HIRE Calling

In this episode of HIRE Calling, Melanie Fisher, Vice President of Business Operations and equity partner at HIRECLOUT, shares her unconventional journey from military service in Iraq to supply chain management, business operations, and executive search. Melanie explores how extreme ownership, persistence, and strategic career decisions accelerated her professional growth. The conversation examines leadership development, managing visionary entrepreneurs, building high-performing teams, and avoiding costly job interview mistakes. They also discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping hiring expectations and why professionals must adapt to remain competitive in an evolving workforce.

What You'll Learn

• Why work ethic, grit, and taking ownership can accelerate career advancement more than talent alone.

• How embracing uncomfortable opportunities and going beyond your job description can lead to leadership roles and promotions.

• What effective leaders do differently when managing teams, building trust, and balancing accountability with individual needs.

• When professionals should pursue new career opportunities versus continuing to grow within their current organization.

• The biggest interview mistakes, hiring red flags, and AI-related changes affecting career opportunities and job security.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Career Growth and Leadership

02:01 Military Service and Building Resilience

10:04 Turning Initiative Into Career Opportunities

21:41 Work Ethic, Ownership, and Promotions

32:21 Building Trust and Long-Term Commitment

43:03 Managing Visionaries and Integrators

51:30 Why Grit Matters More Than Talent

01:01:35 Leadership Styles and Accountability

01:09:23 Interview Preparation and Hiring Mistakes

01:15:25 AI, Automation, and the Future of Work

career growth, leadership development, career advancement, executive leadership, Melanie Fisher, HIRECLOUT, HIRE Calling podcast, professional development, work ethic, extreme ownership, grit and resilience, business operations, supply chain management, military to civilian career, executive search, technical recruiting, talent acquisition, job interview preparation, interview mistakes, salary expectations, compensation negotiation, leadership styles, servant leadership, visionary and integrator, EOS, managing up, artificial intelligence in the workplace, AI automation, ChatGPT, Claude

#CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerAdvice #ExecutiveSearch #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkEthic #LeadershipSkills #Hiring #ArtificialIntelligence #HIRECLOUT

Melanie Fisher Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniefisher213/

In this episode of HIRE Calling, host Avetis sits down with Kirk Cartozian, entrepreneur, former teacher, former mayor of Downey, and business leader behind Tequila Mandala and Gaucho Grill. Kirk shares how he navigated unconventional career transitions, built successful businesses, and discovered the qualities that separate high performers from those who remain stuck. Together, they explore career advancement, long-term thinking, entrepreneurship, hiring strategies, self-awareness, and the growing importance of human ingenuity in the age of artificial intelligence. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, hiring manager, or professional considering a career change, this conversation offers practical perspectives on building a meaningful and successful career.

What You'll Learn

• Why unconventional career paths can create unexpected opportunities for professional growth.

• How loyalty, trust, and long-term thinking influence career advancement and leadership success.

• What successful hiring managers look for when evaluating candidates' failures, self-awareness, and authenticity.

• When to make a career pivot versus investing further in your current position.

• The importance of entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, and human creativity in an AI-driven economy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Building an Unconventional Career

03:17 Career Motivation and Personal Ambition

08:54 Taking Risks and Trusting Your Instincts

14:22 When to Make a Career Pivot

20:15 What Separates High Performers

28:34 Long-Term Thinking and Career Growth

39:18 AI, Entrepreneurship, and Future Skills

43:47 Interview Questions That Reveal Character

54:04 Career Advice for Job Seekers

01:00:50 Business Partnerships, Vision, and Success

career growth, career development, career pivots, career advancement, leadership development, Kirk Cartozian, entrepreneurship, career change advice, professional growth, high performance employees, executive leadership, long-term career planning, hiring strategies, job interview tips, self-awareness in leadership, business leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, career success, business partnerships, artificial intelligence, AI in business, human creativity, strategic leadership, risk taking, executive decision making, Tequila Mandala, Gaucho Grill, Avetis, HIRE Calling

#CareerGrowth #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CareerAdvice #CareerChange #ExecutiveLeadership #BusinessLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #JobInterviews #ArtificialIntelligence #HIRECalling

Kirk Cartozian Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkcartozian

https://www.instagram.com/mandalakirk

Most of the decisions that shape your career happen in rooms you’re not in.

HIRE CALLING pulls back the curtain on how hiring, promotion, layoffs, leadership, and career-defining decisions are really made.

Hosted by Avetis Antaplyan, Founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT, the show brings you candid conversations with executives, hiring leaders, and operators — along with practical insights from more than two decades inside recruiting and hiring.

If you want to get hired, get promoted, stay relevant, and understand what’s happening on the other side of the hiring table, subscribe to HIRE CALLING.