Bryan is a globally recognized thought leader in the world of extended work and open talent. With a unique perspective on the ever-growing demand for comprehensive workforce solutions,he is a widely sought-after keynote speaker, a passionate evangelist for the open talent industry,and a highly sought out expert on emerging talent platforms, workforce management programs,labor models, HR technology, variable and future workforce trends. Through his boutiqueconsulting firm, Defiant Solutions LLC, he works directly with HR tech providers, serviceproviders, private equity, and enterprise clients to navigate the ever-changing global talent landscape. His firm utilizes an immense global network of industry experts and specializes in solving complex challenges. Just a few current projects include; working with an industry trade group to develop a unique set of industry standards for open talent platform businesses, creating new go-to-market economic model for a North American telehealth provider, developing a diversity certification for independent talent, building a new product offering for a talent platform based in the UK. You can find Bryan being featured in various industry publications, podcasts, webinars as well as Forbes, Fortune, Buzzfeed, to name a few. Bryan is featured extensively as an industry expert in an upcoming National Public Radio’s Marketplace episode on the future of work in America.

Episode transcription:

[00:00:00] Bryan Peña: [00:00:00] The hard thing to stomach, regardless of whatever industry you're in is that if a client feels like you're a commodity, then there's not going to be a whole lot. You can change it. If he thinks you're a commodity, you're a commodity. Now we agree. I believe holistically completely with every fiber of my being and the value that staffing firms bring and the value that opportunity creates opportunity, providing people a way to make a livelihood that is sacristan, there's a sacred role. I have a deep passion for it, but if the enterprise doesn't feel that the value you bring is truly a strategic one and more of a point solution or a transactional solution. Well, that's that you need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and make a decision. Is this a client you want to work with? Is this an industry we want to be in? Is this the vertical we want to be in? Or what can we do to really meet the value or the value expectations? Of my clients.

[00:01:20] Angela Alberty: [00:01:20] Okay everyone today, I have Brian Pena on the show. We are so excited to have you today. Brian, I have been a fan for some time with you and your prevalence in your staffing industry. Go ahead and give us a brief introduction on yourself.

[00:01:34] Bryan Peña: [00:01:34] Thank you, Angela. And thank you for having me today. My name is Bryan Pena. I am the principal for my own private consulting firm called Defiant Security Solutions Ltd, LLC. Prior to forming defined solutions I was the chief of market strategy for MBO partners. And then prior to that I was the senior vice president of continued workforce strategies for staffing industry analysts.

[00:01:58] Angela Alberty: [00:01:58] Awesome. So, Brian, like I said, I've been super excited to interview you today. You were one of the first people I reached out to as I announced a podcast host for the Ivy Podcast. And I've created this kind of trend with each podcast episode, it's called the fire and dice questions. It's a ring of fire to kind of put you under the pressure, but the ice part is to break the ice and get to know you a little bit better after all. So tell us, are you an early bird or a night out?

[00:02:29] Bryan Peña: [00:02:29] Yes, I actually don't get a whole lot of sleep. I usually sleep maybe four or five hours a night, so I go to bed relatively late and wake up relatively early. So I'm one of those freaks, I guess I drink a lot of coffee.

[00:02:48] Angela Alberty: [00:02:48] Okay. Gotcha. All right. So most interesting fact