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Talent Insights

Author: James Hornick, Hirewell

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You don't know what you don't know. But you do know that building a successful team for your organization and excelling in your own career don't happen by accident. They happen by gaining actionable insights from those who have done it before. Luckily, you have the Talent Insights podcast, hosted by Hirewell Partner and Careerwell Cofounder, James Hornick. We'll help you learn the ins and outs of the talent game so both you and your organization will win.
237 Episodes
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She froze her eggs at 31. She met her husband three months later. She didn't tiptoe around IVF—she owned it, even at work. In this episode of The Balancing Act, Rosanna gets real about: What egg freezing and IVF actually look like (physically and emotionally) Why she kept her appointments visible on her calendar—and how it changed her team culture What companies can do beyond maternity leave to actually support women How becoming a mom made her a more empathetic, grounded leader This one's not just for women considering IVF. It's for every leader who wants to build a workplace that supports real life.  Tune in to learn more.
In this episode of The Hirewell Update, Ryan Ross welcomes Jeff Smith to talk through why now, not January, is the critical window for 2026 hiring plans. They break down what proactive talent strategy actually looks like, why waiting until Q1 is a losing move, and how the smartest companies are blending internal recruiting with flexible RPO support to meet demand without overcommitting. From signs of strength in go-to-market hiring to the resurgence of talent acquisition roles, this episode is your playbook for turning Q4 planning into Q1 execution. Whether you're building a team or scaling one, this is the conversation you need before the year ends.
Sarah Sheridan sat down with Amanda Hausmann, a former attorney who hit her limit juggling work and motherhood — and turned her burnout into a business that helps other moms do less.  They talk about the meltdown that changed everything, the app she built to connect overwhelmed parents with practical support, and the everyday tools that helped her stop reacting and start living.  Whether you're scaling a business, a household, or both — this one's for you.
Bill and Rosanna sat down with Evan Shy, CEO of HTD Talent, to unpack why tech hiring is still a mess and what actually works when it comes to building capability inside modern teams. They get into:  Why "entry-level" now requires 3 years of experience What guided development actually looks like inside an enterprise How to embed senior talent that trains while shipping Why AI isn't the answer unless you fix your workflows first If your digital transformation stalled or your entry-level pipeline dried up, this one's worth a listen.  
No guest this week — just Bill and Rosanna going deep on 15+ years in recruiting. From the early days of talent search to the trends shaping 2025, they share what's changed, what hasn't, and what every hiring leader needs to know right now. In this episode: How the market really moves The rise of private equity hiring When to bring in RPO support Why great executive hires are never just luck A few fun origin stories from the early days Whether you're a talent leader, recruiter, or exec looking to scale, this episode is packed with sharp insights and real talk from the frontlines of hiring.
Six years off. One massive comeback. Zero regrets. In this episode of The Balancing Act, Sarah Sheridan sits down with Susan Scutt, private equity operator, single mom, and comeback queen. She walked away from work to raise her daughters. Then walked back in and built a bigger, bolder career. We get into: The role she turned down (and why it wasn't worth it) What her kids taught her about leadership Why tough love works—at home and in the boardroom It's a no-fluff conversation about ambition, resilience, and letting go of guilt. Especially for women who've hit pause—and are ready to hit play again.
We sat down with Andrew Zuckerman to talk about what small and scaling businesses get wrong about HR and how to fix it. From 48-hour compliance assessments to rebuilding onboarding in a pinch, Andrew explains how fractional HR can solve real problems fast. If you're a founder, ops leader, or someone building the HR function from scratch, this one's packed with practical insight.
Whelp, that's a wrap. After 20 years, James is leaving the recruiting industry behind. And Hirewell. And the 10 Minute Talent Rant. But not before taking a few parting shots at the recurring issues in the recruiting space that never seem to go away. Jeff Smith and James Hornick stick a fork in their show in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 116: "The Final Rant"  
This week, Sarah Sheridan chats with Mike Sharifi, a private equity exec and dad of two, about what it really takes to show up fully — at home and at work. From daily calendars to dishes, lead parenting to late-night laptop sessions, Mike shares how his family finds balance in a fast-paced world. Tune in to hear how being a present parent has made him a more thoughtful leader — and how he's rewriting the rules of what working fatherhood looks like today. What's helped you keep work and home in harmony?
In this episode of Beyond the Offer, we talk with Eric Buntin, TA leader at Amazon, Randstad, and Bath & Body Works, about what it takes to build scalable, strategic, and people-first recruiting teams. From structured hiring to AI, employer branding, and internal mobility, Eric shares hard-earned lessons that every TA leader should hear.  
This summer, the job market is shifting gears! In "The Summer Slowdown" episode of The Hirewell Update, join Ryan and Emily as they dive into the typical recruitment trends seen during the warmer months. Discover why hiring might feel a bit more relaxed due to vacationing decision-makers, and how candidate availability can fluctuate with some taking holidays and recent graduates entering the market. Learn about increased demand and potential talent scarcity in seasonal sectors like hospitality and tourism. Plus, get insights on how to leverage this quieter period for strategic planning in recruitment or for job seekers to refine their search and expand their network. Tune in to understand these cyclical trends and how to navigate the summer hiring landscape!  
Weird aspect of the AI era: more and more candidates are first learning about companies after they applied. You read that right. When the bots apply for you, job postings aren't the final stop on your job seeking journey, they're your first. So if your company is hiring, the talent attraction process has been flipped on it's head. Jeff Smith and James Hornick do a deep dive on how the talent attraction process has fundamentally changed in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 115: "Traditional Job Postings Are Dead."  
In this episode of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan sits down with Michelle Keefe, VP of HR at Bowes Professional, to talk about her inspiring journey from administrative roles to HR leadership. Michelle shares how she built her career by embracing challenges—including launching an office overseas with zero experience—and how she managed years of heavy business travel while raising her son. She also discusses the evolution of workplace flexibility, the impact of strong leadership on work-life balance, and why companies must treat employees with trust and respect. Whether you're a working parent, an HR professional, or just looking for career inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable insights!
Evolving HR in Private Equity Pam Perry is on the mic to share 40+ years of HR insights. From corporate to PE to launching her own HR consulting firm. In this episode, she dives into: Building HR teams and structures for scale Guiding founders through growth and transition Navigating culture in hypergrowth and remote work Why HR should lead the AI transformation, not fear it Plus, real talk for HR leaders (and future ones!) on owning your worth and never getting stuck. 🔗 Listen now!
Here's what we're seeing right now: Pickiness over location. Lengthy salary negotiations. And a feeling that candidates need to sell themselves more. This all sounds exactly like what we saw 2 years ago. And 6 years ago. And (ugh) 10 years ago. And it's not like these, or any other hiring issues, don't get talked about in the industry. They just keep coming back like clockwork. Jeff Smith and James Hornick discuss why this never ending cycles happen in the next The 10 Minute Talent Rant, 114 "Why Hiring Challenges Never Go Away"
Stop me if you heard this one: "People won't be replaced by AI. They'll be replaced by people who use AI." That's a big talk track that's gone around. Also, wrong. People are definitely getting replaced by AI. And that's the current state of AI in hiring. No one can predict the future. Gurus end up looking like idiots. Jeff Smith and James Hornick discuss things they were already wrong about (so you don't have to be) in the next The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 113, "AI Hiring Takes Get Stale, Fast"
In this episode of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan interviews Kate Dohaney, the global CEO of Orb Group and mom to two. Kate shares her unique path from performing artist to executive leader, detailing her transition through the music industry, advertising, and major roles at The Wall Street Journal and NewsCorp. She emphasizes the importance of resilience, being data-driven, and the power of surrounding oneself with the right people. Kate also discusses the challenges and rewards of balancing a high-powered career with motherhood, offering motivating insights for aspiring female leaders. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about career evolution, leadership, and family.
In a new episode of Beyond the Offer, Amy Onori joins Rosanna Snediker and Bill Gates to share her journey from media planner to SVP of Talent Acquisition at Publicis Media. They cover: Taking smart career risks Building trust through recruiting strategy Creating efficient, scalable recruiting ops  An episode packed with insight for leaders, recruiters, and anyone navigating career growth. Tune in to learn more!
The entry-level job market is bad!   Crowd: "How bad is it?"   It's so bad that journalism majors are having an easier time finding work than computer science grads. (That part isn't a joke. 6.1% unemployment vs. 4.4%.)   Despite a strong overall job market, recent grads are getting squeezed. "Entry-level" roles now require experience, companies have slashed college recruiting programs, and AI is replacing a lot of junior work entirely.   But why is this happening? And what can new grads do about it?   Jeff Smith and James Hornick unpack all that in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 112, "The Crumbling Entry-Level Job Market"
In this quarterly update, Emily and Ryan hosted Hirewell CEO, Matt Massuci, where they dove into company-wide and practice-specific hiring trends from the start of 2025. While January and February lagged behind expectations—down 10% year-over-year—March brought a 25% surge, signaling renewed momentum. Executive search and interim hiring are on the rise, even as Solutions work has slowed. Despite external factors like Liberation Day causing brief delays, the last six weeks were the strongest of the year, especially the past two. Practice leads weigh in with mixed performance: CF and GTM are seeing higher deal volumes but softer billing, Industrial is driving growth through high-level searches, and Tech, while down, appears to be stabilizing. Net-net: 2025 began slower than 2024, but all signs point to a strong rebound.
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