Marcus Sawyer, EQ app CEO and former Adecco Group X president, is building the AI recruiting revolution he predicted five years ago. In this eye-opening conversation with Paul Estes, Marcus reveals how AI is transforming hiring and Paul shares an experiment where AI ranked his friend's "best" resume dead last. If you're job hunting in 2025, you need these insider tips on getting past AI gatekeepers to land your dream role. From Marcus's "Zero Admin Revolution" mission to his practical OTT framework for implementing AI agents, learn how AI is transforming recruiting while keeping human relationships at the core of the recruiting process. You'll Learn:

• How AI analyzes resumes differently than humans—and what this means for your job search
• Why the "Zero Admin Revolution" is transforming recruiting (and how to benefit)
• The simple "OTT" framework for understanding and implementing AI agents
• Why finding the hiring manager is more crucial than ever in an AI-filtered world
• How to distinguish between companies truly solving problems with AI versus those just chasing the next shiny tech tool
• The critical first steps anyone can take today to get started with AI (hint: it begins with play!)
• Marcus's powerful “10 Ps" planning framework for implementing AI effectively

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape. Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Mark Heaps went from cutting out photos by hand to shaping AI’s future at Groq—and trust us, he’s got receipts. In this no-filter conversation with Paul Estes, Heaps drops the ultimate truth bomb: AI won’t replace humans, but humans who master AI will replace those who don’t. After a nail-biting story involving his son, a lionfish sting, and an LLM that saved the day, you’ll understand why this creative-turned-tech-exec is convinced we’re just scratching the surface of AI’s potential.   From building basketball team apps on the fly to transforming how we experience NBA games, Heaps breaks down the real-world applications revolutionizing how we live and work. He’s seen creative professionals move from eye-rolling dismissal to existential dread to genuine curiosity—all in 18 months. Get ready for a masterclass in why critical thinking will never go out of style, how latency issues are the real innovation bottleneck, and why your kids should be more worried about developing unique opinions than memorizing facts.   Connect with Mark on X and Instagram @lifebypixels   You’ll Learn:

• How the “labor” parts of creative jobs are vanishing (and why that’s not terrible news)
• The reason creative professionals have shifted from fear to fascination with AI
• Why your R2-D2 and C-3PO moment is coming—and how to be Luke Skywalker in the scenario
• The critical skills to future-proof yourself when AI can do almost everything else
• How agentic workflows are creating thousand-bot debates that deliver better answers
• What parents should tell their kids about navigating an AI-dominated future

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don’t miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.   Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

We are all part of the Gig Economy

 

Author, TEDx speaker, LinkedIn expert, and creator of the 4-Step Bulletproof Your Career Methodology— Patricia Romboletti is on a mission to fundamentally change our relationship with our careers. 

Moving from a world where we ask, "what do you want to become when you grow up?" to "what kind of life do you want to live ?"   Pat affirms that we are all part of the gig economy today – that operates flexibly, despite any uncertainty, and is the new future. 

 

She points out, however, that some of us are still in denial. "That (the transition to a gig environment) is happening for others. And maybe it's happening in technology, but it's not going to happen in my industry; it's not going to happen to me."

 

Have you asked yourself: What is your path during this time of great uncertainty? Have you given the future of work some thought yet?

 

Catch Pat and me discussing the mindset, skillset, future planning, and how realizing you are a part of the Gig Economy is an essential first step.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

•  Why do so many think that the trend of the Gig Economy is ride-sharing and food delivery? For one, they mostly didn't see it coming. T
• Why are employees complaining of burnout now more than ever? There are a few reasons; the first one is the extra work on their plate because employers are keen on utilizing the time saved on commute. Secondly, the "use fewer people to do more " ideology has recently strengthened. And lastly, micromanaging - Micromanagers of the past have become their worst selves since the pandemic as they cannot continually monitor how their employees have been doing. In Pat's words, "overloading happens from weaker managers who are overreacting."

 

Lessons from Pat's four-phase system to bulletproof your career:

1. Clarify the chaos around you. Have clarity about what you want to do and how you want your life to shape. For example, before taking action towards updating a resume on LinkedIn, think about your target for the following year.
2. The next step is to eliminate doubt and pursue your goal confidently.
3.  Prioritize the things you should be doing to make the change.
4. Lastly, accelerate the process.

 

About Pat

Patricia Romboletti is an author, TEDx speaker, LinkedIn expert, and creator of the 4-Step Bulletproof Your Career Methodology. She also has almost two decades of experience as a trained executive recruiter.

 

Her coaching site - https://bulletproofyourcareer.com/ 

Follow on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciaromboletti/

Her book - Bulletproof Your Career: Secure Your Financial Future and Do Fulfilling Work on Your Own Terms… for LIFE!

 

Book Recommendations from Pat

●      Atomic Habits by James Clear

●      A Minute To Think by Juliet Funt

 

What are your thoughts on the future of work?

 

Collaboration is essential for the success of all businesses. Companies are more likely to succeed with a collaborative culture; therefore, business owners need to collaborate with talent to grow their company and preserve their resources. Gig models are a great way for businesses to work with freelancers and contractors without the hassle of finding and managing employees. They are also more cost-effective in the long run. Join this conversation with Tim Sanders and learn more about the future of an outcome-based world where entrepreneurs will only hire on demand. Learn more about the importance and types of collaboration. 

As a former Yahoo chief solutions officer and best-selling author, Tim Sanders is one of the top-rated leadership keynote speakers on the lecture circuit. His keynotes at conferences and corporate meetings offer actionable insights into leadership development, sales, collaboration, and corporate culture. He’s passionate about motivating audiences to move to action. Tim’s mission is twofold: lead professionals to deepen all their relationships through the generosity and expand their collaborative webs to solve their toughest challenges.

 

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:01] Quick bio of today’s guest, Tim Sanders
• [01:06] What inspired Tim to write his book, Love is the Killer App
• [05:50] Correlation between what you study and your income
• [07:02] Common talk that Tim has heard from people off stage
• [07:58] Why human service will be obsolete by 2050
• [10:07] The one problem companies can solve through gig platforms
• [13:42] Importance and types of collaboration in a company 
• [16:08] Distributed collaboration
• [18:49] Tim’s takeaway on collaboration
• [21:37] Disruptive collaboration
• [25:16] Protect and nurture your ideas
• [28:38] The power of curiosity
• [30:57] Damn collaboration
• [33:22] The future of outcome-based world
• [35:14] Working with a freelancer

 

Standout Quotes:

• “Be a student, and when you learn something, become a teacher.” - Tim Sanders [02:43]
• “There’s always a correlation between what you read and your income.”-Tim Sanders [05:50]
•  “If you study Tony Robbins and what turned his life around, it was one year in an apartment in San Diego, where he literally read 500 books. If you study Mark Cuban’s life, his turnaround was two years when he read about 80 books a year to master his space.”- Tim Sanders [05:58]
• “Millenials don’t think or care about talent. They care about delivering work.”- Tim Sanders [07:29]
• “Gig economy is the future of doing business. For digital natives, that could be the only way to get the services you are looking for.”-Host [11:56]
• “All innovations come from four distinct personalities.”-Tim [18:04]
• “Big ideas show up as ugly babies, and it’s your job as a leader to protect them so that they eventually get cute.”-Tim [25:38]
• “If you approach everything from curiosity… then you start to learn.”-Host [28:38]

Resources Mentioned

1. Tim’s Book, Love is the Killer App: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Killer-App-Business-Influence/dp/1400046831.
2. Rework by Jason Fried:  https://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745
3. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012
4. Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World by Marco Iansiti: https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Age-AI-Leadership-Algorithms/dp/1633697622/.

 

Stay Connected

Tim Sanders

Website: https://timsanders.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanderssays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandersSays/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gonzobiz/featured

Gigging the Gap: Navigating the Future of Workforce Shortages with Jason Radisson"

The gig economy, also known as the on-demand or freelance economy, is a rapidly growing sector of the global workforce. It is an economy that allows people to work independently in short-term, freelance jobs instead of traditional long-term employment. The gig economy is now seen as an effective solution to the global shortage of skilled front-line workers. By taking advantage of this new way of working, companies can access a larger pool of talented individuals willing to take on short-term projects or assignments, helping businesses fill their staffing gaps quickly and easily without going through the traditional hiring process.

 

Join this conversation with Jason Radisson as we discuss the advantages of using a gig economy in solving global workforce shortages and how it can benefit employers and employees. Jason Radisson is a serial unicorn breeder. His latest venture is Shift One, where he is the Founder & CEO, a platform that is helping solve the global shortage of skilled front-line workers, with more than 300,000 users, from nurses to solar technicians. Jason learned startup skills early in life.

 

Jason was born to a 16-year-old single mom and worked blue-collar jobs from short order cook to HVAC technician to fund school and climb out of poverty. From that inauspicious start, he went on to Harvard, a Fulbright Scholarship, and McKinsey & Company. Since becoming an entrepreneur, Jason has worked with more than a dozen first-tier VCs, firms like Softbank, Accel, DST, Andreessen Horowitz, Monashees, and Sequoia. Together he and his teams have built and scaled multiple tech unicorns, platforms that today provide work and improved living standards to millions of workers from Bogota to Boston.

 

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:34] Backstory of Jason Radisson
• [02:24] How the gig economy will affect every industry
• [03:24] Jason’s journey to technology and work
• [06:55] His first experiences with doing work with automation
• [11:43] How to balance the strengths and weaknesses of the gig economy
• [15:20] What motivated Jason to become a founder
• [17:19] Why Jason decided to operate his company in stealth mode
• [18:40] The greatest challenge he has faced with customers
• [21:38] What’s the future of Shift One company
• [23:59] How Shift One helps in reshaping the old way of staffing
• [27:19] Bringing a new ethical approach to blue-collar work
• [29:39] Episode wrap-up and calls to action

 

Standout Quotes:

• “Almost any job can be broken into smaller jobs that can be done on-demand.” - Jason [02:30]
• “When people talk about the gig economy, there are two sides of the coin. Some people believe that it provides a good opportunity, while others believe that it takes advantage of workers.”-Host [11:08]
• “There’s a problem with traditional staffing that technology and a new way of thinking can help solve.”- Host [23:37]
• “One of the greatest challenges to navigate when outsourcing is to determine the fair price for the labor.”- Jason [28:10]
• “A lot of people don’t understand that work is a choice in the gig economy.’-Host [28:48]

Stay Connected

Jason Radisson

Website: https://www.shiftone.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jasonradisson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Future of Hiring: How SkillGigs is Revolutionizing Staffing with Brad Hill

The traditional brick-and-mortar staffing agencies have inefficient and biased ways of connecting employers with talent. Online platforms are beginning to disrupt this gig economy industry by providing a more efficient way to find the right people for the job. In this conversation, we are joined by Brad Hill from SkillGigs to talk more about their approach to effectively matching employers with the right talent for a job. Skillgigs is a technology that simplifies hiring and alleviates staffing shortages by placing talent quicker. With SkillGigs, there are no middlemen between employers and the people with the required talent. This ensures employers get the perfect fit.

 

Brad Hill serves as the SkillGigs’ division president of IT and digital, providing strategic and operating oversite for the company’s technology business. Over a 25-year career, Brad acquired global experience in design, construction, and execution in business development, executive leadership, operations, general management, and strategic consulting within the IT solutions & IT staffing industry. 

 

Additionally,  Brad worked for the Allegis Group for 19 years, primarily in their TEKsystems division, where he was an instrumental member of the team that helped scale TEKsystems to over $700mm in revenue. He also served as senior vice president of the ManpowerGroup business, Experis, where he was responsible for over $300mm in revenue. Brad earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Southwest Baptist University.

 

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:18] Brad Hill’s backstory and how he got into the gig space
• [01:50] Effectively connecting who has it and who deserves it
• [03:31] The inefficiencies of most staffing agencies
• [07:51] The talent journey
• [09:08] Specific problem that Skillgigs exists to solve
• [10:20] How long will it take someone to be approved to start working in Skillgigs
• [13:13] Most common types of jobs Brandhill has witnessed in Skillgigs
• [17:18] Gig economy platforms as the next step of eCommerce
• [21:27] Why staffing agencies are disrupting themselves

 

Standout Quotes:

• “We are living in a world where direct access to everything we need and consume is the norm.” - Brad [06:55]
• “The gig economy platforms are the next step of eCommerce.”-Host [17:18]
•  “Many online talent platforms have elements of converging the VMS world of 20 years ago.”- Brad [20:30]
• “Digital talent is the most decentralized form of work. You can work from anywhere and on your terms and at your pace.”- Brad [23:52]
• “Platforms such as Skillgigs is the next 20-year disruptor.”-Brad [27:04]

Stay Connected

The Skillgigs Platform

Website: https://skillgigs.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillgigs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skillgigsonline/

The Future of Work: Navigating the Pivot with Heather McGowan

The times of relying on outdated methods of working your way up the corporate ladder are ending, ushering in a new era of work that requires leaders to prepare their people and organizations for unprecedented changes. The gig economy is rising, with independent contractors filling labor shortages and creating opportunities for more flexible working arrangements. Automation and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we work, shifting the balance of power between employers and employees. To stay competitive in this changing landscape, leaders must develop strategies to attract and retain talent while also leveraging technology to drive innovation. 

 

In this episode with Heather McGowan, we talk about everything you need to know about the future of work and how you can be better prepared for the pivot. McGowan is an author, advisor, and keynote speaker. She speaks at more than 75 events per year to companies from finance to consumer products to education to government agencies to media organizations—virtually every industry sector that engages humans. McGowan holds an undergraduate degree in industrial design from Rhode Island School of Design, an MBA from Babson College, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

 

Listen in to learn why McGowan believes that in the Third Industrial Revolution, we learned (once) in order to work, and now, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will work in order to learn (continuously).

Tune in

What You Will Learn:

• [00:01] Quick bio of today’s guest; Heather McGowan
• [00:56] How our default factory settings of work have changed
• [01:43] How people have reacted to taking the leap of changing their life
• [03:01] How companies have pivoted to this shift
• [04:30] What leaders need to do about their independent workers in their workforce
• [05:31] Causes of the massive shortage in the labor force
• [07:43] How leaders are reluctant to adapt to changes in the labor market
• [10:38] Creating a work environment that Gen Z wants to work
• [12:16] Data on the prevalence of diversity and the gig economy
• [14:15] The framework of leadership around mindset
• [17:15] The “we culture.”
• [19:04] What is job scouting, and how it affects your purpose in a career
• [21:43] The human behavior that needs to change in leadership
• [22:47] Quiet quitting
• [24:34] What Heather has witnessed as a common issue among people in the post-pandemic era
• [25:30] Episode wrap-up and calls to action

 

Standout Quotes:

•  “It takes about sixty days for a habit to form.”- Heather [00:57]
• “Anything that has changed is a result of someone taking a risk.”- Host [07:23]
• “Companies should only be formed around solving a specific need.’-Heather [10:40]
• “In a skills-based economy, the human potential is the king!” - Host [23:31]
• “Quiet quitting in the labor market is when somebody decides that they are no longer going to focus on a job, but their family and mental health.”-Heather [23:40]

Resources Mentioned

1. The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy by David Gelles: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Broke-Capitalism-America_and/dp/198217644X

 

1. Heather’s Book: The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast, and Thrive in the Future of Work: https://www.amazon.com/Adaptation-Advantage-Learn-Thrive-Future/dp/1119653096

Stay Connected

Heather McGowan

Website: https://heathermcgowan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermcgowan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heathermcgowan

The Gig Economy: Why it's Faster, Cheaper, and Better with Rob Beiderman

The gig economy is not just about freelancing. It can be used for any contract work that requires talent. It also applies to organizations that want to outsource their work to save on costs but want to retain control over their brand and culture. The gig economy helps companies save on labor costs and acquire talent at scale by tapping into a global marketplace free from geographical restrictions or regulations. Join this conversation with Rob Beiderman and learn why companies need to pivot from a traditional talent network to a digital one which is faster, cheaper, and better.

 

Rob Biederman is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and former co-CEO of Catalant Technologies, the market leader enabling companies to get from strategy to execution faster. Biederman is also co-author of Reimagining Work: Strategies to Disrupt Talent, Lead Change, and Win with a Flexible Workforce, which lays out a vision and path for a new relationship between global companies and talent. More than 30 percent of the Fortune 100 use Catalant’s platform to frictionlessly access and deploy talent, ranging from employees to over 70,000 elite independent consultants and 1,000 boutique firms in Catalant’s Expert Marketplace.

 

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:01] Meet Rob Beiderman
• [00:35] A bit about Catalant
• [02:09] Rob’s pivotal moment in becoming a founder
• [03:43] The world of remote working in 2013
• [05:53] The time Rob saw the magic of the Catalant gig model
• [07:43] What has been hindering Catalant from being a 4-billion dollar company
• [09:05] Why Catalant has pivoted from a traditional talent network to a digital one 
• [11:15] Current areas of interest for investors that Rob has witnessed
• [13:24] A bit about Halo
• [15:04] A brief case study where a Halo scientist engaged with a client
• [18:11] What’s the future of Uber
• [21:15] Different markets where the gig economy model can be applied

 

 

Standout Quotes:

• “Every founder once had a pivotal moment where they decided never to follow a certain road of entrepreneurship.” - Host [01:55]
• “With the gig model, you get work done better, faster and cheaper.”-Rob [07:49]
•  “In the gig model where you put an idea out to everyone, you will always get surprised at what you get back in return .”- Host [17:16]

Resources Mentioned

1. Connect with a global network of scientists from universities and startups actively looking to partner with the industry: https://www.halo.science/

Stay Connected

Rob Beiderman

Website: https://gocatalant.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdukebiederman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BiedermanRob

Building Elite Teams with Raphael Ouzan: Insights from the Founder & CEO of A.Team

 

In today’s competitive world, it is essential to have an elite team of highly skilled professionals to help your company grow and achieve its goals. When building an elite team, it’s important to set a clear mission. Moreover, hiring the best people is not enough; you need to ensure they are all working towards the same goal.

In this incredible episode, Paul Estes interviews Raphael Ouzan, the Founder & CEO at A.Team. Raphael shares; what prompted him to go stealth for A.Team, the birth of the builder economy category, and how A.Team can build highly effective teams. 

Additionally, he shares the challenges experienced by the A.Team when helping companies supercharge existing teams or create new ones and discusses how the desire for autonomy has led highly skilled professionals to resign from their jobs and opt to be Independent workers. If you are working with the right people, that’s a life worth living, and that’s when you can create exponential results.

 

Tune in for more insights!

 

During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:41] Introduction to the episode

[01:25] Meet our guest Raphael Ouzan the Founder & CEO at A.Team

[01:59] What prompted Raphael to go stealth for A.Team 

[03:31] The birth of the builder economy category

[05:31] How A.Team can build highly effective teams 

[08:14] An example of a scenario where the A.Team and the team graphs have

  enabled companies to build and manage elite tech teams

[10:59] The desire for autonomy and how it has led highly skilled professionals to

  resign from their jobs and opt to be Independent workers 

[15:07] Emerging trends in contract tech talent staffing

[17:03] How to sign up for A.Team 

[17:30] Challenges experienced by the A.Team when helping companies

  supercharge existing teams or create new ones 

[20:13] Why companies get disconnected from their mission despite having

  multiple key performance indicators (KPI)

[24:14] The importance of building a mission map and designing the outcomes 

[24:57] Q&A session

[26:42] How to connect with Raphael Ouzan 

 

Notable Quotes

• “If you are working with the right people, that’s a life worth living. That’s when you can create literally exponential results.” [11:22] 
• “If you want to summarize highly functioning teams, it’s mission focus and trust.” [20:43] 

 

        Don’t forget to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! 

 

 

Let’s Connect!

• Company website: https://www.a.team/
• Personal website: https://raphaelouzan.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelouzan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphael.ouzan/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/raphaelouzan

 

We always hear about the big names in the gig economy, such as Uber, Grubhub, TaskRabbit, Fiverr, UpWork, and TurboTax Live. We never really get to hear from the people who provide the services on these platforms.

 

Today, we’re hearing from Abbi Perets, freelance writer and Founder of Successful Freelance Mom. We talk about taking on freelancing as a lifestyle choice, juggling freelancing with being a mom, building culture, balancing automation and human touch, and getting Abbi’s Top 5 Tips for working with freelancers.

 

Timestamps

• [02:11] Freelancing as a lifestyle choice.
• [03:16] Abbi’s freelancing journey.
• [05:21] Freelancing with large companies.
• [08:11] The hardest parts of building culture.
• [10:06] Using automation to scale.
• [12:20] What it means to buck trends.
• [17:25] Abbi’s top 5 tips for working with a freelancer.
• [21:59] A question from Sydney.

 

Notable Quotes

• “You don’t need all the things that people think that you need.”
• “Your freelancer has a zone of genius. Let them do that thing.”
• “Give people what they need in order to be successful.”
• “Respect the process. The best freelancers have done what they’re doing, the thing you hire them to do, they’ve done it before.”
• “Front-load on the meetings and then let people do their work.”
• “Give feedback so that your freelancer can incorporate it going forward.”
• “Think about what makes you happy. Is this job going to get you there?”

 

Meet Abbi Perets

Abbi Perets has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, working with some of the biggest companies in the world, all while raising five children - one of them with special needs.

She is the founder of Successful Freelance Mom, a platform where she helps women, and especially mothers, build their own successful freelance writing businesses to allow them to earn an income while managing their day-to-day lives.

 

Connect with Abbi

Website:          successfulfreelancemom.com.

Facebook:       Successful Freelance Writing Moms.

Instagram:       @abbiperets.

LinkedIn:         Abbi Perets.

 

Follow the Work On-Demand Podcast

Leave a comment, review, and follow along on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Today, we sit down with Steve Rader, who leads NASA’s efforts to leverage crowd-based platforms for open innovation and bring value to NASA’s programs, as well as innovation efforts in the U.S. government.

 

Steve is also the Founder and CEO of Crowd Resources Consulting, where he speaks and consults on innovation, crowdsourcing, and the future of work.

 

Listen in as Steve explains how open innovation at NASA around mitigating human risks in space “came out of necessity” a little over a decade ago due to budget cuts. He speaks in particular about the often underestimated value of tapping into the power of a crowd rather than relying only on deep expertise.

 

Emphasizing that open innovation is “totally voluntary,” Steve shares how to best incentivize a diverse range of enthusiasts to offer their best ideas and solutions to your organization's problems when crowdsourcing challenges.

 

Finally, Steve discusses how future technology can leverage the power of bringing together teams of people to solve virtually any problem.

 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [02:25] The history of open innovation at NASA
• [06:09] The value of tapping into the power of the crowd
• [08:05] What motivates people to volunteer their time-solving problems for NASA
• [15:31] The future algorithm that can assemble teams to solve any problem
• [19:44] A highlight of the most eye-opening challenges NASA has put out so far
• [23:22] What astronauts will eat on the moon

 

Key Quotes by Steve:

• A crowd gets you that kind of diversity you can’t get with just deep expertise.
• The crowd was just effective when you’re trying to find the right skills, technologies, and the latest and greatest ways of doing things.
• Open innovation is voluntary.
• Innovation challenges are a few places in your life where you can fail without consequences.

 

Get in touch with Steve Rader at https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-rader-92b7754/

Pip Sanderson, from the National Institute of Teaching in England, brings a refreshingly balanced perspective from the front lines of AI and education. While many edtech enthusiasts rush to implement AI solutions, Pip challenges us to consider what's at stake in our pursuit of technological efficiency and how we might preserve the human essence of learning. In this thought-provoking conversation, Pip and Paul explore the real impacts of AI on students' cognitive development and the importance of preserving struggle in the learning process.

From the ethical considerations of AI-powered teaching tools to the critical importance of metacognitive skills, this episode offers a nuanced look at technology's role in education. Pip shares insights from recent research suggesting that while AI tools may improve short-term understanding, they potentially limit the development of higher-order thinking skills essential for long-term success. Parents and educators alike will find valuable guidance on navigating today's technology landscape with children's best interests at heart.

You'll Learn:

• Why the push for "efficient learning" through AI might be undermining crucial cognitive development
• How research shows AI tools may improve short-term understanding but limit higher-order thinking skills
• The importance of preserving "desirable difficulty" and struggle in the learning process
• Why boredom plays a crucial role in child development that technology often eliminates
• How to evaluate the real benefits versus potential harms of AI in educational settings
• The danger of schools adopting AI solutions without sufficient understanding of the technology
• Practical advice for parents navigating technology decisions with their children

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Cognitive Resonance
• Books by Bernie Neville
• "ChatGPT impacts student engagement from a systematic review and meta-analysis study" by Yuk Mui Elly Heung and Thomas K.F. Chiu

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Adam Hofmann, leader of Elixirr's generative AI practice, joins Paul Estes to share insights on moving organizations from AI curiosity to implementation. Drawing from his journey from entrepreneur to AI strategy consultant, Adam reveals how shifting from technical experimentation to cultural engagement is key to successful AI adoption. Paul and Adam discuss the phenomenon of "present bias"—how our experiences with today's AI tools can limit our ability to envision their future potential.

From boardroom directives to CFO-led initiatives, this episode examines who's driving AI adoption and how companies can build momentum through targeted proof-of-concepts. Whether you're struggling with organizational alignment or looking for practical ways to start implementing AI, Adam's focus on playful experimentation offers a refreshing perspective on building AI literacy across your company.

You'll Learn:

• How "present bias" limits our ability to see AI's exponential growth potential
• Why CFOs and finance leaders are often surprising champions of AI adoption
• The importance of identifying high-ROI use cases before diving into implementation
• How to avoid the "internal cluster" problem when assigning AI ownership
• Why making AI accessible and fun is crucial for organizational adoption
• Simple ways to start building AI literacy by replacing everyday tasks
• Creative approaches to AI experimentation, including Adam's music creation story

In This Episode:

• • Microsoft Copilot & Copilot Studio
  • Riffusion
  • ChatGPT
  • Claude
  • Azure AI Foundry
  • Service Now
  • Bolt.new
  • Cursor
  • Replit

 

Christopher Bishop, a self-described "nonlinear multimodal careerist" who's navigated eight careers, joins Paul Estes to discuss his new book Improvising Careers: Succeed in Jobs That Don't Exist Yet (pre-order here). From touring rock musician opening for the Eagles to IBM executive to quantum technology expert, Christopher shares how to thrive in a world where the average person will have 8-10 jobs by age 38.

In this compelling conversation, Christopher reveals his "Future Career Toolkit" featuring practical tools for identifying your strengths and finding opportunities in emerging fields. Paul and Christopher explore how to leverage transferable skills, the importance of embracing technological chaos, and why you should apply for jobs even when you only have 60% of the listed requirements.

You'll Learn:

• Why you should "chase the maelstrom" and seek out areas where business models are being transformed by new technologies
• How Christopher transitioned from a professional musician to an IBM executive by recognizing transferable skills
• The "Future Career Toolkit" 
• Why you should apply for jobs even if you don't have all the requirements, especially in bleeding-edge tech
• How to develop a workplace "persona" that helps you succeed in new environments
• Why the upcoming AI agent revolution represents opportunities rather than threats
• Practical strategies for connecting with industry leaders to find career opportunities

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Peter Relan, founder of the YouWeb Incubator and initial Discord investor, joins Paul to discuss how AI transforms math education through his latest venture, MathGPT.ai. Growing up in poverty with parents who believed in education's transformative power, Peter is now paying it forward by creating around-the-clock math coaching for students facing critical academic hurdles.

In this eye-opening conversation, Peter reveals how his platform combines AI tutoring with human instructor oversight to address math numeracy challenges while maintaining academic integrity. From Peter's journey as a UCLA math tutor to his vision of personalized learning through AI coaches, discover how technology creates accessible, accurate, and cheat-proof math education that helps students overcome gateway barriers to their chosen careers.

You'll Learn:

• How math courses often become gateway blockers that prevent students from entering their chosen careers
• Why "innumeracy" is becoming a critical societal challenge comparable to illiteracy
• The instructor-led approach that makes MathGPT.ai cheat-proof while still helping students learn
• How AI can provide personalized learning experiences based on students' unique interests
• Why the future of education lies in the partnership between human wisdom and artificial intelligence
• The analytics dashboard that helps instructors identify struggling students in real-time
• How AI can automate time-consuming workflows while preserving the irreplaceable human touch in education

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Generation X professionals are navigating an unprecedented perfect storm: young children at home, peak career responsibilities, and a business landscape in constant flux. Executive coach Samia Kornweibel joins Paul Estes to explore why so many mid-career leaders are experiencing what she calls "career meltdowns"—and how they can build resilience in an era where roles keep shifting.

Fresh from completing her AI coaching certification, Samia shares how she's helping leaders navigate the ethical integration of AI tools while maintaining the human connection that drives real transformation. Using Microsoft's suite of tools and her innovative CHAIR model (Clarity, Humanizing, Aligning, Integrating, Realizing), she demonstrates how coaches can responsibly leverage technology to enhance the coaching relationship.

You'll Learn:

• Why Generation X is experiencing "career meltdowns" at the intersection of family, career peak, and rapid change
• The "musical chairs" reality of modern corporate life and how to build resilience when stability isn't an option
• How to create and maintain psychological safety as an intentional daily practice, not a one-time achievement
• The CHAIR model for responsible AI integration in professional coaching and development
• Why human accountability and connection remain irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced world
• Practical strategies for using tools like Microsoft Viva Insights to enhance coaching conversations and time management
• How to move from peripheral AI conversations to focused, ethical implementation

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of professional development and workplace transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving career landscape.

Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Kelly Monahan, Managing Director of Upwork's Research Institute and co-author of Essential, reveals why 77% of employees feel AI makes work harder, not easier—and what leaders can do about it. In this eye-opening conversation with Paul Estes, Kelly breaks down the real forces behind today's labor market shifts, from inflation and capital costs to the pandemic's lasting impact on customer behavior.

From her research on the frontlines of the future of work, Kelly shares practical frameworks for moving beyond resilience to "anti-fragility"—the ability to adapt and evolve when systems face stress and shock. Whether you're a leader trying to implement AI effectively or a professional wondering how to stay relevant, this conversation offers actionable insights on navigating our rapidly changing work landscape while keeping human creativity and relationships central.

You'll Learn:

• Why the AI productivity paradox is happening and how to overcome it
• The difference between AI as a tool versus AI as a teammate, and what it means for your workflow
• How to move from fragile to anti-fragile thinking when facing career disruption
• Why skills are becoming more valuable than degrees and how to credential them effectively
• The "configuration mindset" that separates AI power users from frustrated beginners
• How to preserve cognitive capacity for creativity in an increasingly automated world
• What successful organizational AI strategies look like beyond mere cost-cutting

References Mentioned:

• Essential by Christie Smith and Kelly Monahan
• Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
• The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Iwo Szapar saw the future of work early—co-founding Remotely years before the pandemic transformed how we work. Now he's back with groundbreaking research through the AI Maturity Index, analyzing over 250,000 data points across 75 countries to reveal what's really happening with AI adoption in the workplace. The gap between AI winners and everyone else isn't just significant—it's shocking.

In this conversation with Paul Estes, Iwo breaks down the stark reality behind AI adoption, from the top 1% who save 31 hours per week to the bottom 50% saving only six hours. He shares practical frameworks for immediate implementation, introduces "vibe coding" for non-technical professionals, and explains why the traditional consulting model is being disrupted by AI-powered productized services.

You'll Learn:

• The shocking productivity gap between top AI users and everyone else (it's over 5x)
• Why the biggest AI opportunity lies in decision-making, not just content creation
• The simple STEP framework (Segmentation, Transition, Education, Performance) for AI implementation
• How "vibe coding" enables anyone to build software without technical expertise
• Why productized services are replacing traditional consulting models
• The "any task you do twice should be automated" rule that transforms productivity
• How to give AI the context it needs to become your most valuable thought partner

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Tom Davenport has been watching technology transformations for over 30 years, and he's not joining the AI hype wagon. As a distinguished professor at Babson College and author of 27+ books, Tom brings hard-earned wisdom to the AI conversation that's refreshingly realistic. While Silicon Valley promises instant transformation and a job apocalypse, Tom reveals why real AI success requires the unglamorous work of process redesign, patient leadership, and years of persistent effort.

In this eye-opening conversation, Tom debunks the myth that AI will eliminate 50% of white-collar jobs while sharing practical insights on how organizations can actually capture value from AI. From his "super tech leader" framework to the critical mistake of not planning for entry-level hiring, Tom provides a clear and realistic vision of AI's true potential and timeline.

You'll Learn:

• Why AI job replacement predictions have been consistently wrong for decades
• How to organize AI initiatives across departments
• How to use process mining and redesign to unlock real AI value in your organization
• Why citizen development and "vibe coding" are democratizing technology creation
• The critical role "boring," entry-level work plays in developing future expertise
• Which workflows every business should consider automating first
• Why persistence and patience matter more than speed in AI transformation

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss any future conversations — these industry leaders separate signal from noise in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Brea Starmer helped build the future of work out of necessity. As founder of Lions and Tigers, she's unlocking millions in economic opportunity for independent workers, particularly women navigating caregiving responsibilities. When Brea was laid off seven months pregnant, facing workplace discrimination, and having to choose between career ambition and family flexibility, she discovered that the traditional employment system simply wasn't designed for people like her.

What started as personal survival—self-funding her own maternity leave by billing 60 hours a week for 13 weeks—evolved into a movement reshaping how enterprises think about workforce planning. Brea's vision of "no more layoffs" is a practical blueprint for using blended teams of employees and independent workers to build more resilient, flexible organizations that can adapt to rapid change without devastating human costs.

You'll Learn:

• How workplace discrimination during pregnancy led to building a multi-million dollar company serving independent workers
• Why an "everything's a project" mindset creates more security than traditional employment in today's economy
• The critical first question to ask when transitioning from employee to independent work: "Who do you want to serve?"
• Why enterprises are struggling with change management
• How to leverage your existing network when making the leap to independent work

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast today so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation.

While headlines scream about AI replacing call center jobs, Chris Dumpleton reveals a different reality. As an executive at Limitless Technology, he's spent 20 years in telecom and contact centers—today he shares why organizations struggle to implement AI cost-cutting measures and how the gig economy model can create better outcomes for both companies and customers.

With a storied career that includes helping eBay increase seller revenue by 24% using peer-to-peer expert coaching, Chris discusses how Limitless Technology evolved from "taking the Uber business model to contact centers" to becoming a key player in AI training through RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback). Chris explains why outcome-based pricing creates better incentives than traditional employment models and how the same platform that connects customers with brand experts is now connecting AI companies with the specialized knowledge workers needed to train sophisticated language models.

You'll Learn:

• Why contact center managers resist AI implementation despite corporate pressure to cut costs
• How gig economy experts with real product experience outperform traditionally trained agents
• The rating-driven excellence model that makes freelance workers more motivated than employees
• The explosive demand for specialized expertise in RLHF and AI model training
• Why outcome-based pricing aligns incentives better

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What happens when you realize the career you're in isn't your future? For Alyson Griffin, that moment launched a three-decade journey from Silicon Valley PR agencies to becoming the marketing force behind State Farm's Emmy-nominated Super Bowl campaign and Intel's Cannes Lions-winning drone light show. In this revealing conversation with Paul Estes, Alyson shares how she navigated a dramatic career pivot, brought humanity to one of America's most iconic insurance brands, and is now leading her team through the AI revolution.

From experimenting with AI-generated creative attempts that hilariously failed to building Jake from State Farm into a cultural phenomenon, Alyson offers a masterclass in balancing innovation with authenticity. She opens up about surviving breast cancer in the midst of her executive-level career, and how State Farm's risk-averse culture is learning to embrace cutting-edge technology. Whether you're considering a career transition or leading teams through technological change, this episode delivers actionable wisdom wrapped in honest storytelling.

You'll Learn:

• How to recognize when it's time for a dramatic career pivot (and how to find the courage to make it happen)
• The critical difference between using AI as a tool versus expecting it to do all the thinking for you
• How practicing AI prompting on low-stakes personal projects (like vacation planning) builds skills for high-stakes work applications
• Why bringing your whole self to work—including health struggles and vulnerabilities—can strengthen rather than weaken your leadership
• How Jake from State Farm became an insurance mascot that people treat like a real celebrity
• The reason humanities and critical thinking skills matter more than ever in an AI-driven world

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast today so you don't miss future conversations with leaders at the forefront of marketing, technology, and business transformation.

Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

In a world drowning in AI-generated content, Joe Lazer is betting his career on the one skill machines can't replicate: authentic storytelling. The author of The Storytelling Edge and creator of a popular Substack newsletter walked away from an executive role at a fast-growing startup to pursue what he calls humanity's most essential superpower. In this candid conversation with Paul Estes, Joe reveals why he left stability to write his second book, how he built and sold his first media company, and why the "vortex of mid" is sucking the soul out of modern content.

Understanding which skills will matter when machines can do almost everything else is crucial. Joe shares his framework for using AI ethically in the creative process, explains why neural coupling makes storytelling our most powerful business tool, and offers a radically different vision for preparing the next generation. From the neuroscience of oxytocin to the reputational damage of AI slop, learn why mastering storytelling might be the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI-saturated world.

You'll Learn:

• Why AI creates a "vortex of mid" that traps content creators in mediocrity and how to avoid it
• The ideation-research-refine framework for using AI as a creative partner without losing your voice
• How storytelling triggers neural coupling, making listeners' brains sync with yours to build instant connection and trust
• Why the reputational damage from publishing AI-generated content is vastly underestimated by most professionals
• Lessons from building and selling a media company at 22 years old
• Why soft skills like storytelling, adaptability, and empathy will be lasting competitive advantages

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders who are navigating the intersection of technology, creativity, and the future of work.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Storytelling Edged by Joe Lazer and Shane Snow
• Dr. Paul Zak's neuromarketing research (Claremont University)
• Kyla Scanlon's newsletter on economics and narrative

Kevin Henrikson has built and sold companies for hundreds of millions, scaled teams at Microsoft and Instacart, and now runs an AI healthcare startup—and he called complete bullshit on the productivity myth we've all been sold.

The most unmovable meeting on his calendar? 8 PM: GO TO SLEEP. When people want late meetings, he says no. When he travels, his admin moves the sleep block. In his 20s, he was the "code until 2 AM" guy. Now? He protects his ability to think like his business depends on it. Because it does.

But the biggest insight that stuck with me: "If you got in a car accident tomorrow and had to be out for three days, you'd cancel everything. People would understand. You need to give yourself permission to have that car accident periodically."

What You'll Learn:

• Why AI is creating chaos instead of productivity—and the one habit that breaks the cycle
• The health stack that replaced Kevin's expensive concierge doctor
• Why teaching kids to self-regulate with technology beats helicopter parenting every time
• How voice AI is solving the work in healthcare that nobody actually wants to do
• Why blocking sleep on your calendar might be the most productive decision you'll ever make
• Kevin's framework for when to use AI and when to just close all the tabs and think

I spent an hour with Diana Wu David, a top 10 global futurist who advises Fortune 500s on what's next. She told me 95% of workers see value in using AI, but they don't trust their companies to ensure positive outcomes for them.

So people automate parts of their job in secret. They become what Diana calls "secret cyborgs."

We've created an environment where being more productive is something you have to hide. And the organizations that are actually succeeding with AI aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets, they're the ones doing "job crafting"—redesigning work in partnership with employees, not imposing AI from above.

Diana also dropped a brutal insight on how AI gets adopted (poorly) at scale, why AI is making everyone busier, and the one skill your kids actually need in the AI age.

What You'll Learn:

• What the AI trust crisis is costing organizations
• The three-year AI revolution: why this technology is integrating 3x faster than any general-purpose technology in history, and why most companies aren't ready
• Job crafting vs. job cutting: the specific approach companies that succeed with AI are taking (and why AI-native startups have it easiest)
• What the "capability absorption gap" means for your career
• The productivity paradox: why AI made your time more valuable, which made you busier than ever
• How the role of the middle manager has fundamentally shifted
• The one skill to teach your kids that schools won't

Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Think about the last time you saw a company's marketing and actually felt something more than mild interest.

Chances are you're struggling to come up with one. And that's not an accident.

Vi Wickam has spent 30 years in digital marketing, helping companies fix this mistake. His premise is simple and kind of uncomfortable: honest marketing always wins, most companies aren't doing it, and AI is about to make the gap between the two a whole lot wider.

But this conversation goes deeper than marketing. Vi and Paul get into something most people don't want to sit with: your creative thinking might be slowly dying. You probably haven't noticed because your social media feed has been doing your thinking for you. Just one example from the episode: Paul Simon didn't stay creative by consuming more of the same thing. He listened to different music. That’s it. And if that sounds too simple to matter, that's exactly the problem.

You'll Learn:

• Why most companies don't actually have a brand, and the uncomfortable truth about what's missing
• The “10-80-10” framework for working with AI without letting it take over the parts that actually require a human
• How to uncover what your company genuinely stands for before you build a single word of marketing around it
• Why your one-star and three-star reviews are worth more than every five-star review combined
• The real reason your creative thinking has stalled (hint: it's not a lack of talent)
• What skills will still matter when AI has absorbed everything it can, and how to start building them now
• Why brand consistency isn't a marketing problem, it's a truth problem (and how to close that gap for good)

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with the innovators, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of work and technology.

Producer: David Grabowski | Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Career coach and author Ozlem Brooke Erol spent years chasing the formula: good grades, impressive company name, solid title, only to feel completely hollow inside. In this candid conversation with Paul Estes, Brooke traces the history of work itself and makes the case that the systems are failing us, not the other way around. Her new book, You're More Than a Paycheck, is part permission slip, part workbook.

If you've ever woken up Sunday night with dread already setting in, this episode is for you.

You'll Learn:

• Why the 9-to-5 was a historical experiment, not a permanent design for human flourishing, and what that means for your career today
• The framework Brooke uses with clients to escape the either/or trap of financial necessity vs. meaningful work
• How to walk the four paths to purpose, including the first steps anyone can take today
• Why reflection is the most underused career tool, and the simple practices that make it accessible (even if sitting with discomfort feels impossible)
• How limiting beliefs are inherited, invisible, and nearly impossible to spot without an outside perspective
• What the Three Masons parable reveals about finding meaning in any job, even one you didn't choose
• The one piece of advice Brooke would give her 25-year-old self about self-doubt (and why it applies to anyone at any career stage)

Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with the innovators, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of work and technology.

Producer: David Grabowski | Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin