As AI begins to threaten traditional white-collar jobs, there's a growing appreciation for roles that involve building and creating with one's hands. The twist is that AI could help change how factory jobs are filled.

In this episode of Future @ Work, we hear from Patrick O’Rahilly, founder and CEO of Factory Fix, a company revolutionizing the hiring process for the manufacturing industry—not that it’s been easy. Patrick shares valuable insights on overcoming initial challenges, securing their first customer after nearly a year, and ultimately achieving growth through perseverance and a smart team. He also discusses the upcoming launch of a major product redesign, featuring AI-driven tools like Copilot, aimed at enhancing user experience and simplifying the recruitment process.

For the full scoop on how AI is impacting recruitment for manufacturing jobs, you can not miss this episode!  

Resources: Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickjr/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Background checks are a complicated piece of the HR puzzle before you even think about going global with it. So what if you could simplify this with the help of just one platform?

Luckily, there are folks like Even Dalton, co-founder and CEO of Certn, a leading figure in the world of international background checks who are making sense of this meticulous piece of the hiring process through his company Certn. On this episode, Evan walks us through how he’s changed the game on background checks with a process that ensures security and thoroughness on a global scale.

As a founder, Evan shares how Certn has developed advanced capabilities to efficiently handle background checks in various regions, each with its own centralized criminal databases and privacy regulations—ranging from Canada's CPIC to the UK's DP and Australia's ACIC, where information is tightly controlled by government bodies.

For the full background story on background checks, you’ve got to listen to this episode!

Resources:

Connect with Evan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-dalton-62045a25/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

What if navigating the job market and enhancing workplace dynamics could be revolutionized?

Meet Jacob Rios, the Co-founder and CEO of JobSage, a company transforming how people and talent teams recruit and retain employees. JobSage is setting a new standard, offering intuitive, cost-effective solutions that promise a more transparent and efficient experience compared to traditional platforms like Glassdoor.

On the founder journey side of things, Jacob shares how he landed in HR tech, sparked by an unexpected partnership and a penchant for adventure over comfort. And we discuss the interplay of entrepreneurial drive and technology, touching upon the balance between risk-taking and contentedness in startup life.

Listen in for our conversation discussing entrepreneurship journeys to envisioning a future of HR tech. You won’t want to miss it.

Resources:
Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rios81/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

What would it mean for teams to be able to communicate and understand each other better?

Ganna Tymko is working to solve that right now as the Founder and CEO of Sayso. How are they doing it? They are at the cutting edge of generative speech AI, with a mission that strikes at the heart of human connection: enhancing verbal communication between people and the technology they interact with.

But this is a conversation that goes beyond the innovations with Sayso, Ganna opens up about the deeply personal beginnings of her product, the strategic shifts they are navigating, and her compelling vision for the future of HR tech. Join us as we explore technology that seeks to fulfill the human need to be understood and, just maybe, you'll feel a little bit more understood as well.

Resources:
Connect with Ganna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ganna-tymko/
Check out Sayso: https://sayso.ai/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

From thinking yoga wasn’t for her to founding an organizational well-being company based in yoga—this is Anna Greenwald’s founder story.

As a founder, Anna sheds light on how caring about everything can both fuel initial growth and later become a stumbling block—a theme that resonates with my own experiences as a founder. She emphasizes the significance of trust in team dynamics, advocating for the importance of 'recovery sprints', not only in our startups but also in our personal lives.

We'll also touch on the impact of Anna's company on the health and wellness industry, with her insights on the future of hyper-customized employee experiences and the rise of AI in creating adaptive work environments. And as always, listen to the end for her predictions on the future of work.

Resources:
Connect with Anna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annagreenwald
Check out On The Goga: https://www.onthegoga.com/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

What do basketball, founding a company, and employee resource groups (ERGs) all have in common?

Meet Toby Egbunda, former UNC basketball player and now founder of the ERG software platform, Chezie. He and I sat down to discuss his founder journey, where the HR tech industry is headed, and what he sees for the future of Chezie. His past experiences in D1 basketball and founding a previous startup have all equipped him with the skills he needs today to continue to grow and lead Chezie, so tune in to learn more about the values that have made him a successful founder, and why ERGs are a catalyst for change and will have a big impact in the HR industry in the coming years.

Whether it’s on the court or off, persistence and growth are two key themes we kept coming back to. I hope our conversation leaves you with some inspiration like it did for me.

Resources: Connect with Toby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-egbuna/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Staying true to your mission. Navigating growth and adversity. Maintaining your relationship with your sibling co-founder.

Enter Deborah Gladney, CEO and Co-Founder of WorkTorch. She sits down with me to dive into her story of resilience and innovation in her 4 years of navigating founder life. She recounts WorkTorch's journey from setbacks to revamping its business model, all while navigating this with her sister and co-founder.

Tune in for Deborah’s insights on staying true to your mission and the exciting future Deborah envisions for empowering hourly workers and black women in tech.

Resources:
Connect with Deborah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-gladney-4a394625/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future @ Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

What are we doing here? Why am I talking to founders? Who’s the man behind the mic?

I’m answering these questions and more in our first episode of Future @ Work. And no better guest could join me to do it than my co-founder (and brother), Devyn Mikell. From food trucks to HR Tech (Devyn’s story), from layoffs to scaling a team (Darrian’s story), and most importantly, building a company that we love (together). So tune in for our founding story and a taste of what is to come on Future at Work. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to make sure you stay up-to-date with the show.  

Resources:
Connect with Devyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devynmikell/
Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/
Subscribe to the Future at Work newsletter: https://www.futureat.work/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/

Welcome to the Future @ Work podcast, where we explore the future of work through the eyes of the innovative founders shaping it. I'm your host, Darrian Mikell, a founder myself, passionate about revolutionizing the hiring process (what’s up, Qualifi). In this show, we dive into genuine conversations with founders in the HR and talent acquisition space, uncovering their stories, insights, and the driving force behind their visionary ideas. Join me as we unravel the future at work and share the insights these founders have from their unique experiences. Hit subscribe and embark on this journey with me.

Connect with your host, Darrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/ 

Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/