Success Leaves Clues with Robin Bailey and Al McDonald – Details, episodes & analysis

For this conversation, hosts Robin and Al welcome Caitlin MacGregor, CEO and co-founder of Plum.

Caitlin shares her journey of creating Plum, a talent management platform that helps businesses make smarter workforce decisions while helping people build careers that match their unique strengths. Plum democratizes access to predictive data for hiring and employee development. The conversation explores the impact of generative AI on hiring practices, the importance of inclusivity in recruitment, and the future of assessments in talent management. Caitlin emphasizes the need to recognize potential beyond traditional resumes and highlights the success stories of individuals who have thrived in unexpected roles.

Takeaways:

1. Revolutionizing Hiring Practices: Generative AI, behavioural data, and predictive analytics are transforming hiring by improving accuracy and reducing bias.
2. Inclusivity & Employee Empowerment: Inclusive hiring practices enhance retention while empowering employees to take charge of their careers and foster long-term success.
3. Human-Centric Workplaces: The future of work calls for a focus on recognizing potential and adopting human-centred approaches to redefine success.
4. Innovative Talent Solutions: Plum is leading the way with a vision for the next generation of work.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

In this episode of the Success Leaves Clues podcast, hosts Robin and Al sit down with Melanie Scheepers, SVP of People and Culture at Coconut Software, to explore the dynamic world of HR and leadership. Melanie takes us through her inspiring career journey from psychology to HR, shedding light on the evolving role of HR in driving a people-centric workplace culture.

The conversation dives deep into key topics like the power of mentorship, the importance of aligning company values with actions, and how strong leadership sets the foundation for a thriving organizational culture. Melanie shares valuable insights on dispelling misconceptions about HR, building trust through leadership partnerships, and adapting HR practices in the tech industry amidst the rise of AI.

Passionate about empowering women in the workplace, Melanie also discusses her commitment to supporting working mothers and creating an environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally.

"Values must be lived, not just stated." ~ Melanie Scheepers

Key Takeaways:

1. Mentorship Matters: Mentorship is a key driver of career development.

2. Culture Starts at the Top: Senior leadership plays a critical role in shaping and driving organizational culture.

3. Walking the Talk: Actions must align with stated values to build trust and strengthen culture.

4. HR as a Partner: HR’s role has evolved into a strategic, human-centric partnership that supports both people and business goals.

5. Shared Responsibility for Culture: Building and sustaining a strong workplace culture is a collective effort across the organization.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

What does it take to build a thriving workplace in today's ever-evolving business landscape? In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, hosts Robin and Al sit down with Jav Saeidi, HR Director at CTM Biomedical, to uncover the answer.

Join us as we explore Jav's inspiring career journey, the pivotal role of HR in driving business strategy, and the art of building strong communities within organizations. From navigating generational differences to spotting trends reshaping workforce dynamics, Jav delivers invaluable insights—including when it’s time to bring HR into the mix. This is more than a conversation about work—it's a deep dive into what success looks like, both personally and professionally. Don’t miss this insightful episode!

"The earlier you bring HR in, the better." ~ Jav Saeidi

Takeaways

1. HR as a Strategic Partner: The role of HR has evolved beyond administration, becoming essential in shaping business strategy and driving better outcomes through people-focused initiatives.
2. The Power of Community and Culture: Building strong communities and fostering a positive workplace culture enhances engagement, satisfaction, and retention across all levels of an organization.
3. Adapting to a Changing Workforce: Emerging generations bring new expectations, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and aligning workplace values with personal aspirations.
4. Insights for Growth: Tools like HR metrics and exit interviews provide critical feedback for measuring success and identifying areas for improvement.
5. Personal and Professional Growth: Success is about striving to be the best version of oneself, often influenced by personal experiences, which shape perspectives on leadership and resilience.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Anita Ramdas helps businesses simplify their storage and logistics as Founder & CEO at Shufflespace, a simple and effortless on-demand storage solution service for businesses in Toronto. Customers can simply schedule a pickup on the Shufflespace platform to have their team retrieve any assets that need to be stored. Those assets then get inspected, photographed, catalogued, and added to the customer's online account where they can be scheduled at any time to be delivered to a specified address.

Anita has accumulated over 10 years of international experience in startups and the telecom industry, with work experience on 4 continents and talks about her entrepreneurial journey.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Hayden Cole, Account Executive at Dialogue, loves to engage with Candian HR leaders about virtual care and how it raises the bar in promoting employees' mental and physical health. Dialogue is a telemedicine pioneer partnering with leading organizations to enable healthy and happy workplaces. Their mission is to improve well-being by using technology to deliver excellent care.

Through Dialogue’s healthcare app, clients connect to primary care, mental wellness, and EAPs within one integrated services platform. Employees can access support during work hours and life outside the office, all through their phones, allowing them to be present and productive. Hayden tells our listeners about his career journey and what sparked his interest in virtual healthcare.

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Since joining Plum in December 2021, award-winning sales leader and Chief Revenue Officer Jason Putnam has helped drive substantial growth in the company’s pipeline and client base, which under his guidance, jumped 20 percent in six short months. Prior to Plum, Jason served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Enterprise Business Unit of PandoLogic, where he increased the company’s new business pipeline by 6X.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Imagine transforming a high school business plan into a thriving Canadian business! That is exactly what entrepreneur Ameen Fadel, Co-Founder & President at Cedar Valley Selections, did. Starting as a school project when Ameen was only 16 years old, Cedar Valley envisions a better future for Canadian eaters—blending flavourful and family-focused foods with local ingredients, handiwork, and a touch of fun in every bite. Today, Cedar Valley pita chips and salad dressings are enjoyed by families across Canada. A reminder that meals can be memories, too.

Working closely with his mom and co-founder Surria, Ameen keeps the ship sailing in the right direction by managing manufacturing, sales, branding, marketing, and customer experience. He shares his amazing journey and passion for family-friendly foods that taste and feel better.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Dipesh Mistry is a builder, operator, executive, and advisor. His sweet spot is shaping strategy & culture for companies that are trying to find product market fit and those that are scaling, specifically in climate. Currently, Dipesh is building toward a world with healthier food, more resilient farms, and a happier planet, through regenerative agriculture at Vayda as its Chief Operating Officer.

Vayda is a farming company working to advance Regenerative Agriculture through farm-based services and market-building. They develop regenerative practices for resiliency, efficiency, profitability, and productivity in our farming and food systems in order to improve both farmer livelihoods and the surrounding economy.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

With over 13 years of experience in strategy, talent management, leadership development, change management and employee engagement our guest, Alex Meers, Director of Employer Branding and Culture at Blu Ivy, has been enabling organizations to grow and succeed through their culture and people practices to attract top talent.

He works with executive leaders to develop best-in-class employment brand and employee experiences including some of North America's largest brands helping them build cultures where people love what they do, know how to be successful and strive for excellence.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Today we welcome experienced SaaS-tech business leader Sam Daviau, Co-founder of UpBeing, a remote-first wellness start-up. Sam tells us the origin story & inspiration behind UpBeing's desktop-friendly web application that seeks to help you improve your mental well-being. By using the UpBeing App regularly, users can expect to gain a deeper understanding into the hidden patterns in their life that bring them up and down.

He shares his passion for building resilient communities, technology that changes the world for the better and improving access to mental health support.

Brought to you by Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group