Hire Learning with Oz Rashid

Aparna Chitale, Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Astronaut Operations at Virgin Galactic, holds a seat few HR leaders ever get, with one foot in people strategy and one in the customer business. Her career runs from first HR leader at Avaya India to a decade at Disney leading HR for the international parks.We explore how employee experience shapes the astronaut journey, why Aparna hires for a five- to 10-year runway, and what it takes to build a function from a blank canvas. She also shares the interview question she relies on and the bias she works to overcome.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Introduction.09:15 How a chief people officer ended up running astronaut operations.14:15 Why every HR professional should raise their hand for a business role.17:54 The HR playbook behind designing a customer journey to space.26:33 The case for hiring people for a five- to 10-year runway.28:21 The interview question that reveals more than a list of wins.35:43 Why standing up HR from scratch made hiring direct reports so hard.38:44 The interview bias that quietly favors the most articulate candidates.47:17 Advice for a 20-year-old self about courage and self-doubt.Thank you for listening to "Hire Learning with Oz Rashid." Don't forget to leave us a review and subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. Connect with our host, Oz Rashid, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozrashid. To learn more about MSH, visit https://www.talentmsh.com.RESOURCES MENTIONEDVirgin Galactic, where future astronauts can explore spaceflight expeditions and connect with the bookings team:https://www.virgingalactic.com“The First 90 Days” by Michael D. Watkins, the onboarding guide Aparna returns to with every new role:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1422188612“Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman, a book on how leaders amplify the capabilities of their teams:https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062663070“Interstellar,” the Christopher Nolan film Aparna says moved her the most:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_%28film%29#TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #WorkforceTrends

In this episode, we launch "Help Wanted," a new segment where our host, Oz Rashid, CEO of MSH Talent, answers anonymous questions from listeners in real time, without seeing them beforehand.Oz works through five workplace dilemmas: a marketing manager who suspects they're training their replacement; a founder whose hands-off culture cost him a senior recruiter; a candidate turned down after eight interviews; an employee who let a teammate take the blame; and a new manager who misses the work they were promoted out of. Along the way, Oz shares how MSH added accountability to a people-first culture and why he believes four interviews are usually enough.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Introduction to “Help Wanted.”02:12 They asked me to train my replacement.05:06 The questions to ask your manager before the handover.08:50 A founder's no-micromanagement culture backfires.10:06 Empowerment without accountability equals entitlement.14:20 Eight interviews, then "we wanted more experience."16:18 Why you shouldn't burn the bridge.18:42 I let him take the fall.22:30 I got the promotion and now I miss my old job.25:25 Why companies need career paths beyond management.Have a question of your own? Send it to [email protected] with our host, Oz Rashid, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozrashid. To learn more about MSH, visit https://www.talentmsh.com.RESOURCES MENTIONEDMSH Talent:https://www.talentmsh.com"Start With Why" by Simon Sinek, one of the leadership books Oz references on empowering teams:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591846447"Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek, the companion book Oz references on empowering teams:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591845327Adam Grant, the organizational psychologist Oz cites alongside Sinek:https://adamgrant.net“Help Wanted” submissions, where listeners can send in their own questions anonymously:[email protected]#TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #WorkforceTrends

DeDe Halfhill, Founder and Principal Consultant of TAIOH Partners, is a retired US Air Force colonel with 25 years of service. Her career includes a tour with the US Air Force Thunderbirds, two command assignments, including a squadron in Iraq, and a role on the staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.We talk with DeDe about the 1948 Air Force leadership manual behind her upcoming book, the story that earned her a place in Brené Brown's "Dare to Lead," and why emotional intelligence is the most important skill a leader can hire for. She also shares the interview question she uses to test for accountability and explains when confidence becomes a red flag.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Introduction.01:54 A postcard in the mail, a persistent recruiter, and the start of a 25-year career.11:03 What fighter pilots taught a young public affairs officer about holding her ground.20:09 What a 1948 Air Force leadership manual reveals about emotion and the mission.25:27 The response at the Pentagon in 2020 that became the reason for a book.32:17 How changing one word in a question changed a conversation with a room full of Airmen.35:40 The hiring opinion most leaders would disagree with, and the interview question that tests for it.39:20 Where healthy confidence ends and a hiring red flag begins.40:46 A simple exercise that helps people see the strengths everyone else already sees.Thank you for listening to "Hire Learning with Oz Rashid." Don't forget to leave us a review and subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. Connect with our host, Oz Rashid, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozrashid. To learn more about MSH, visit https://www.talentmsh.com.RESOURCES MENTIONEDDeDe Halfhill, the site for DeDe's keynote and leadership advisory work:https://dedehalfhill.com"Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown, the book that features DeDe's story about her Airmen:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557595"The Upswing" by Robert D. Putnam, the book on America's I-we-I curve that changed DeDe's thinking:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Upswing/Robert-D-Putnam/9781982129149"The 36 Questions That Lead to Love" by The New York Times, which DeDe cites as a model for interview questions that build honesty:https://nyti.ms/1BWQijjClaude, the AI tool DeDe uses to build systems and a video editing skill:https://claude.aiOpusClip, the AI clipping tool that came up during the AI discussion:https://www.opus.pro#TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #WorkforceTrends

Michelle Link, Chief Human Resources Officer of Maximus, leads global HR for a workforce of 40,000 to 50,000 people. Her career includes HR leadership roles at Corning, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, PRA Group, and ADS. At Maximus, she oversaw the hiring of 16,000 people in four weeks for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.We talk with Michelle about what gets sacrificed in emergency-speed hiring, why Maximus pairs AI training with human-centered skills, and her case for hiring for likability. She also shares the interview question that reveals true self-awareness and the career advice she would give her younger self.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Introduction.08:53 What a team gives up when 12,000 new hires start on a single Monday.14:38 Where AI helps recruiters most, and the part of the job it can't touch.17:23 Why every AI skill in a mandatory curriculum is paired with a human one.23:26 A case for the hiring trait most leaders are told to ignore.25:45 One interview question, asked three times, that exposes self-awareness.33:22 How an AI agent quietly replaced a weekly competitive research task.39:25 The career advice that is easy to give and hard to follow.Thank you for listening to "Hire Learning with Oz Rashid." Don't forget to leave us a review and subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. Connect with our host, Oz Rashid, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozrashid. To learn more about MSH, visit https://www.talentmsh.com.RESOURCES MENTIONEDMaximus, the government services company where Michelle leads global HR:https://maximus.comEightfold AI, the platform Maximus uses as its skills and career hub:https://eightfold.ai“Vibe” by Adam Grant, the book behind Michelle's push for more team bonding:https://adamgrant.net/book/vibe/World 50, the executive community behind the Adam Grant podcast conversation Michelle references:https://world50.comClaude, the AI tool Michelle uses as an on-demand executive coach:https://claude.ai#TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #AIinHR

Toby Ramirez-Johnson, Senior Corporate Director of Human Resources of Omni Hotels & Resorts, started in the front office at the New Haven Omni in 1997. Today she sets HR strategy for more than 50 Omni properties, with a stint leading HR across the Southeast for Wyndham in between.We talk with Toby about what hospitality culture looks like at the front desk, how Predictive Index shapes interviews without deciding them, and how one shelter volunteer day became a nine-week job readiness program that put graduates on Omni's payroll.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Why the candidate who feels most like you may be the wrong hire.03:05 A homemade training session that doubled as a job interview and launched an HR career.06:32 What brought a two-time boomerang back to Omni in the middle of COVID.10:01 Where company culture actually shows up, and it is not on the posters.12:27 Using a behavioral assessment to shape interview questions instead of making the hiring call.16:48 What a team map reveals when a group has plenty of big ideas and no follow-through.22:21 How a shelter volunteer day turned into a nine-week job readiness program.28:11 The one interview question that gets candidates talking like themselves.Thank you for listening to "Hire Learning with Oz Rashid." Don’t forget to leave us a review and subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.Connect with our host, Oz Rashid, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozrashid.To learn more about MSH, visit https://www.talentmsh.com.RESOURCES MENTIONEDOmni Hotels & Resorts website:https://www.omnihotels.comThe Predictive Index, the behavioral assessment Omni uses to structure interviews and build teams:https://www.predictiveindex.com“Respectable Sins” by Jerry Bridges, the book that shifted Toby's mindset this year:https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1202947909“The Gap and The Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, a book on measuring progress backward:https://connect.strategiccoach.com/store/product/01tOJ000009NYQQYA4“The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+” by Suze Orman, the retirement investing book Toby is reading now:https://www.suzeorman.com/products/The-Ultimate-Retirement-Guide-for-50-and-OverChatGPT, the tool Toby uses to design spaces and style outfits:https://chatgpt.com#TalentAcquisition #HiringStrategy #WorkforceTrends