Explore every episode of the podcast The Breakthrough Hiring Show: Modern Recruiting, AI, and Talent Strategy
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| EP 174: How to streamline operations and drive sustainable growth with Rachael Becker, Founder & CEO of RB Builds | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:45:18 | |
Rachael Becker, Founder & CEO of RB Builds, joins host James Mackey to discuss business efficiency, tech transformation, and creating standout user experiences. With a unique blend of expertise across operations and technology, Rachael shares actionable insights on how organizations can streamline processes, improve internal alignment, and scale sustainably.
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| EP 173: Unlocking Value: Latin American engineering teams for US companies with Gino Ferrand, CEO of Tecla | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:36:05 | |
The landscape of global talent acquisition is evolving rapidly, and nearshore engineering teams in Latin America have emerged as a strategic solution for US-based tech companies. In this insightful conversation, host James Mackey and Gino Ferrand, Founder and CEO of Tecla, explore why Latin American engineering teams are becoming increasingly attractive for companies looking to optimize their hiring strategies in today's volatile market.
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| EP 172: AI, hiring, and the new talent equation with Steve Bartel, CEO of Gem | 29 May 2025 | 00:42:26 | |
With markets reacting to global uncertainty and AI transforming the hiring landscape, both job seekers and recruiters are recalibrating their strategies. Join host James Mackey and Steve Bartel, CEO of Gem, as they discuss how automation is changing resume screening, interview prep, and rediscovery of existing talent. As companies look to cut costs and boost efficiency, the challenge becomes clear: how do you hire smarter without losing the human signal in all the noise?
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| EP 171: AI talent pipelines: Strategies for sustainable hiring in an era of rapid change with Lupe Colangelo, Director of Alumni Engagement & Employer Partnerships at General Assembly. | 13 May 2025 | 00:34:00 | |
They provide insights into the evolving tech talent landscape with a special focus on AI hiring trends and challenges faced by employers and job seekers alike. Lupe shares key findings from GA's State of Tech Talent report while discussing practical strategies for building sustainable talent pipelines in a rapidly changing tech environment. For more insights, check out General Assembly's State of Tech Talent report HERE.
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| EP 170: Georgetown's entrepreneurial ecosystem with Benjamin Zimmerman | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:37:23 | |
Georgetown University is redefining entrepreneurial education by building a mission-driven ecosystem where innovation thrives. In this episode, our host, James Mackey, and Ben Zimmerman, Managing Director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship, share Georgetown’s unique approach to fostering an environment that helps startups succeed. From student programs to alumni support through the Venture Lab, the initiative offers mentorship, funding, and real-world experience at every stage. Discover how Georgetown is cultivating entrepreneurship for the common good—one venture at a time.
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| EP 169: What’s Next for AI and Automation in Recruiting: Insights from Jason Heilman, Sr VP of Product, Automation, and AI at Bullhorn | 16 Apr 2025 | 00:37:40 | |
Jason Heilman, Senior Vice President of Product, Automation, and AI at Bullhorn, and our host James Mackey, offer a masterclass in AI and Automation for recruiting organizations. Drawing from Jason’s experience as co-founder of Herefish (acquired by Bullhorn in 2019), Jason reveals how automation serves as the essential foundation for effective AI implementation in recruiting. While many companies experiment with AI tools, Jason emphasizes focusing on core recruiter functions - particularly candidate matching and screening. These high-leverage activities not only boost efficiency but also create measurable competitive advantages. Bullhorn's data shows a striking 36% productivity increase for recruiters using automation tools compared to those who don't. Bullhorn report: HERE
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| EP 168: Navigating staffing in uncertain times: Insights from Hugo Malan, President of Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:36:48 | |
In today’s unpredictable economy, businesses must navigate shifting market conditions while maintaining efficiency and resilience. Our host James Mackey and Hugo Malan, President of Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology, and Telecom, explore the power of a mixed labor strategy - a dynamic approach that blends full-time hires with temporary and project-based workers. Hugo explains how this strategy helps companies stay agile, control costs, and mitigate risks in an evolving landscape. They also discuss the future of work, with AI-driven candidate screening and the shift from filling seats to solving business problems.
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| EP 167: Revolutionizing staffing through network intelligence with Brad Beach, CEO & Founder of Tailored Management & Jobvious | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:39:26 | |
Join host James Mackey as he chats with Brad Beach, Founder and CEO of Tailored Management and Jobvious. Brad shares his journey from the early days in staffing to building a cutting-edge platform that’s reshaping contingent labor. They dive into the challenges of traditional hiring models, the power of network-driven recruitment, and how technology is transforming the industry. Whether you’re in staffing, HR, or just curious about the future of work, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
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| EP 166: The Future of recruitment technology and automation for the Staffing and Recruiting industry with Sean Mallapurkar, CEO of Recruit CRM | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:35:50 | |
Sean Mallapurkar joins host James Mackey to discuss the pivotal role technology is playing in shaping the future of staffing. Sean shares his remarkable journey from launching Recruit CRM to growing it into a global organization. Sean and James explore how recruitment professionals can benefit from integrating various technological solutions to streamline their processes and enhance their overall efficiency.
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| EP 165: AI-Powered Recruitment Strategies with Metaview's Co-Founder and CEO Siadhal Magos | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:43:08 | |
James Mackey and Elijah Elkins speak with Siadhal Magos, Co-Founder and CEO of Metaview, about the methods MetaView uses to maximize recruitment potential, including AI-driven candidate rediscovery and strategic compensation alignment. He shares how AI technology enhances hiring efficiency and precision, enabling organizations to make informed decisions based on real-time data from candidate interactions.
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| EP 164: Revolutionizing Hiring Processes with Hariharan Kolam, Co-Founder and CEO at Findem | 28 Jan 2025 | 00:29:24 | |
Hariharan Kolam, Co-Founder and CEO at Findem joins host James Mackey to discuss how the advancements in AI are reshaping the hiring landscape.
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| EP 163: Exploring AI-Driven Hiring Solutions with Anil Dharni, CEO of Sense | 21 Jan 2025 | 00:46:58 | |
Anil Dharni, CEO and Founder of Sense, joins host James Mackey to discuss how AI and automation are transforming the landscape of talent acquisition, streamlining recruitment processes while enhancing candidate engagement.
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| EP 162: Leveraging AI for High-Volume Hiring with Steve Bartel, CEO of Gem | 14 Jan 2025 | 00:36:57 | |
James Mackey and Steve Bartel explore how AI is transforming high-volume hiring. Learn how companies can AI to enhance sourcing, streamline processes, and navigate compliance while balancing innovation with human oversight.
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| EP 161: Recruiting and Building Globally Distributed Tech Teams with Justt's Co-founder, Roenen Ben-Ami | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:31:39 | |
Roenen Ben-Ami, Co-founder of Justt, joins host James Mackey to discuss the challenges of recruiting globally.
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| EP 160: How to take skill tests and assessments to the next level with Test Gorilla’s Founder and CEO, Wouter Durville. | 10 Dec 2024 | 00:43:45 | |
Wouter Durville, Founder and CEO of Test Gorilla, joins hosts James Mackey and Elijah Elkins to discuss the evolution of skills tests and assessments.
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| EP 159: Human Powered Technical Assessments with Woven’s Founder and CEO Wes Winler. | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:48:07 | |
Our hosts sit down with Wes to discuss how Woven helps companies hire great-fit engineers without spending countless hours in tech interviews. We discuss their async technical interview platform and how actual engineers score real-world engineering work. The conversation progresses into how AI candidate evaluations may be regulated.
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| EP 158: What should AI’s role be in talent acquisition? With James Mackey (CEO of SecureVision) and Steve Bartel (CEO of Gem). | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:41:28 | |
James and Steve discuss the challenging question of AI’s role in talent acquisition. Listen to their thoughts on how AI can enable recruiters and the significant risks of AI-driven evaluations.
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| EP 157: Candidate and Sales Automation for the Staffing and Recruiting Industry with Julian D’Angelo, Founder and CEO of Talin | 24 Oct 2024 | 00:49:07 | |
James Mackey and Elijah Elkins speak with Julian D’Angelo, Founder and CEO of Talin, about their AI-powered candidate and sales automation product. They dive into the tech stack inefficiencies that SMB Staffing and Recruiting companies have. Julian shares how he’s leveraging his growth background to build Talin and help SMB Staffing and Recruiting companies grow faster through accelerating candidate and sales pipelines.
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| EP 156: Leveraging AI for phone screens and evaluations with Aaron Wang, Co-founder and CEO of Apriora. | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:46:59 | |
James Mackey and Elijah Elkins sit down with Apriora’s Co-founder and CEO, Aaron Wang, to discuss how their product delivers and evaluates on-demand phone screens to applicants.
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| EP 155: Unlocking AI-Driven Talent Sourcing with Juicebox CEO David Paffenholz | 03 Oct 2024 | 00:49:51 | |
James Mackey and Elijah Elkins speak with David Paffenholz, CEO of Juicebox, about their AI-powered talent sourcing platform. David shares how Juicebox significantly improves sourcing and hiring outcomes, enables collaboration between recruiters and hiring managers, and provides real-time talent insights to hone in on sourcing criteria. With over 500 customers across agency and in-house recruiting teams, Juicebox is shaping the future of talent acquisition. David was kind enough to share a 15% discount code for our audience! BRKTHRU15
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| EP 154: Strategies for the new age of tech hiring with Steve Bartel, Founder & CEO of Gem | 26 Sep 2024 | 00:27:04 | |
In this episode, host James Mackey, CEO of SecureVision RPO, and Steve Bartel, Founder & CEO of Gem, uncover the latest trends and strategies reshaping tech recruitment. Steven also shares insights on Gem's acquisition of InterviewPlanner, highlighting its role in building an all-in-one hiring platform. 8:01 Effective recruitment strategies for hard-to-fill roles 18:25 Integrated interview scheduling
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| EP 153: Skill-based hiring and AI's role in evolving talent acquisition with Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse | 24 Sep 2024 | 00:47:42 | |
Join host James Mackey and Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse as they discuss skill-based hiring, emphasizing the shift from traditional qualifications to assessing candidates based on their capabilities. They highlight the benefits of this approach, such as broader talent pools and internal career development. They also explore the consolidation of recruiting tech, noting the trend towards all-in-one solutions and strategic partnerships. AI's role in talent acquisition is debated, with a focus on its potential to enhance job descriptions and interview processes, while acknowledging regulatory and bias risks.
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| EP 152: Beyond Automation: Exploring AI's impact on hiring strategies with Babblebots.ai CEO, Roli Gupta | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:42:02 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host Babblebots.ai CEO, Roli Gupta in our special series on AI for Hiring. 12:06 Understanding context in salary conversations 16:52 Enhancing candidate interaction with AI 27:00 Optimizing early candidate assessment with AI 32:25 Innovative interview structure and future vision
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| EP 151: Innovative AI solutions for modern hiring with hollyhires.ai CEO, Jacob Claerhout | 17 Sep 2024 | 00:45:00 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host hollyhires.ai CEO, Jacob Claerhout in our special series on AI for Hiring. 10:48 AI Technology in staffing industry 23:59 Future of AI in career management 33:58 Future of AI in talent matching
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| EP 150: AI solutions for modern hiring with Brainner’s Co-Founders, Fede Grinblat and Guillermo Gette | 12 Sep 2024 | 01:06:02 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host Brainner’s Co-Founders, Fede Grinblat and Guillermo Gette, in our special series on AI for Hiring. 22:22 Developing an AI for criteria-based CV screening 40:47 Enhancing ATS candidate filtering and analysis 56:28 Navigating Bias in AI screening
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| EP 149: The evolution of recruitment software with Workable's CEO, Nikos Moraitakis | 10 Sep 2024 | 00:47:14 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host Workable’s CEO, Nikos Moraitakis, in our special series on AI for Hiring.
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| EP 148: AI voice agents and the evolution of recruitment with Kwal’s Co-Founder, David Tell | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:39:11 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host Kwal’s Co-Founder, David Tell, in our special series on AI for Hiring. 0:00 Generative AI voice agents for hiring 14:08 Regulatory concerns and AI bias detection 22:00 Future trends in AI hiring solutions 27:00 Broader implications and market trends
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| EP 147: AI-Driven Interview Intelligence: Revolutionizing Recruitment with Mark Simpson, CEO of Pillar | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:45:38 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host Pillar’s CEO, Mark Simpson, in our special series on AI for Hiring. 13:03 Enhancing interview processes with AI 21:40 Expanding interview intelligence across industries 26:46 Future of AI in interviews 38:13 Optimizing screening calls with AI
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| EP 146: AI in Action: The blueprint for smarter hiring with the CEO of BrightHire | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:40:32 | |
James Mackey, CEO of a leading RPO provider, SecureVision, and Elijah Elkins, CEO of Avoda, a highly rated global recruiting firm, co-host BrightHire’s CEO, Ben Sesser, in our special series on AI for Hiring. 10:49 Evaluating hiring decisions with BrightHire 22:00 Customizing your hiring process with AI 30:42 The technology behind BrightHire
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| EP 145: Exploring job market dynamics: non-competes, solo businesses, and work mindsets with Joel Lalgee | 16 Jul 2024 | 00:53:02 | |
Join host James Mackey and his guest Joel Lalgee, host of The Realest Recruiter, as they dissect the FTC proposal to ban non-competes, weighing its impact on businesses and employees. Discover the balance between protecting business interests and fostering employee freedom, and how emerging trends are reshaping the recruitment industry.
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| EP 144: Leveraging AI for hiring with Steve Bartel, Founder & CEO of Gem | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:34:06 | |
In this episode, host James Mackey, CEO of SecureVision RPO, and Steve Bartel, Founder & CEO of Gem, dive into AI-driven talent acquisition, exploring its potential for recruitment processes. 11:24 Calibrating AI for recruitment success 25:12 Building talent pipelines with AI
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| EP 143: Tech industry's hiring landscape and ethical quandaries of AI, with Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse | 30 May 2024 | 00:35:50 | |
Join host James Mackey as he discusses the latest in tech industry hiring with Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse. They explore the state of hiring, increased applicant ratios, and the disconnect between hiring plans and budgets. Discover the impact of AI on recruitment, potential biases therein, and the future of work in a shifting market.
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| EP 142: ATS Evolution and Talent Strategies with Anton Boner, Co-Founder of Screenloop | 27 Feb 2024 | 00:44:38 | |
Join host James Mackey in an insightful conversation with Anton Boner, Co-Founder of Screenloop, as they discuss the creation of a groundbreaking ATS platform. From AI-powered recruitment to optimizing processes for hyper-growth companies, discover the keys to enhancing candidate experience, improving hiring metrics, and tackling biases in job descriptions.
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| EP 141: Navigating tech hiring trends and cultivating inclusive teams with Shathiya Rengalwar. | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:24:35 | |
Join us as host James Mackey and his guest Shathiya Rengalwar, People Leader, unpack the intricacies of tech hiring, discussing the surge in layoffs and the subsequent challenges for hiring teams.
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| EP 140: Navigating Talent Acquisition from Series C to Series E with Cassandra Mingus, Director of Talent Acquisition at Signifyd | 16 Jan 2024 | 00:32:23 | |
Join host James Mackey and his guest Cassandra Mingus, Director of Talent Acquisition at Signifyd, as she shares her career journey from recruiter to tech leader in a late-stage company. In conversation with James Mackey, they explore lessons learned, the evolution of talent acquisition, and hiring strategies for success.
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| EP 139: Mastering high-volume hiring and employee retention with Avi Singer, CEO & Founder at showd.me | 02 Jan 2024 | 00:29:33 | |
Join host James Mackey and Avi Singer, CEO & Founder at showd.me, as they discuss high-volume hiring in healthcare and tech, emphasizing systematic processes and the importance of a clear employee value proposition.
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| EP 138: Hiring strategies from Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse, and Jamie Hodari, CEO of Industrious. | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:36:04 | |
Join host James Mackey as he sits down with Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse, and Jamie Hodari, CEO of Industrious. This episode provides a fresh perspective on tech hiring and recruiting strategies.
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| EP 137: Navigating the future of tech: Layoffs, consolidation, and Al impact with Steven Bartel, Co-founder and CEO of Gem | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:25:55 | |
The rapidly changing landscape of the tech industry presents a variety of challenges. In the latest episode of The Breakthrough Hiring Show, James Mackey hosted Steven Bartel, Co-founder and CEO of Gem, to discuss these dynamic trends. With a rich background in the tech sector and a keen eye on its future, Steve offered invaluable insights into layoffs, consolidation, and the transformative role of AI in recruitment.
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| EP 100: Best of: Shauna Geraghty, SVP & Global Head of People & Talent at Talkdesk. Masterclass: quality of hire, predictive algorithms, the magic number to measure success. | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:48:54 | |
We're thrilled to be celebrating one of our most popular episodes. This episode really captured the attention of our listeners, and we couldn't be happier to revisit it and share it with new listeners too! You don’t want to miss this one! 0:46 Shauna Geraghty's background 7:04 Quality over quantity in hiring 8:27 Optimizing quality of hire 13:30 How to coach hiring managers 16:59 Ideal candidate profile comparison to ideal customer profile 22:45 Predictive validity of the algorithm 26:03 Performance measurement and alignment in hiring 31:25 Improve hiring and performance reviews 33:02 V2M2: vision, value, methods, and metrics 39:22 The magic number metric: candidate quality score multiply it by candidate difficulty score
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| EP 136: The roadmap to successful leadership recruitment in tech with Laura MacKinnon, Chief People Officer at Clari. | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:29:51 | |
Join host James Mackey and his guest Laura MacKinnon, Chief People Officer at Clari as they share insights on defining leadership qualities for hiring, aligning strategies with market conditions, and driving cultural change in tech companies. Gain practical tips on setting criteria for executive hires, understanding long-term goals, and integrating acquisitions successfully. Discover the importance of courageous conversations and data-driven decision-making for growth and success in today's dynamic business landscape.
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| EP 135: Cybersecurity industry’s current trends and challenges with Fayyaz Rajpari, Managing Partner at IntelliGuards. | 21 Nov 2023 | 00:23:26 | |
Dive into the world of cybersecurity with host James Mackey and his guest Fayyaz Rajpari, Managing Partner at IntelliGuards. Discover the nuances of cybersecurity hiring trends in a recessionary economy, the impact of layoffs, and the evolving job market dynamics. Learn about the demand for cybersecurity solutions and the challenges faced by small businesses, in our latest podcast episode.
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| EP 134: Minds Matter: The impact of psychology and authenticity on hiring success with Amit Yoran, Chairman and CEO at Tenable. | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:36:06 | |
Are you ready to challenge the way you think about hiring? Join us for a compelling episode as host James Mackey and his guest Amit Yoran, Chairman and CEO at Tenable, share the keys to hiring exceptional talent, emphasizing the transformative power of intellectual curiosity and self-awareness. Discover how these traits can reshape your team and organization, and gain practical insights on detecting them during interviews.
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| EP 133: Recruiting Roots: Leadership, culture, and navigating change with Tim Betry, VP of People and Places at GoPro | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:37:25 | |
In this episode, host James Mackey discusses talent acquisition, leadership, and company culture with industry expert Tim Betry, VP of People & Places at GoPro. They dive into the connection between hiring and building an inclusive culture, while also discussing the challenges of adapting to the post-pandemic workplace. Discover how personal experiences and recruiting practices intersect to shape leadership, culture, and adaptability in today's changing work environment.
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| EP 132: Best of innovation and culture chats, with three leading experts. | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:24:49 | |
In this episode we wanted to put together for our listeners some of the best of our innovations in talent and culture chats.
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| EP 131: Managing talent acquisition and scaling in a volatile market with Andrew Blevins, Head of Talent Acquisition at Cyberhaven | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:35:31 | |
Join host James Mackey and his guest, Andrew Blevins - Head of Talent Acquisition at Cyberhaven, for an insightful discussion on talent acquisition strategies in today's volatile job market. Gain valuable insights into hiring plans, budgeting, and agency support during uncertain times, and learn how to tackle talent acquisition challenges as your organization scales.
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| EP 130: Navigating leadership transitions and the future of work with Jennifer Christie, Chief People Officer at DocuSign | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:43:14 | |
Join host James Mackey as he speaks with Jennifer Christie, the Chief People Officer at DocuSign. Together, they will delve into the topic of leadership transitions and the changing landscape of HR in the tech industry.
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| EP 129: Startup hiring roadmap. Charting success from day one with Kaitlyn Knopp, Founder & CEO of Pequity. | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:26:56 | |
Ever wondered how hiring strategies vary for different stages of a company? Get ready to decode the ins and outs of hiring in startups and scale-ups with host James Mackey and guest Kaitlyn Knopp, Founder & CEO of Pequity. Learn about the importance of hiring slowly, evaluating candidates, minimizing risk in hiring decisions, aligning on compensation, and fostering open and honest conversations in the hiring process.
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| EP 128: Mastering executive hiring and growth strategies in tech with Jimmy Kim, Founder & CEO at Sendlane | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:35:01 | |
Dive into the world of executive hiring and growth strategies within the tech industry with host James Mackey and his guest Jimmy Kim, Founder & CEO at Sendlane.
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| EP 127: Leadership, transparency, and the future of work with Christian Sutherland-Wong, CEO at Glassdoor | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:39:14 | |
Join us for an engaging conversation with host James Mackey and Christian Sutherland-Wong, CEO at Glassdoor, as they explore career growth, workplace transparency, and the evolving world of workplace conversations.
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| EP 126: Leading the Charge: Strategies for effective hiring and talent management for startups. | 10 Oct 2023 | 00:37:27 | |
Join host James Mackey as he explores top-notch leadership hiring strategies for startups with guest Steve Coulson, Founder & CEO at Kitt. They discuss the challenges of early-stage hiring and effective team management. Discover insights on CEOs' hiring tactics, promoting internal talent, talent attraction, improving hiring processes, and maintaining a strong company culture during growth.
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