Episodes

Monday Jun 23, 2025
Monday Jun 23, 2025
Is Your Personal Brand Image Sabotaging Your Career?
Meet Liam Darmody and Liams Brand Stand
Episode SummaryThis episode dives into the art of not screwing up your professional image. From turning your digital profile into a magnet for opportunities to dodging the trap of being a boring job-board lurker, it’s a no-nonsense guide to standing out in a sea of suits. Expect sharp insights on crafting a persona that attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones—without selling your soul.
Segment 1: Why Your Profile’s Probably a Career KillerYour current profile? Likely a snooze-fest resume dump. Learn why treating it like a static CV is a one-way ticket to obscurity. Discover how to transform it into a dynamic landing page that screams “I’m worth your time” while subtly telling the wrong crowd to keep scrolling.
Segment 2: The Platform’s a Goldmine, Stop Ignoring ItIt’s not just a place to panic-apply for jobs. It’s a treasure trove of first-party data where your next big break is hiding. Get the lowdown on mining connections like a pro—without coming off like a creepy networker who’s just in it for the “connect” button.
Segment 3: Content Creation or BustPosting content isn’t just for influencers with too much time. It’s your chance to show the world you’re not a corporate drone. From sharing your weird hobbies to dropping knowledge bombs, find out how to post without fear of your boss side-eyeing you or tanking your rep.
Segment 4: Supercharge Your GameReady to level up? This segment spills the beans on tools and systems to make your presence pop. Think Sales Navigator and video hacks that don’t require a film degree. Because manually slogging through this stuff is for people who hate efficiency.
Segment 5: Engagement Without BeggingLow likes got you down? Stop chasing vanity metrics and start playing the long game. Learn how to spark real conversations, not just collect digital high-fives. It’s about being top-of-mind when opportunity knocks, not crying over a post that flopped.
Call to ActionDon’t let your career gather dust. Revamp your profile, post something bold, and connect with someone who matters. Subscribe for more episodes that cut through the corporate BS, and leave a review if you’re ready to stop sabotaging your own success.
Connect with Tony from Timpl.

Thursday Jun 19, 2025
Thursday Jun 19, 2025
This jobTopia episode explores how AI and automation transform staffing, from clean data strategies to agentic AI screening and AI-powered sales training, with practical insights for learning and development.
Meet Brendan Robinson, CEO and Founder, Broad & Madison Advisory
AI and Automation Are Not Your Mom’s Synonyms: The episode hammered home that AI and automation are like cousins who don’t get along at family reunions. Automation is the trusty sidekick for repetitive tasks—think sending “Happy Birthday” emails or fishing for candidates in your CRM. AI, on the other hand, is the chaotic genius demanding a full business makeover. L&D takeaway: Train your teams to stop lumping these together. Understanding their distinct roles is step one to not screwing up your tech adoption.
Data Hoarding Is a Staffing Sin: Staffing firms are apparently digital packrats, clinging to decades-old resumes like they’re rare Pokémon cards. The guest’s “bulldoze the house” mantra for data cleanup is a wake-up call. For L&D, this means teaching folks to let go of useless data and embrace clean, actionable datasets. Pro tip: If it hasn’t been touched in two years, it’s not your holy grail—it’s just clutter.
Agentic AI Is the New HR Intern (But Better): Agentic AI can screen hundreds of candidates faster than a recruiter on their third espresso, and it doesn’t get cranky. It’s not about replacing humans but about handling the grunt work so recruiters can focus on the high-value stuff, like actual interviews. L&D lesson: Upskill your team on how to leverage AI agents for efficiency, not fear them like they’re auditioning for Terminator.
AI Supercharges Sales Training and Strategy: From mock sales calls to instant account plans, AI is like a personal coach that doesn’t charge by the hour. The guest’s team uses it to train newbies and craft hyper-targeted outreach, cutting prep time from weeks to seconds. L&D takeaway: Integrate AI into sales training programs to simulate real-world scenarios and analyze outreach data. It’s like giving your team a cheat code without the guilt.
Creativity Isn’t Dead, It’s Amplified: The fear that AI kills creative mojo? Total myth. The guest sees AI as a thought partner that clears mundane tasks, freeing up brain space for big ideas. When it spits out a dud, just tell it to “do better” (genius move). L&D nugget: Teach people to use AI as a brainstorming buddy, not a replacement for their inner spark. It’s about collaboration, not capitulation.
Fail Forward with AI—It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: The guest’s “just do something” vibe is gold. AI adoption is messy, and you’ll screw up, but the learning curve is steep and fast. L&D insight: Build a culture where experimenting with AI is encouraged, even if it means a few faceplants. Failure is just data for the next win.
Personalization Is King, and AI’s the Royal Scribe: From tailored drip campaigns to knowing a client’s niche market challenges, AI makes you look like you care (even if it’s doing the heavy lifting). L&D angle: Train teams to use AI for hyper-personalized outreach that feels human, not robotic. It’s about making clients feel special, not spammed.
In short, this episode taught me that AI in staffing isn’t just about shiny tech—it’s about smarter processes, cleaner data, and empowering humans to do what they do best. For L&D, it’s a call to action: train folks to embrace AI as a tool, not a threat, and to start small but start now. Oh, and maybe don’t hoard data like it’s your grandma’s china. jobTopia out.
Connect with Tony

Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Strap in for a no-nonsense dose of jobTopia: The Learning and Development Podcast, where host Tony doesn’t just talk the talk—he throws you into the deep end of leadership reality. This episode, “Extreme Ownership,” is all about grabbing accountability by the horns and refusing to let excuses derail your mission. Joined by Chris Dietrich, the health, safety, and environmental leader at TK Elevator, Tony dives into what it takes to lead with people-first grit in a world that loves to point fingers. Expect sharp insights, a touch of battlefield wisdom, and just enough sarcasm to keep you smirking through the hard truths.
What’s This Episode About?Extreme Ownership isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s about taking full responsibility for every win, loss, and coffee spill in your domain. Tony and Chris unpack how this mindset, inspired by the likes of Jocko Willink’s gravelly “Good,” transforms organizations from drama-fueled chaos to empowered, people-first powerhouses. From safety culture to AI-driven leadership, they explore how owning your actions (and your team’s) is the secret sauce to thriving in manufacturing, leadership, and beyond. Spoiler: Blame fixes nothing, but curiosity might just save the day.
Key Takeaways
People-First Is Non-Negotiable: At TK Elevator, Chris champions a culture where people aren’t just cogs—they’re the heart of the strategy. Unlike those companies plastering “we value people” on their websites while treating employees like disposable widgets, TK burns the boats to prioritize talent and safety.
The Drama Triangle Trap: Chris breaks down the empowerment dynamic—persecutor, rescuer, victim vs. coach, mentor, creator. Leaders stuck in the drama triangle (think “name, blame, shame”) tank morale and progress. Jocko’s “Good” flips the script, yanking teams into solution mode.
Respond, Don’t React: Great leaders don’t lose their cool when the proverbial ship sinks. Chris channels emotional intelligence (EQ) to stay humble, regulate emotions, and turn problems into opportunities. It’s not about dodging mistakes—it’s about learning from them.
Data Tells the Real Story: Chris uses data to hold a mirror to leadership responses. Scoring how leaders handle safety incidents (hard fixes like eliminating risks vs. soft bandaids like PPE) reveals cultural blind spots. Low scores? Time to ditch the confirmation bias and get real.
AI as Your Thought Partner: Forget annoying website chatbots—Chris sees AI as a safety game-changer. Imagine a smart system prompting workers with risk assessments tailored to their tasks, catching human errors before they turn deadly. Predictive analysis, meet boots-on-the-ground impact.
Culture Is Singular: Safety culture? Quality culture? Nope—just culture. Chris hates the term “safety culture” because it lets leaders dodge ownership. A strong culture prioritizes people across the board, and a weak one shows up in high turnover, soaring workers’ comp, and tanked productivity.
Invest in Safety, Win at ROI: A people-first climate isn’t just warm fuzzies—it’s cold, hard cash. Companies that skimp on safety bleed talent, jack up costs, and scare off workers. Chris’s mantra: Invest in people now, or pay dearly later.
Why You Should CareIf you’re leading a team, running a plant, or just trying to survive corporate chaos, Extreme Ownership is your playbook for cutting through the noise. In a world obsessed with productivity over people, Chris’s approach proves that putting humans first isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Whether you’re dodging confirmation bias or eyeing AI to keep workers safe, this episode is a wake-up call to own your role, your culture, and your impact. Because if you don’t, the market (and your employees) will eat you alive.
Guest Spotlight
Chris Dietrich (TK Elevator): Health, safety, and environmental leader for TK Elevator’s North American manufacturing and supply chain. With a consulting flair and a passion for data, Chris transforms organizations by putting people first, wielding AI like a thought partner, and calling BS on “safety culture” excuses.
Memorable Moments
Tony’s lunch table epiphany at a Charlotte safety conference, where Chris’s insights on AI and leadership sparked a podcast-worthy convo.
Chris channeling Jocko’s “Good” to reframe problems as opportunities: “Sales are down? Good. Let’s get creative.”
The “drama triangle” breakdown—Chris’s vivid explanation of how leaders escape victim mode to empower teams.
Chris’s data-driven mirror: Scoring leadership responses to safety incidents to expose weak spots and spark change.
The AI chatbot vision—Chris’s plan to use smart systems to nudge workers toward safer decisions, no vacation brain required.
Tony’s rant on why skimping on safety is a “no-brainer” way to tank your business: “Word travels fast when you don’t care.”
What’s Next?Tony’s already scheming to bring Chris back post-vacation (Dauphin Island, anyone?) for a deeper dive into leadership, AI, and maybe a few transformation war stories. Want more? Drop a line to jobTopia and tell Tony what’s got you fired up.
Where to Learn More
Curious about TK Elevator’s people-first approach? Check out their transformation journey here.
Want to geek out on AI-driven leadership? Grab Geoff Woods’ AI-Driven Leadership for a crash course in using AI as your thought partner.
Got a leadership or safety story? Hit up jobTopia and join the conversation.
Final ThoughtExtreme ownership isn’t just a catchphrase—it’s a gauntlet. Stop blaming, start responding, and put your people first. Because in the end, the only thing you truly own is how you show up. Are you ready to take extreme ownership of your workforce? Call Timpl today and get started.
Discover why Safety is our competitive advantage.

Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
"Deepfake Detection: How to Spot Fake Candidates"
Can you spot a deepfake?
This is a massive wake-up call, because the job market just got a whole lot shadier. In this eye-opening episode of jobTopia: The Learning and Development Podcast, we dive headfirst into the wild world of deepfakes, fraudsters, and candidates who think they can outsmart the system with AI and a little too much creativity. Host Tony and his guests, Emmanuel and Mehal, peel back the curtain on the rising tide of hiring scams—because apparently, some people would rather fake their way to a paycheck than, you know, actually do the work. With a mix of tech savvy, industry insight, and just the right amount of snark, this episode is your guide to spotting the snakes in the hiring den.
Meet Emmanuel Toutain, CEO TurboCheck & Mehul Bhatt, CEO Flocareer
What’s This Episode About?The job market is a jungle, and thanks to AI, it’s easier than ever for fraudsters to slither through the cracks. From fake LinkedIn profiles to deepfake interviews that’d make Nicolas Cage and John Travolta jealous, candidates are pulling out all the stops to game the system. Tony and his guests break down the chaos: why it’s happening, how it’s happening, and what employers can do to avoid getting duped by a digital doppelgänger. Spoiler alert: It’s not just about checking resumes anymore.
Key Takeaways
The Layoff Lowdown: The tech industry’s been on a rollercoaster, with mass layoffs sparked by post-COVID overhiring and a race to “optimize” workforces. Big tech companies like Google and Microsoft are trimming staff, blaming everything from boardroom pressure to AI efficiency. The result? A flooded job market where desperate candidates are turning to fraud to stand out.
Fraudsters Are Winning (Sort Of): One in five candidates is pulling some kind of stunt during interviews—think ChatGPT on speed dial, fake IDs, or even full-on organized scam centers with 20-30 people pretending to be U.S.-based developers while sharing the same Wi-Fi in a basement somewhere. Yes, it’s that bad.
Deepfakes Are Here, and They’re Creepy: Forget cheap fakes—candidates are using AI to swap faces in real-time, making you think you’re interviewing one person while someone else (or no one at all) is behind the screen. Emmanuel’s live demo of face-swapping tech will leave your jaw on the floor.
The Fraud Funnel: Up to 30-40% of candidates at the top of the hiring funnel are faking something—resumes, skills, or entire identities. Some are even juggling multiple jobs or subcontracting gigs to overseas teams. Others? They’re after your company’s data for corporate espionage or a quick buck on the dark web.
How to Fight Back: Emmanuel (from TurboCheck) and Mehal (from FloCareer) are on the front lines with complementary fraud-detection tools. From vetting digital identities to monitoring interview behavior (like sneaky tab-switching or phone-based AI copilots), their platforms help employers separate the superheroes from the supervillains.
The Sad Reality: 62% of U.S. driver’s licenses have been compromised, and fake IDs are a steal at $25-$80 online. Combine that with AI-powered proxies and candidates who only “exist” on LinkedIn, and you’ve got a recipe for hiring disaster. Trust is dead, and recruiters are heartbroken.
Why You Should CareIf you’re hiring, you’re a target. Fraudsters don’t care about your company’s reputation or the millions in damages they could cause—whether it’s losing a major client or getting hit with a data breach. This episode is a wake-up call to get skeptical, get tech, and get ahead of the scammers. Because let’s be real: the only thing worse than a bad hire is a fake one.
Guest Spotlight
Emmanuel Toutain (TurboCheck): The digital detective exposing fake LinkedIn profiles and catching fraudsters at the top of the hiring funnel. His platform uses patented tech to sniff out “digital ghosts” who only exist online.
Mehul Bhatt (FloCareer): The interview guru whose AI and human-powered assessments catch candidates trying to cheat their way through technical interviews. From tab-switching to fishy coding patterns, Mehal’s team has seen it all.
Memorable Moments
Emmanuel’s mind-blowing deepfake demo, where he transforms into someone else mid-conversation. (Tony’s still recovering.)
The revelation that organized scam centers are running like call centers, complete with shared Wi-Fi and fake U.S.-based personas.
Tony’s rant about how fraudsters are ruining trust in hiring: “Why don’t you just use your creativity for good and not be a jerk?”
The horrifying stat that 62% of U.S. driver’s licenses are compromised, making identity theft easier than ordering takeout.
What’s Next?Tony’s already plotting a sequel—maybe a full-on “fraud podcast” diving into the juiciest horror stories from the hiring trenches. Stay tuned for more demos, more scams, and more reasons to question everything.
Where to Learn More
Curious about TurboCheck and FloCareer? Check out their platforms to see how they’re fighting the good fight against hiring fraud.
Got questions or a fraud story of your own? Hit up jobTopia and let Tony know what’s up.
Final ThoughtIn a world where AI can make anyone look like a rockstar candidate, the only way to win is to fight tech with tech. Stay sharp, stay skeptical, and don’t let the deepfakes steal your company’s soul. Catch you next time on jobTopia!

Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
To compete with top industry players, Larry Hartmann of ZRG Partners implemented the "Challenger Brand Strategy.” In this jobTopia episode, Tony interviews Larry about ZRG’s unique growth story and the business strategy that consistently delivers ROI for his investors, even in a down market.
Industry Overview
Explores the executive search industry, focusing on high-end retained searches for roles like CEOs, CFOs, board members, and even head coaches for NFL or college teams.
Highlights the process-driven nature of executive search, emphasizing the recruitment of passive candidates who are not actively seeking new roles.
Discusses the confidential and strategic nature of these searches, often involving replacing executives discreetly.
Explains the retainer model, where firms are paid for the process in increments, not just for candidate placement, contrasting with contingency recruiting.
Challenger Brand Strategies
Defines a challenger brand as one that disrupts the status quo by introducing new approaches to the market.
Discusses how challenger brands in executive search compete with established global firms by offering scale, global presence, and innovative methodologies.
Emphasizes the importance of data-driven processes and technology to enhance decision-making, setting challenger brands apart in a traditionally static industry.
Highlights the necessity of global reach and local expertise to meet the needs of multinational clients, including understanding cultural nuances in different markets.
Growth and Innovation
Shares a unique growth story involving private equity investment and strategic acquisitions to expand service offerings, including interim leadership and human capital advisory services.
Details how acquisitions have broadened the firm's footprint, enabling it to provide comprehensive solutions like embedded recruiting and consulting.
Discusses the importance of capital in fueling growth, allowing for rapid scaling and diversification into new areas like higher education and sports recruiting.
Impact of AI in Executive Search
Examines the role of AI in improving efficiency across industries, including executive search, by automating tasks and identifying candidate pools.
Notes that while AI will level the playing field, proprietary innovations could provide a competitive edge for a limited time.
Emphasizes the continued importance of human interaction in high-level searches, particularly for engaging passive candidates.
Sports Recruiting Insights
Explores the dynamic world of sports recruiting, particularly for high-profile roles like head coaches and athletic directors.
Highlights the fast-paced, discreet nature of sports searches, often involving quick decisions and high-stakes negotiations.
Shares examples of successful placements in college and professional sports, underscoring the impact of leadership in transforming programs.
That’s a Wrap
Reflects on the importance of leadership in driving organizational success and the evolving role of challenger brands in the executive search industry.
Teases future discussions on leadership strategies and the ongoing transformation in the field.
Ready for your next challenge or gearing up for more headcount? Connect with Tony from Timpl to discuss your future.

Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Welcome to the Top-Ranked L&D PodcastThe jobTopia Podcast has earned its place as the leading learning and development platform, evolving organically through years of insightful conversations with industry leaders. Initially exploring sales, marketing, and recruiting, the podcast has honed its focus on L&D, driven by audience demand and the diverse industries it covers. This episode dives into the critical role of safety in business, spotlighting innovative training solutions and the cultural shifts reshaping the workforce.
Meet Brian Carpenter
ClickSafety
Safety as a Business ImperativeSafety isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a cornerstone of operational excellence, especially in manufacturing, automotive, and other high-risk industries. A recent safety conference in Charlotte revealed a growing ecosystem of companies offering safety as a service. One standout provides comprehensive training across sectors like automotive, solar, construction, mining, and even niche markets like potato farming. These solutions are vital as businesses navigate the complexities of compliance, worker protection, and operational continuity.
From Mascot to Safety Leader: A Unique Career ArcBrian Carpenter’s journey into safety was anything but conventional. Starting at a grocery store and dabbling as a traveling mascot, they later pioneered a mascot program in high school before becoming a mascot at a major D1 university. This colorful background led to a career pivot through roles at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Pulte Homes, and McGraw Hill Construction, before landing in safety via a mentor’s nudge eight years ago. The safety industry, they note, is uniquely rewarding—clients are responsive, eager to stay ahead of risks, and committed to employee well-being.
The ROI of Safety: Beyond ComplianceInvesting in safety delivers measurable financial benefits. Companies with robust safety programs can secure significant discounts on workers’ compensation insurance—some up to 52%—by outperforming industry peers. Beyond insurance savings, safety prevents costly disruptions. A single injury can halt a job site for days or weeks, triggering investigations, delays, and fines. Fatalities, while rare, have ripple effects, impacting families, teams, and reputations. Proactive safety measures keep projects on track, ensuring businesses meet tight supply chain deadlines.
Building a Culture of SafetyA strong safety culture starts with leadership buy-in and daily reinforcement. Innovative tools, like a “question of the day” product, gamify safety training, engaging employees with competitive leaderboards and small rewards. This approach transforms safety from a chore into a shared priority, starting each shift with a focus on risk awareness. Regular training—whether through OSHA 10/30 certifications or site-specific briefings—empowers workers to act decisively, like covering a hazard or stopping unsafe work. Companies excelling in this area, some achieving zero injuries on million-hour projects, set a new standard, attracting and retaining talent in a competitive labor market.
Reshoring and the Trades RenaissanceThe push to bring manufacturing back onshore is creating a golden age for safety professionals. Repurposing or building new facilities demands extensive training for new and existing workers. Construction, a key driver, faces a labor shortage so severe that companies are recruiting from middle schools to build pipelines for trades like welding, where high school juniors are landing $68,000 job offers. This shift challenges outdated notions of success, urging parents and educators to rethink college as the sole path. Trades offer fulfilling, well-paid careers, supported by a decentralized education model tailored to regional industry needs.
The Rise of Online Safety TrainingOnline training has revolutionized safety education, especially post-COVID. With 57% of OSHA cards now issued online, platforms like ClickSafety.com offer flexible, cost-effective solutions. Unlike in-person training, which can require days offsite and hefty travel expenses, online courses allow workers to learn at their pace—ideal for weather-driven downtime or busy schedules. This efficiency frees up in-person sessions for specialized, job-specific training, maximizing impact.
A Nod to the Mascot LifeBefore wrapping, the guest shared a glimpse into their mascot days, from impromptu grocery store gigs to leading a D1 university’s mascot program. Tryouts, they revealed, are rigorous, involving dance routines, suit tests, and charisma evaluations. Now coaching at the University of Kansas, they’re shaping the next generation of mascots for a new football stadium’s inaugural season. This quirky side note underscores the diverse paths that lead to impactful careers.
Connect with ClickSafetyFor businesses seeking scalable safety training, ClickSafety.com delivers tailored solutions for industries from construction to agriculture. Reach out to explore how their online platforms can enhance compliance, reduce costs, and foster a safer workplace. Stay tuned for more insights from jobTopia, where learning meets real-world impact.
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Friday May 16, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
Meet Sean G CEO and Founder of Claritiv
a customer insights platform powered by AI - its like mind reading!
This riveting podcast episode explores the cutting-edge role of AI in unlocking the power of mind-reading-like insights from customer conversations. It dives into a sophisticated tool that goes beyond mere transcription, analyzing tone, intent, and context to deliver game-changing clarity for mid-market B2B sales teams. Born from a hard-learned lesson in misunderstanding customer needs at Rolls-Royce, the discussion reveals a relentless drive to perfect conversational understanding, with a bold 2025 plan to transform trade show follow-ups into precision strikes. It’s a sharp, unapologetic vision of AI as a force multiplier, turning chaotic sales data into a strategic weapon for human ingenuity.
Conversational Clarity in a Noisy WorldThe episode kicks off with a nostalgic nod to "Would You Rather," a game that sparks debate over superpowers like mind-reading—setting the stage for a deep dive into decoding customer conversations. It’s a sharp exploration of how businesses often miss the mark by listening to confirm biases rather than to understand, leaving critical insights buried in tone, intent, and context.
AI as the Ultimate ListenerEnter a tool that’s less about flashy AI buzzwords and more about raw utility: a platform that dissects sales conversations with surgical precision. By integrating with Zoom, Teams, and CRMs, it captures audio (and potentially video) to unearth hidden gems—sentiment, inflection, and pain points—that basic note-taking apps can’t touch. This isn’t just transcription; it’s a game-changer for turning chaotic chatter into actionable strategies.
Sales: Where Talk Meets TriumphThe focus sharpens on mid-market B2B sales teams drowning in data but starving for insight. With dashboards that reveal deal health, rep performance, and customer needs, it’s a lifeline for leaders juggling long sales cycles. The real edge? A 2025 pivot to trade show exhibitors, transforming fleeting booth chats into precise, ROI-boosting follow-ups that make generic pitches obsolete.
From Failure to EpiphanyRooted in a brutal lesson from a Rolls-Royce product flop, the discussion unveils the origin of a mission to rethink customer understanding. A decade in engine tech, a stint in digital product leadership, and a humbling VP takedown fuel a relentless drive to build tools that don’t just hear—they comprehend. This is about learning from the sting of arrogance to deliver solutions that actually fit.
The Future of Human-AI SynergyAI isn’t here to replace; it’s here to amplify. The episode frames it as a tool akin to the wheel or the internet—a catalyst for human evolution in business. By automating the grunt work of analyzing countless calls, it frees sales teams to hone their craft, turning raw data into a coaching goldmine. It’s a bold vision of a world where tech doesn’t overwhelm but empowers.

Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
In this episode, Tony discovers Rod Smyth, an Irish-born, Cancun-based serial entrepreneur who’s turned disruption into dollars and now sails the seas while revolutionizing staffing with AI. His solution eliminates ghosting!
From scaling multimillion-dollar companies to tackling candidate ghosting, Rod’s story is a masterclass in grit and innovation. Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts professional firepower and edgy insight.
Global AI Pursuit:
A worldwide chase for AI breakthroughs lands on Rod Smyth, an Irish trailblazer now calling Cancun home.
Rod Smyth’s Hustle:
A Gen X tech titan, Smyth transformed his family’s manufacturing business, launched Ireland’s first SaaS platform, reshaped staffing with TempBuddy, and sold Shift Fillers for $30M in just 18 months. Now, he’s a sailor—because why settle for ordinary?
Sailing as Resilience:
Smyth’s COVID-era leap to sailing reflects his genius for turning chaos into opportunity, showcasing unyielding self-reliance.
AI’s True Revolution:
Forget content spam—AI is a communication game-changer, empowering solo decisions with collective know-how and swapping manual slog for 24/7 efficiency.
Staffing’s Ugly Truths:
Candidate ghosting and the “black hole” aren’t unbreakable. Smyth’s Glide platform uses AI to optimize job ads, screen applicants, and deliver instant feedback, cutting ad waste by 60-70% and elevating candidate experience.
Resistance to Change:
Tech adoption stalls under performance pressure and outdated KPIs. Leaders must redefine metrics, prioritize customer and candidate satisfaction, and adopt AI with intent to dodge wasteful investments.
Recruiters’ Unsung Role:
Recruiters moonlight as therapists for job-seekers facing life’s big stressors, yet they’re underpaid and overstretched, managing only 10-15 meaningful daily conversations.
Glyde’s Industry Edge:
Built on Smyth’s 30 years in staffing, Glyde Talent automates job ad management, personalizes candidate engagement, and streamlines recruitment with AI that gets the industry’s nuances.
AI’s Future Interface:
Mouse clicks are relics—AI runs on voice and chat. Microsoft Teams and Copilot point to a world where tech syncs seamlessly with human dialogue.
Human Grit and Charm:
From Smyth’s dog Gala barking at trucks to his upcoming staffing conferences in Charleston and Boston, this is tech talk grounded in real-world hustle. Check out Rod’s Substack.
Rod Smyth’s domain:
disruptive, ocean-breeze-fueled, and relentlessly sharpening staffing through AI. Tune in for a dose of wisdom that cuts through the noise.
Connect with Tony from Timpl
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