TribePod - The Proactive Talent Podcast

In this episode of TribePod, host Matt Staney sits down with Eric Knauf, Founder and Managing Partner at BelongHQ, to explore the evolving landscape of talent leadership and the power of belonging in the workplace. Eric shares his journey from an "accidental recruiter" to a thought leader in talent acquisition, recounting pivotal moments from his career at SAP, Ariba, and Commvault. Together, they discuss: The critical role of belonging in organizational success. How talent leaders can navigate today’s AI-driven workplace. Why super connectors are the backbone of thriving companies. Whether you're a TA professional, HR leader, or simply passionate about fostering meaningful workplace connections, this episode offers invaluable insights into creating environments where people and businesses thrive. Connect with Eric: Visit BelongHQ.com or find him on LinkedIn.

In this episode of TribePod – The Proactive Talent Podcast, host Matt Staney dives into the transformative power of AI in employer branding. Learn how AI can help you uncover hidden employee stories, streamline content creation, and personalize the candidate journey—all without sacrificing the human touch. From leveraging tools like sentiment analysis to drafting blog posts in minutes, Matt shares actionable strategies, prompts, and ethical practices to scale your storytelling efforts. Whether you’re a one-person employer branding team or part of a larger organization, this episode is packed with insights to help you do more with less, connect authentically with your audience, and revolutionize the way you share employee experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to make AI your creative wingman! Tune in, take notes, and get ready to transform your approach to employer branding. Let’s scale those stories!

In this episode of TribePod, the Proactive Talent Podcast, host Matt Staney welcomes longtime friend and visionary HR leader Lars Schmidt. As the founder of Amplify Talent, author of "Redefining HR," and host of the "Redefining Work" podcast, Lars has transformed modern HR with his advocacy for open-source HR practices and his contributions to iconic brands like NPR, SpaceX, and Hootsuite. Join Matt and Lars as they take a deep dive into Lars' career journey—from his early days as a technical recruiter to his pioneering role as an author, speaker, and community builder. They discuss the evolution of HR, the future of AI in the workplace, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the field of talent acquisition. Plus, Lars opens up about his decision to step back from Amplify Talent and return to in-house work, sharing valuable insights on leadership, community, and finding fulfillment in the ever-changing world of HR. Whether you're an HR professional, a recruiter, or just interested in the future of work, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical takeaways, and thought-provoking ideas. Tune in, and be ready to rethink the future of HR with Matt and Lars.

In this episode of TribePod, host Matt Staney tackles two of the most transformative forces in today’s workplace: economic recovery and the rapid advancement of AI. As HR and recruitment leaders face both challenges and opportunities, Matt provides valuable insights into navigating job displacement, AI integration, and strategic talent development. Are robots coming for our jobs, or is there a brighter future ahead? Drawing from recent key studies, Matt explores how talent leaders can stay proactive, leverage AI as a tool, and create new pathways for talent. He shares actionable strategies for enhancing recruitment, focusing on reskilling, and making AI a partner in growth. For more details, check out the referenced studies: World Economic Forum - Future of Jobs Report 2023 McKinsey - Generative AI and the Future of Work PwC - Global AI Study 2023 Accenture - Technology Vision 2023 Deloitte - Human Capital Trends 2023 Learn more about Proactive Talent. Subscribe to our Newsletter

In this episode of TribePod – The Proactive Talent Podcast, host Matt Staney dives into the future of recruiting in an AI-driven world. Matt outlines six critical skills every modern recruiting team needs to thrive, from leveraging AI beyond automation to building talent ecosystems. Along the way, Matt offers practical tips, personal anecdotes, and recommended readings that will help you elevate your recruiting game and lead the charge in transforming talent acquisition. Whether you're a talent leader or a recruiter looking to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can’t be missed. Tune in now to learn how to future-proof your recruiting strategy and build teams ready for the modern world! Recommended books and their authors mentioned in the episode: Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence by Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle Talent Magnet: How to Attract and Keep the Best People by Mark Miller Work Without Jobs: How to Reboot Your Organization's Work Operating System by Ravin Jesuthasan and John Boudreau Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O'Neil The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson

In this highly anticipated return of TribePod, host Matt Staney, founder and CEO of Proactive Talent, shares his personal journey over the past year and a half, including why he decided to take a sabbatical and how it has reshaped his outlook on life, leadership, and the ever-evolving talent acquisition industry. Matt opens up about the challenges he faced—both professionally and personally—during the pandemic and tech downturn, and how those experiences led to the relaunch of Proactive Talent. In this episode, you’ll get a sneak peek into what’s ahead for Proactive Talent and TribePod, from deep dives into AI and technology in recruiting to building agile, scalable recruiting models and creating authentic employer brands. This episode sets the tone for the future of TribePod as the go-to podcast for HR and recruiting leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Matt hints at some exciting guest appearances and topics to come. Whether you're in talent acquisition, employer branding, HR or just curious about the future of hiring, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Subscribe now to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, insights, and strategies in recruiting and HR.

In this episode of TribePod, host Matt Staney sits down with Jason O'Day, a seasoned talent acquisition leader with deep experience in both agency and corporate recruiting, as well as fractional consulting. Jason shares his insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of today’s job market, reflecting on the distinctions between in-house and agency recruitment and how flexible, on-demand models like Proactive Talent bridge the gap for companies scaling up or down. They also dive into the impact of AI on recruiting workflows, discuss the promises and pitfalls of automation, and offer actionable advice for talent professionals navigating layoffs and career shifts. Whether you're a recruiter, TA leader, or simply curious about the future of hiring, this conversation will leave you inspired and informed on building a resilient and adaptable talent strategy.

In this episode, Courtney Lane interviews Jennifer Thornton about leadership development programs. What constitutes a good leadership development program? Who responds best? What are things to look for and more importantly, what are pitfalls to avoid? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more. | Find more great content at ProactiveTalent.com ... ABOUT OUR GUEST Jennifer has developed her expertise in Talent Strategy & Leadership Professional Development over her exciting 20+ year career as an HR Professional. She’s led international teams across Greater China, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. to expand into new markets, managing franchise retailers, and developing key strategic partnerships - all while exceeding business objectives and financial results.  The rapid growth of her consulting firm 304 Coaching has been largely due to Jennifer’s unconventional approach to building innovative workforce development solutions for companies who are facing breakthrough growth and accelerated hiring patterns. She is a sought-after business strategist, specializing in startups and large value-based organizations. She assists her clients in building talent strategies that complement their business strategies to ensure exponential growth. She lives in Texas with her family and rescues. In her free time, she enjoys reading, historic preservation, remodeling her lake home, and spending time with friends.

When you think of private eyes, TV shows like "Law and Order" come to mind where police detectives sort out heinous crimes and arrest the bad guys. One thing you might not consider are private eyes who operate in the corporate workspace. In this episode, we chat with one such detective - Robert Mather. For 27 years, Mather specialized in workplace investigations under the direction of HR managers. His average work day included looking into big embezzlement investigations, sexual harassment, discrimination cases, background checks and more. Tune in for a very interesting episode with a detective that has seen it all.  Find more great content at ProactiveTalent.com. ...  ABOUT OUR GUEST Robert Mather, CEO Pre-Employ.com mather@pre-employ.com Robert Mather has worked as a private investigator for some of the world’s largest corporations and the individuals who made them. Whether it’s corporate harassment investigations, background checks, or personal investigations, Robert exposes the tools and methodologies used to formulate fact-based and unbiased results. He is also the founder of one of the leading background check companies in the United States, Pre-employ.com Founded in 1994, Pre-employ.com strives to deliver the best possible pre-employment screening experience. Our speed, pricing and 100% US-based customer service team have contributed to us continuously being recognized as one of the top leading background check companies. We are also proudly Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) accredited.

In this episode, Courtney Lane interviews Matt Kaiser as he explains the Japanese concept of "Ikigai" and how to relate it to business world. Find more great content at ProactiveTalent.com.  ABOUT OUR GUEST Matt is a consultant and thought leader in the talent acquisition and employer brand space. Most recently, Matt worked as the Director of Talent Acquisition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – one of the nation’s leading pediatric healthcare systems and consistently ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by Fortune magazine. With the support of a strong team, Matt evolved and optimized the recruitment platform at Children’s to produce record numbers in hiring, quality and efficiency. Prior to working at Children's, Matt helped reshape talent acquisition at Ericsson, the world's leading provider of communications technology and services, operating in 180 countries and employing more than 100,000 people. In his five years with Ericsson, Matt lived in both Australia and Singapore. He drove innovation in the employer branding, sourcing and recruitment strategy for Ericsson regionally and globally. In his past experience as a senior strategy consultant with a U.S. recruitment communications firm, Matt helped leading organizations implement innovative employer branding and digital strategies to attract top talent. Matt is a graduate of The Florida State University. He is an author and featured industry speaker at international HR events.

In this episode, Courtney Lane interviews Jerome Ternyck. How are you measuring your recruitment success? Ternnyck makes the case that one should not ignore quality of outcome when TA leaders consider their recruitment metrics. Plus, he reveals efficiencies that will allow him to reduce advertising, sourcing, budgets and other recruitment related expenses.  Favorite quote: "What I mean by this is that the generalist recruiter who supposedly is a Talent advisor, but in reality spends their day organizing interviews, that model doesn't scale, right. And it's a race to the bottom." Find more great content at ProactiveTalent.com.  ABOUT OUR GUEST Jerome Ternynck is a recognized leader in the recruiting technology industry. He has had three successful exits over 30 years of building global businesses and award-winning software. As an entrepreneur with his heart in recruiting and soul in technology, Jerome is on a mission to connect people to jobs at scale. He argues that the ability to hire exceptional talent is the true sustainable differentiator for any business to compete, especially when nearly 80% of CEOs see hiring for key skills as their major threat. He wrote bestseller Hiring Success to pack decades of experience working with high growth and Fortune 500 companies into actionable insights for CEOs to compete for the best talent. Jerome currently serves as Founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based SmartRecruiters, a global talent acquisition suite rated as the most strategic provider by industry analysts. He dedicates personal time to connecting people with jobs as well, having started the Reverse Recruiting movement and volunteering with Entrepreneurs-in-Training programs of state prisons.

In this episode, Courtney Lane interviews "Mom Boss" - Brittany King. Brittany King is a passionate, self-proclaimed hope Dealer who has created a bold reputation for herself as a speaker and talent acquisition consultant due not only to her triumphant life journey but her commitment to helping people impact the world for good. Whether she is speaking from the stage or doing corporate consulting, Brittany’s superpower lies in her ability to deliver actionable strategies on how to turn change into opportunity. Brittany has shared the stage as a speaker with the likes of Star Jones, Destiny’s Child’s Latavia Roberson, and BET’s Miss Mykie, Brittany aims to spread the message that obstacles are meant to be overcome. Brittany is an AmeriCorps Alumna and recipient of the President’s Volunteer  Service Award, a full scholarship recipient to attend Clinton Global Initiative University and Clinton Global Initiative America, a speaker and scholarship recipient with the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, and an alumna of the American Association of University Women’s Young Voices Project. Brittany has been featured in Glamour Magazine and has been published on Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs’ website. Brittany holds a B.A. in Psychology.

On this episode of Tribepod, we are doing something a bit different. Our company recently received some publicly shared feedback that we were practicing cultural appropriation by using the word “tribe” in the name of our podcast and video series. We discussed the matter internally and  ultimately  decided to keep using the word. Tune in to hear how  we dealt with the cancel culture issue when it came calling on our very own company. 

Courtney Lane interviews Ben Gallagher, co-founder of B+A, a creative management consultancy whose clients include Nike, Google and Beats by Dre.  Gallagher gives advice to leaders trying to figure out how to navigate this sudden shift to a remote environment, the part diversity and inclusion plays in that and why companies need to commit to change and not just talk about it.  Find more great content at Proactive Talent, the most recognized name in talent attraction and hiring services. (www.proactivetalent.com) ABOUT OUR GUEST Ben Gallagher is the co-founder of B+A, a behaviour research agency whose clients include Nike, Google and Beats by Dre. He is an expert on business culture, which dictates the fortunes of corporate giants and fast-growth startups alike, but has a highly original take on what culture really means how businesses can go about building a productive one. But Covid-19 has changed the way we work beyond all recognition. With offices in London, Portland and Shanghai, B+A are no strangers to working remotely. But right now is different. Ben would be happy to shed some light on how big corporations are coping and provide practical tips to other businesses. His areas of expertise include: How to build a positive culture at a time when everyone is working from home How to engage with ‘post-coronavirus’ countries like China  How to deal with businesses allocating resources created pre-coronavirus How we can learn from this crisis and build stronger, more cohesive businesses Ben was a journalist at MTV and later, Sir David Frost’s producer at Al-Jazeera, before finding himself leading Nike’s efforts to make running appeal to young people. He believes that businesses can and must have a positive and tangible impact on the world; and works with executives to ensure they are in tune with their staff at all levels.

Courtney Lane interviews Evan Knox, CEO of Caffeine Marketing, Founder of CaffeineLabs, and Partner & CMO of Bowman Fly Fishing. Find more great content at Proactive Talent, the most recognized name in talent attraction and hiring services. (www.proactivetalent.com) Contact Evan Knox via www.EvanKnox.com 

Courtney Lane interviews James Sinclair, Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni. Who knows your organization better than someone who used to work there? A viable and robust corporate alumni community is a valuable recruitment resource. But, how do you go about organizing one? What are some pitfalls you need to avoid? If you do not have a boomerang strategy for rehiring former employees then, 1) you are doing your company a disservice and 2) you should be listening to this episode now.  Find more great content at Proactive Talent, the most recognized name in talent attraction and hiring services. (www.proactivetalent.com) ABOUT OUR GUEST James Sinclair is the Chief Executive & Co-Founder of EnterpriseAlumni, the market leading Alumni and Retiree Engagement Platform. Their software powers the corporate alumni networks of the world’s largest companies, leveraging this vast untapped pool of people for talent, sales, marketing and community. He has a background in large enterprise innovation, having worked for companies including IBM, SAP & EDS. Outside of his day job, he contributes to media on the future of work, large enterprise innovation and entrepreneurship. Links: EnterpriseAlumni : https://www.enterprisealumni.com EnterpriseAlumni LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/3262229/ Twitter: @EntAlumni James Sinclair (LinkedIn) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsinclair/ Twitter: @jds_again

Courtney Lane interviews Jim Karrh, author of "The Science of Customer Connections: Manage Your Message to Grow Your Business." How confident are you in the messaging behind what you sell? You know you have a quality product, passion to sell your product and a willingness to evangelize it to the marketplace. But what do you say? What are your competitors saying about your product and how are you supposed to respond to them? Tune in to a message that can bolster your recruitment processes as well as enhance your selling technique.   Find more great content at Proactive Talent, the most recognized name in talent attraction and hiring services. (www.proactivetalent.com)  ABOUT OUR GUEST Jim has an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, along with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida. But Jim also knows you don’t have to be a Ph.D., a professional speaker, an extrovert, or a brilliant conversationalist to bring your own business story to life. You just need to follow a process he calls “Managing Your Message.”In our increasingly noisy world, Jim Karrh helps businesses break through the noise and grow—through more effective and consistent customer conversations. Too many professionals today are missing out. They have a lot to offer--but their message isn’t right, or they lack enough messengers to share it, or the entire process seems unmanageable. Jim Karrh offers clients his experience as a consumer researcher, award-winning corporate marketing leader, and now consultant, speaker, and coach to businesses ranging from startups to members of the Fortune 500. Jim is the author of The Science of Customer Connections: Manage Your Message to Grow Your Business (published by Career Press). He is also host of “The Manage Your Message Podcast.” CONNECT WITH JIM KARRH website: https://jimkarrh.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkarrh/ Twitter: @JimKarrh His book is available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGC7XLR/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 

In this premiere episode of TribePod, Courtney Lane,  Principal Consultant of Proactive Talent interviews Jeff Wald. She is assisted by Jim Stroud, VP, Marketing at Proactive Talent. Together, they interview Jeff Wald, author of "The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations." The conversation centered around automation and how it will affect the workforce. Wald points out the history of technological advances and makes predictions on what we will likely see next. Wald also discusses how talent acquisition leaders can help companies through the eventual transition spurred on by technology.  Don't miss out! Tune in now.  ABOUT OUR GUEST Jeff Wald is the Founder of Work Market, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to efficiently and compliantly, organize, manage and pay freelancers (purchased by ADP). Jeff has founded several other technology companies, including Spinback, a social sharing platform (eventually purchased by salesforce.com). Jeff began his career in finance, serving as Managing Director at activist hedge fund Barington Capital Group, a Vice President at Israeli venture firm GlenRock and various roles in the M&A Group at JP Morgan. He is an active angel investor and startup advisor, as well as serving on numerous public and private Boards of Directors. Jeff holds an MBA from Harvard University and an MS and BS from Cornell University. He also formerly served as an officer in the Auxiliary Unit of the New York Police Department. Jeff is the author of The Birthday Rules and The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations. He is also a Producer of the Tony Award Winning Best Musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Slava’s Snowshow and the full-length feature Inez & Doug & Kira which has won best picture at various film festivals. Jeff is a regular writer in Huffington Post and Forbes and speaks widely at conferences and on television on startups and labor issues. Jeff was named “One of the 100 Most Influential People in Staffing” by the Staffing Industry Analysts in 2017 & 2018. ABOUT "The End of Jobs" As the robots rise, we are faced with the End of Jobs, but not in the way you might think... The world has witnessed three step functions in technological change: mechanization, electrification, and computerization. These industrial revolutions led to massive increases in productivity and thus we need far fewer workers. With each of these technological breakthroughs, the power balance between companies and workers shifted heavily to companies. The abuses of that power by companies instigated employee unrest and sometimes even armed uprisings. Counterbalancing forces rose to constrain companies’ power, eventually prompting unions, regulation, and the social safety net to bring stability to the relationship. As we enter the fourth great leap forward in technology with robots and AI, we face the first services revolution. The power balance will again shift massively to companies as new technologies drive productivity increases in the service industry, much as the last three industrial revolutions transformed manufacturing. What lessons can we learn from the past three industrial revolutions and the current state of the labor market? How will we renegotiate the social contract to ensure fairness for workers, set clear rules for companies, and provide stability for society? What is the future of work?

In this episode of Tribepod, Jim Stroud, VP of Marketing at Proactive Talent interviews Katrina Collier about her new book - "The Robot Proof Recruiter." During the conversation, the following topics are addressed: How to show you are a recruiter worth talking to How to show you are a company worth talking to  Why you should focus your recruitment process on people and not technology And more... Connect with Katrina Collier via her webpage at https://katrinacollier.com/  ... Download free HR resources designed to make your work life a little bit easier. Employer Brand Budget Template, Cost of Unfilled Jobs Calculator, Diversity Statement Examples, Creative Recruiting Strategies and more... https://proactivetalent.com/downloadables ... Please rate our podcast on your favorite podcast platform! ...  ABOUT THE ROBOT PROOF RECRUITER The Robot-Proof Recruiter shows you how to use a human-first approach to hiring that will help you grab and hold a candidate’s attention better than a robot! It contains essential guidance on overcoming obstacles, including how to recruit without an existing online presence, how to work effectively with hiring managers to improve the outreach and candidate experience, and how to use technology to support the candidate’s journey from initial outreach, through to application, successful onboarding, and later to alumnus. The second edition covers the unexpected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recruiting, and how using unique human qualities in conjunction with technology can enhance employer branding and candidate experience. Full of expert guidance, practical tips and updated case studies, this book explains what works, what doesn’t and how you can stand out and recruit effectively. The Robot-Proof Recruiter is an indispensable book for all recruitment professionals and HR practitioners who want to recruit the right people for their organization.

In this episode of TribePod, Phil Johnson discusses the value and importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. Topics addressed in this podcast include: What is Emotional Intelligence?  How is it developed? Why is it especially important now? Can anyone develop their emotional intelligence? What’s the difference between emotional intelligence and intellectual intelligence? Can emotional intelligence guarantee personal, career and corporate success? (Spoiler alert! Yes.) And what does the infamous Will Smith slap and Chris Rock's reaction tell us about emotional intelligence? Tune in for a fascinating conversation leading to how emotional intelligence could be the key to resolving most of the world's issues.   ABOUT OUR GUEST Phil Johnson, Founder- Master of Business Leadership (MBL) has been an Executive Coach for 21 years, helping executives and organizations to bet on themselves by developing their emotional intelligence.  Related links: YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfc3tV87p03JMDOXqDu8tQ EQ Newsletter On LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/dqxVrFZK Chat with Phil: https://calendly.com/mblcoach/chat-with-phil EQ vs IQ: Which One Wins the Battle for Leadership & Corporate Advancement? https://bit.ly/3bxOISw    ... Download free HR resources designed to make your work life a little bit easier. Employer Brand Budget Template, Cost of Unfilled Jobs Calculator, Diversity Statement Examples, Creative Recruiting Strategies and more... https://proactivetalent.com/downloadables ... Please rate our podcast on your favorite podcast platform!