Episodes

  • Ep 764: Rewiring Organizations For AI

    Ep 764: Rewiring Organizations For AI
    Jan 28 2026
    There's a significant disconnect playing out in organizations right now. Leaders understand AI is probably the most transformative technology of their lifetimes. They're making bold announcements and setting ambitious targets. Yet they're not providing the structures, ownership, or vision needed to drive real change. The result? Small pilots, incremental efficiency gains, and nowhere near the transformation everyone keeps talking about. The issue isn't the technology. Organizations simply aren't wired for transformative change, particularly when it cuts across departments and functions. Nobody owns it, and there's no clear model for what the future should look like. The implications for talent, skills, and how we think about work are enormous. What does it actually take to rewire an organization for the AI era? My guest this week is Stephen Wunker, co-author of "AI and the Octopus Organization". In our conversation, he shares what's really happening, what's holding companies back, and what this means for talent professionals. In the interview, we discuss: The gap between what CEOs are saying and what is actually happening What is holding AI transformation back Distributed innovation What is an “Octopus Organization”? The role of human judgement and the need for more critical thinking Examples of companies that are succeeding Talent and culture What will happen to the adoption rate? Where will we be in two years' time? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify. A full transcript will appear here shortly.
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    27 mins
  • Ep 763: How Much Do We Actually Know About Bias In Hiring?

    Ep 763: How Much Do We Actually Know About Bias In Hiring?
    Jan 25 2026
    Bias in hiring has been a topic of discussion for decades, yet our understanding of what actually happens within recruiting processes remains surprisingly limited. Most research focuses on single types of bias in isolation, making it impossible to build a complete picture. Meanwhile, the arrival of AI tools is intensifying the scrutiny of hiring decisions, demanding a level of accountability that many organizations simply aren't prepared for. TA leaders often assume they know where bias exists in their processes. But what if those assumptions are wrong? What if the patterns are more complex and counterintuitive than anyone expected? My guest this week is Bas van de Haterd, Co-founder of the TA Audit Institute. In our conversation, he shares findings from new research that challenges conventional thinking about where bias actually occurs and reveals how much we still don't know. In the interview, we discuss: Research methodology and sample size How this research compares to previous academic research What was measured and what was not measured What do the results tell us about bias in the hiring process? Is bias universal, institutional, or personal? Are employers doing better at removing bias than they think? Using data to drive targeted change Lessons learned and advice to TA Leaders. What’s the future direction of the research? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    24 mins
  • Ep 762: Moving From AI Hype To AI Value

    Ep 762: Moving From AI Hype To AI Value
    Jan 22 2026
    The constant noise around AI has created a strange situation in talent acquisition. On one side, relentless hype has made many TA leaders deeply skeptical, reluctant to invest in technology that feels oversold. On the other side, some employers have pushed through the fog and are getting genuine, measurable results from AI agents in their hiring processes. The gap between these two groups is widening fast. So how do you separate what actually works from what's just marketing? What does effective AI agent implementation really look like in practice, and what value is it driving for the employers embracing it My guest this week is Max Legardez Coquin, Founder and CEO at Maki. I saw Maki’s technology in action at UNLEASH last year and was genuinely impressed by what they're delivering for a variety of enterprise employers. In our conversation, Max explains how using AI to develop a scientific approach to hiring is driving tangible value in terms of quality, speed, efficiency, and a vastly improved candidate experience. In the interview, we discuss: Making recruiting a science Capturing signals to make better hiring decisions AI agents, the case studies that show they are working What do candidates think about this level of automation? Using compound intelligence to drive predictive hiring Advice to TA Leaders on recruiting transformation Will adoption rates increase this year? What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    27 mins
  • Ep 761: What Happens When Recruiters Embrace AI?

    Ep 761: What Happens When Recruiters Embrace AI?
    Jan 21 2026
    There are now tasks in recruiting where AI genuinely outperforms humans. Holding multiple evaluation criteria in mind while scanning hundreds of applications, spotting relevant experience described in unexpected ways, and ensuring no qualified candidate gets overlooked through fatigue, overwhelm, or shortcuts. These aren't things recruiters actually do badly, but there are things humans can’t physically do at scale that the current market requires For many recruiters, that reality feels threatening. However, those who embrace AI as a partner rather than a replacement find they have more time for meaningful candidate conversations. Hiring managers get better-matched shortlists. Candidates finally feel seen and understood. Everyone wins. My guest this week is Dr Ali Raza, CEO at Bytespark.ai. Ali is a former academic turned recruiting AI pioneer. In our conversation, he uses his hands-on experiences to explain exactly what AI does better than humans in the screening process, and why recruiters who adapt will thrive rather than disappear. In the interview, we discuss: Quality candidates are being drowned out in a sea of applications Where AI will always be better than humans Mixing the best of AI and the best of human recruiters Enabling a high level of candidate conversations Data-driven thinking Increased transparency with hiring managers Should recruiters be worried about being replaced? What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    24 mins
  • Ep 760: Co-Creating The Future Of TA

    Ep 760: Co-Creating The Future Of TA
    Jan 15 2026
    Strategic partnerships in talent acquisition can mean the difference between incremental improvement and transformational change. But what does a true strategic partnership actually look like? How do you move beyond the traditional vendor-client relationship to genuine co-creation? My guests this week are Simon Bishop, Head of Talent Acquisition at SoftwareOne, and Ritu Mohanka, CEO at VONQ. Their partnership spans employer branding, recruitment marketing, and agentic AI deployment—all while Software One was navigating the complex integration challenge of merging two TA functions post-acquisition. Their collaboration was central to VONQ's recent launch of EQO, their agentic AI platform. SoftwareOne was a development partner, helping shape the product through real-world testing and feedback. You can watch the full launch on VONQ's LinkedIn page. In the interview, we discuss: How the partnership evolved over time Building employer brand in competitive markets Multi-channel brand-led recruitment marketing campaigns Piloting and implementing agentic AI The vital importance of transparency and explainability Managing change and recruiter adoption Candidate reactions to AI screening Navigating TA through a major acquisition What the future of talent acquisition will look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    43 mins
  • Round Up December 2025

    Round Up December 2025
    Jan 14 2026
    If you’ve not listened to Roundup before, it’s a short review of the episodes that I’ve published in the last month to make sure you don’t miss out on the valuable insights that my guests are sharing. This month, Round UP returns to its live format, and this is a recording of my live conversation with Rhona Pierce about six of the episodes published in December 2025 Episodes featured in this Round Up: Ep 751: The Trust Problem In Recruiting Ep 752: Using Job Architecture TO Drive Value From AI Ep 753: Hiring Exceptional Executive Talent Ep 754: Finding Clarity In Recruiting Chaos Ep 755: Balancing Automation with Authenticity EP 756: TA Trends that Matter Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    24 mins
  • Ep 759: Career Sites and the Growing AI Gap

    Ep 759: Career Sites and the Growing AI Gap
    Jan 13 2026
    There's something paradoxical happening with corporate careers websites right now. After years of broken links, mobile application nightmares, and clunky technology implementations, organizations are finally getting the basics right. Mobile experiences are improving. ATS systems are working properly. The longstanding problems we've talked about for years are finally being addressed. However, while we've been busy fixing problems from 2015, the world has moved on. Candidates now expect conversational AI that can answer their questions in real time. They want personalized experiences that adapt to who they are and where they are in the process. Increasingly, they're using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to research employers before they even visit a career site. The question isn't whether your career site works anymore. It's whether it can deliver what candidates now expect. My guest this week is Bas van de Haterd, who runs the industry’s largest continuous corporate career site research programme. In our conversation, he shares the surprising findings from his nineteenth year of research and explains what employers need to do to prepare their career sites for an AI-driven future. In the interview, we discuss: How careers sites have evolved in the last 12 months AI application policies A reduction in DEI content The low adoption rates of conversational AI Improved mobile experiences and solving long-term problems Delivering a personalized experience Making career sites visible to AI tools How to make career sites fit for the future Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.
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    24 mins
  • EP 758: Extracting Real Value From AI In TA

    EP 758: Extracting Real Value From AI In TA
    Jan 9 2026
    Last year brought plenty of AI hype, but actual adoption in talent acquisition remained tentative. Some organizations ran pilots, most watched from the sidelines, and expectations stayed cautiously low. The technology advanced rapidly, yet widespread implementation lagged far behind the headlines. Now, heading into 2026, there's a genuine opportunity to move beyond experimentation. But extracting real value won't come from simply buying the tools. It requires building entirely new capabilities around continuous workforce transformation and reskilling. The organizations that crack this will pull ahead. Those waiting for AI to deliver results on its own will be left wondering what went wrong. So what actually needs to change for companies to see a return on their AI investments? My guest this week is Jonathan Kestenbaum, Managing Director at AMS. In our conversation, he shares his 2026 predictions for AI and outlines the transformation TA needs to make. In the interview, we discuss: The complexities of AI implementation Is workforce planning the missing link in AI transformation? Blockchain and identity Hiring manager experience as the new KPI The need for more context and the end of the resume Innovation is outpacing regulation Increasing velocity in internal mobility How will the technology develop over the next few years?
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    23 mins