jack outlines why it's best to work with a recruiter who specializes in your job function or industry and why internal referrals are still crucial to getting the fast track in the interview process.
With the onslaught of layoff announcements, this is understandably a difficult time for many people. If you need someone to talk to or have any questions pertaining to the job search, please feel free to reach out to Jack at jack@wecruitr.com.
Talent by Blind helps software engineers and technologists land job offers with some of the fastest-growing companies. Our recruiters work directly with you (for free!) to get you on the inside track with hiring managers and roles with better total compensation packages or impact.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/mhe5kscq
https://www.talentbyblind.com/

Dec 7, 2022 • 1h 1min
Danielle Poonoosamy, Director, People and Culture at Alma: Why We All Need a Mental Health Break
Danielle Poonoosamy, Director, People and Culture at Alma
Danielle had an untraditional route to becoming the head of people and culture at a startup, and she says it started because she put her mental health first. We explore how burnout can fog our judgment and damage our personal growth. She also shares the latest in mental health benefits and top tips on keeping our sanity amid our current uncertain, stressful times. Finally, we take a peek behind the curtain into the mental health business.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/d2fhom3h

Nov 30, 2022 • 50min
Kelly Scheib, Chief People Officer at Crunchbase: How Your Pay Is Determined, Finally Revealed
Kelly Scheib, Chief People Officer at Crunchbase
Kelly reveals how companies determine their strategy for total rewards—everything from pay to benefits and even whether you have to come into the office. She explains why some employers are reluctant to change their benefits or pay. Finally, we get an insider's look into how the CEO and the rest of the executive leadership team perceive HR and company culture.
https://blindap.onelink.me/ttCg/d2fhom3h