The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly

Becky Frankiewicz is the Chief Commercial Officer, President North America at ManpowerGroup, a global leader in staffing and recruitment.In this episode, Becky discusses the overwhelming nature of the Gen-Z experience, highlighting their increased susceptibility to workplace stress stemming from feelings of disconnection. She delves into the underlying reasons for this generation's sense of frustration and emphasizes how their resilience could be advantageous.Despite feeling disempowered, Gen-Z maintains elevated expectations for their employers and is unafraid to express these demands. Becky also examines the implications of artificial intelligence on traditional "entry-level" positions. This generation is forging its own path and does not view success as a straightforward journey.She shares the bright spots in today’s job market, as seen in Manpower’s real-time data.

Daniel Chait is the cofounder and CEO of Greenhouse, a cloud-based hiring software.  In this episode, Daniel delves into the current state of the job market, describing it as the most challenging he's ever encountered, despite misleading headline figures that paint a rosier picture.  He offers insights on how employers can improve their hiring practices to benefit job seekers from the start of the recruitment process. Daniel highlights the numerous frustrations faced by applicants, including the disheartening experience of being ghosted by potential employers and confronting biased, unfair interview questions.  The discussion also touches on the impact of AI technology, which has enabled candidates to submit more applications, subsequently overwhelming companies and exposing flaws in their recruitment processes. Daniel reassures job hunters that their struggles are shared by many others and provides guidance on how to navigate the complexities of the current job market effectively.

In this episode, we are joined by three tech recruiting heavyweights from the banking, fintech and startup sectors to discuss the 2024 tech job market.  They highlight the growing prevalence of contract  roles, which can be just as lucrative as full-time positions, if not more. They give insights into what financial services firms are the best for tech professionals looking to pivot into banking, a trend we are seeing surge as a result of the softening tech labor market in recent years.  Additionally, the recruiting experts forecast the impact of AI on tech jobs, as well as share their optimism in how they see the market panning out in 2025. They offer valuable advice for those looking to engage in a job search in the new year, emphasizing the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape and building connections with recruiters who can support their efforts.

Jeff Schwartz is the VP of Insights and Impact at Gloat, an AI talent marketplace platform. What’s happening today in the white-collar job market is as slow as it’s ever going to be, according to Jeff. We’re going to see disruption and substantial change in optimizing the current processes and redesigning the work with superjobs and superteams. The job you are doing today will not exist in the same form in the near future. It’s not a matter of will you lose your job, but will you lose your job to someone leveraging AI and other emerging technologies. Jeff emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset during this period of transition, characterized by new approaches, mindsets and ways of thinking beyond an optimization mindset. He speaks to the importance of creative destruction. Jeff talks about how startups should focus on falling in love with solving a problem rather than the technology. He shares how Gloat is helping people find internal jobs, projects and gig markets to grow their careers or make a pivot, and companies redeploy and re-skill talent when sunsetting roles. Lastly, Jeff reflects on his storied career from public policy to the Peace Corps., investment banking to management consulting, living in several countries across the world, and how that informs his views on the global talent pool and distributed workforce.

Company holiday parties are an extension of the workplace, and it’s important to maintain a professional image when enjoying the festivities. These events can be a minefield of potential missteps that could have lasting consequences on your career and workplace relationships. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and overindulge, potentially landing you in hot water. Here's how to maintain your decorum at these events, with a list of do’s and don’ts.

A recent survey has unveiled a startling disconnect between young people’s perception of financial success and their economic reality. The study revealed that Gen-Z believe an annual salary of $587,797 and a net worth of $9.47 million are necessary to achieve financial success.  In this episode, we talk about why this generation has such a high benchmark for financial success and why it may be unrealistic. We explore alternative career routes that could be high-paying for people looking to make a lot of money.

There is an ongoing debate about whether or not you should bring your authentic self to work. Critics say that you should check all that at the door, leaving behind your personal politics, social causes and sob stories.  In this episode, we discuss the extent to which we should allow people to be their authentic selves in the workplace. Do you allow the rockstar jerk to continue to be a jerk if he is bringing in a lot of money? We also explore how there is power in embracing your true self, giving you the confidence to go after “crazy” ideas, advocate for yourself and effect change

Aaron Terrazas is an economist who has worked for the U.S. Treasury, Zillow and was most recently, the chief economist at Glassdoor. He spent his career providing research, analysis and commentary on today’s evolving workplace and fast-changing labor market. Aaron discusses how there are two different job markets concurrently happening, and delves into the undercurrent beneath the headline numbers we are seeing in the economy and job market, primarily the erosion of the quality of work for white-collar workers.Aaron talks about the cloud of uncertainty heading into 2025 and the importance of nuance when talking about issues such as illegal immigration and labor supply. We speak about the shift of demographics in the workforce, with the exodus of Baby Boomers and the implications that has on the job market and upward mobility, as well as intergenerational wealth transfers. Lastly, we talk about the impact of inflation in the near and long term, and how high interest rates alter the calculus of capital and startup investments.

Phil Willburn leads the People Analytics division at Workday, a platform serving human resources and finance needs with over 70 million users and handling 800 billion transactions annually. The current job market for white-collar workers is highly competitive, with job applications being submitted at a rate four times higher than the number of job openings. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by job seekers, who also perceive limited opportunities for advancement within their current organizations.For those feeling stagnant in their careers, Phil emphasizes the importance of “crushing your job” and making efforts to be noticed. Despite the competitive environment, there are still opportunities for growth as companies set higher standards for hiring. Phil underscores the distinction between human capital and social capital, advocating for a focus on both to enhance networking and build a professional reputation. He notes that professional connections are a key factor in securing new positions, as referrals have become increasingly influential in the hiring process.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) called for a breakup of Google, divesting its Chrome browser and potentially Anthe droid operating system. This move comes after a federal judge ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the online search and advertising markets. The DOJ argues that forcing Google to sell Chrome would eliminate its dominance. Things will be changing quickly in 2025!

Robert Israch is the President of Tipalti, a global finance automation platform, who has over 20 years of leadership experience. During Rob’s tenure, Tipalti has experienced 50x growth, while helping the company receive a valuation of over $8.3 billion. The company has appeared on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 lists for the last five years running. In this episode, Rob talks about the importance of the 3 P’s when balancing your career: Place, People and Profession and how he went against the advice of his mentors by following his gut and taking a less-senior role in a position he knew he could grow in. Rob walks us through the framework of when is the right time to switch companies, as well as assessing a potential employer. He gives insight into what makes a company successful, such as its commitment to hard work, grit, problem-solving and conflict resolution. Rob also breaks down the concept of customer centricity.

Kiranbir Sodhia is a Senior Engineering Manager, leading teams developing machine learning frameworks for Google and the open-source community. He has over 15 years of experience working in AI, AR, gaming, mobile app and semiconductor industries at companies like Microsoft, Apple and Garmin International. Notably, at Microsoft he led development teams in Azure, Xbox and HoloLens. Kiranbir has always known exactly what he wanted to do, since the age of 12, and used that vision to build the stepping stones and skill sets to achieve his goals. He walks us through his trajectory to becoming a manager and how he has maintained the same enthusiasm all these years later. Kiranbir talks about why you shouldn’t fear failure and how it can be a key motivator for greatness. He gives us insight into the interviewing process at the prestigious Big Tech companies, from the perspective of both a job candidate and as a leader who has built his own teams. Lastly, Kiranbir shares how he turned down pre-IPO Facebook to work at his then-dream employer Apple, a decision he calls “comical” and humbling.

Mark McCaffrey is the CFO of GoDaddy. McCaffrey joined the company in 2021 after a long and successful career at PwC—a decision that was swiftly made within 24 hours of a conversation with the company's CEO. He was drawn to GoDaddy's passion for its customers and its underdog mentality, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the company's transformation from a domain business. In this episode of the Blind Ambition Podcast with Jack Kelly, we discuss the importance of controlling your personal career narrative, which often involves taking risks and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Mark talks about why passion is crucial, as well as surrounding yourself with a network of sponsors, mentors and coaches. His career journey not only provides an interesting case study on opportunities after a lifetime in public accounting, but also highlights the importance of recognizing opportunity, identifying emotional leadership and developing the confidence needed to bet a career on a gut feeling.

Although we are having an American Presidential election, it looks like people from other countries can bet on the outcome of who wins the US Presidency. For example, a French trader known only as "Théo" has made headlines for placing a massive $30 million bet on Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election through the cryptocurrency prediction market platform Polymarket. If successful, his bet could yield approximately $80 million in returns, but he risks losing most or all of his investment if Kamala Harris wins. Some experts and politicians have raised concerns about election betting potential influence on voter perception and democratic processes, with Senator Jeff Merkley proposing legislation to ban such practices. Prediction markets can significantly influence public opinion on elections through several mechanisms. They provide real-time updates and respond quickly to new developments, offering a dynamic alternative to traditional polling, which captures only periodic snapshots of voter sentiment. Does Betting Make The Elections Better? By incorporating various factors beyond mere voter intention—such as economic data and current events—prediction markets compel participants to "put their money where their mouth is," potentially leading to more honest assessments of candidates' chances. This can create perceived momentum for candidates with strong odds, and the media often amplifies market movements, further shaping voter sentiment. However, concerns about reliability persist, as market manipulation practices like wash trading can distort outcomes; reports suggest that approximately one-third of Polymarket's trading volume may be artificial.

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to Home Depot's policy requiring all corporate employees to work eight hours at one of its retail stores every quarter. Rick discusses the practicality and what it'd be like to have senior executives, remote workers or people who don't have any day-to-day understanding of retail policy or frontline experience working. Jack compares the policy to an episode of "Undercover Boss" and wonders if the company can improve its supply chain and corporate policies to be a more effective, profitable company. Finally, Rick and Jack reflect on the potential impact the policy could have on Home Depot customers and the company's bottom line. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast⁠ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/10/09/home-depot-asks-corporate-employees-to-get-out-of-their-offices-and-work-8-hour-shift-in-stores/⁠ ⁠https://www.teamblind.com/post/Home-Depot-doing-the-Corporate-Employees-Work-in-Retail%E2%80%9D-Bulls-B8WUQWSi⁠ ⁠https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/12/23/could-doordash-executives-and-white-collar-employees-be-required-to-make-food-deliveries-to-customers/