AI is changing everything—and no one understands that better than Jyot Singh, founder and CEO of RTS Labs.

In this episode of Hire Learning, Jyot joins Oz Rashid to share how he pivoted his entire business to lead the AI revolution—and why he believes artificial intelligence will disrupt industries faster than electricity or the internet ever did.

Jyot also opens up about his unlikely entrepreneurial journey, the power of relationships, and what it really takes to build a high-performing team in the age of AI. Whether you’re a founder, hiring leader, or technologist, this episode is packed with insights.

🎧 What we cover:

00:00 - Intro: Meet Jyot Singh, Founder & CEO of RTS Labs

01:50 - From engineer in India to accidental entrepreneur in the U.S.

07:30 - Early career adversity & losing a mentor

11:10 - Lessons from a failed startup—and how it led to RTS

14:45 - Why AI is like electricity (but faster)

17:55 - The timing factor: What separates successful tech bets from failed ones

20:30 - What most people still misunderstand about AI adoption

24:40 - The internal pivot: How Jyot got his company to embrace AI

28:15 - Leading change during uncertainty: Lessons for every founder

30:40 - Why AI will be core to every business

34:20 - Jyot’s core hiring philosophy: Hire owners, not order-takers

38:10 - The most important interview question Jyot asks

42:00 - The true cost of a bad hire (hint: it’s not just financial)

45:20 - Advice for his 20-year-old self: “Your network is your currency”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hire Learning, Oz welcomes Dr. Rob Bogosian — faculty at George Washington University, founder of RvB Associates, and expert in executive development, culture transformation, and CEO succession planning.

Dr. Bogosian has spent decades helping major organizations develop the next generation of leadership. In this episode, he unpacks what truly sets high-performing CEOs apart, how to build cultures of voice (not silence), and the real reasons so many companies miss what’s right in front of them.

They dive deep into:

• The neuroscience behind good leadership
• Breaking corporate silence and its costly consequences
• The biggest myths about hiring and interviews
• Why openness and curiosity are the most underrated CEO traits
• What leaders can learn from the Boeing and Wells Fargo scandals

If you’re a people-first leader, this one is a must-listen.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a rating!

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro to Dr. Rob Bogosian

01:45 – From finance to leadership development

05:30 – How he got his first consulting client (and never looked back)

08:55 – How to plan CEO succession the right way

14:10 – Why openness + curiosity are the ultimate leadership traits

17:45 – Cultures of silence: what it is, and why it’s dangerous

22:20 – Boeing, Wells Fargo, and the hidden cost of silence

26:05 – The myth of “nice leaders finish last”

30:15 – The science behind empathy and leadership

35:50 – The wrong way to interview candidates

40:00 – Great questions that unlock real insights

44:30 – His worst interview story (food involved...)

49:00 – Leadership myths that need to go

54:10 – His #1 piece of advice to his younger self

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hire Learning, host Oz Rashid sits down with Lin Cherry, a powerhouse executive with experience as Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer in fast-growing tech and media companies. From her early days at MySpace to building high-impact legal and HR teams at Wiseline, Lin shares a career filled with bold transitions, leadership insights, and instinct-led decision-making.

🔥 Topics Covered:

• The surprising connection between legal strategy and people leadership
• What she learned at MySpace during the Facebook takeover
• The Reed Hastings quote that changed how she viewed media
• How startups should think about building culture at scale
• The real impact of trusting your gut during hiring decisions
• Why she values athletes and first-job hustle when building teams
• Tips for creating aligned, global cultures across multiple time zones

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: Meet Lin Cherry

2:12 - New Year’s Resolutions & Family Reflections

4:45 - From CLO to CPO: How Legal Led to People Leadership

7:18 - Legal Strategy Meets People-Centric Culture

9:44 - Why Wiseline Handpicked Lin to Lead HR

13:06 - Lessons from MySpace vs. Facebook: Tech & UX

17:48 - Reed Hastings’ Quote That Nailed Media’s Future

20:55 - Why Tech Companies Win at Content Distribution

25:34 - Creating HR & Legal Harmony in Startups

28:56 - Lin’s Hiring Philosophy: Mindset > Skillset

32:12 - What First Jobs Teach You About Grit

35:47 - A Memorable Interview Mistake

38:18 - Creating a Great Candidate Experience

41:05 - Best Hire She Ever Made—And Why

43:22 - Wicked, Hamilton & Content That Changes Perception

45:39 - Book Recommendation: Amy Edmondson on Failure

47:30 - Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self

49:12 - Florida Speed Round: Food, Travel, and Disney Picks

53:15 - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

Plus, Lin reflects on the biggest lesson she’d give her 20-year-old self: trust your instincts—even when you're the only woman in the room.

🎯 Whether you're in HR, legal, or leadership, this episode will give you an edge in building smarter, more human-centric teams.

🔗 Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hire Learning, host Oz Rashid sits down with Andrew Tidwell, Chief Human Resources Officer at Wineshipping, to discuss what it takes to build high-performing teams. 

Andrew shares his unique hiring philosophy — prioritizing culture fit over experience — and why that approach is crucial for long-term success.

From unforgettable interview moments to insights on improving the candidate experience, Andrew reveals what companies often get wrong when attracting top talent. He also introduces his powerful team-building framework — I SOAR — and explains how fostering interdependence, shared purpose, and risk-taking can unlock true team potential.

💬 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why hiring for culture fit matters more than experience (15:32)

✅ The unexpected power of asking candidates, "What would you rather be doing right now?" (22:10)

✅ How to spot red flags — and avoid hiring the wrong people (30:45)

✅ Why your onboarding experience can make or break employee retention (41:15)

✅ Andrew’s unforgettable interview story — and the shocking answer he once received about collective bargaining (7:40)

Don't miss Andrew's candid advice for HR leaders and founders navigating today’s competitive talent landscape.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hire Learning, host Oz Rashid sits down with Skyler Mattson, CEO of Wongdoody, to discuss her incredible 20+ year journey from assistant account executive to global CEO. 

Skyler shares how Wongdoody transformed from a traditional ad agency into a cutting-edge digital experience company, and what it took to successfully integrate with tech giant Infosys.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

⏲️ [00:02:10] - The surprising origin story behind the name “Wongdoody” and how it breaks the ice

⏲️ [00:05:45] - Why Wongdoody’s acquisition by Infosys was a game-changing move

⏲️ [00:11:30] - Skyler’s mindset-first hiring philosophy — and why it’s better than hiring for skill alone

⏲️ [00:18:20] - How embracing change and the value of “being like water” has driven growth

⏲️ [00:24:00] - Why AI is revolutionizing content creation and the customer experience

⏲️ [00:31:45] - The role of empathy, storytelling, and mindset in building a winning team

Skyler also opens up about her leadership journey, the power of resilience, and the advice she’d give her 22-year-old self. Plus, she reveals the fascinating role of AI-generated humans in advertising and how Wongdoody is using cutting-edge tech to create hyper-personalized brand experiences.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hire Learning, host Oz Rashid sits down with Michael Fowler, former CIO of Florida Power & Light (FPL), to discuss his incredible career journey, lessons in leadership, and what retirement really looks like for a lifelong innovator.

Michael shares insights from his time leading large-scale tech transformations, his approach to building high-performing teams, and why empathy is his #1 hiring trait. He also reveals the unconventional interview question that helps him spot red flags — and why trusting your gut is critical in hiring.

Plus, you'll hear fascinating stories from Michael’s post-retirement adventures — including an eye-opening trip to Iraq and a near-disaster in Guinea.

🔹 (00:00) Intro – Oz introduces Michael and kicks off with an unexpected travel story

🔹 (05:21) Why Michael retired — and why the decision was harder than you'd think

🔹 (11:42) Michael’s new projects in retirement, including mentoring and culture building

🔹 (15:08) The inspiring story behind Michael’s leadership book, Letters from Leaders

🔹 (20:55) Michael’s proudest achievement: Modernizing legacy systems to drive innovation

🔹 (26:14) The interview question that reveals everything about a candidate

🔹 (31:32) Why empathy is the most underrated hiring skill

🔹 (37:05) The time Michael’s travel plans turned chaotic — and how he navigated a crisis

🔹 (44:10) Why Michael’s #1 piece of advice is to "Do Big Things" — and what that means

🎧 Listen now to hear Michael’s powerful insights on leadership, hiring, and embracing new challenges.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is changing the game—but most companies are playing by the wrong rules. 

In this episode of Hire Learning, host Oz Rashid sits down with Sol Rashidi, one of the world’s leading AI and data experts, to break down why businesses aren’t ready for AI—and how they can fix it.

Sol has done it all—she’s been a Chief Data & AI Officer at Fortune 100 companies, an Amazon tech exec, and a 10-time patent holder. 

She’s been in the trenches, building AI strategies long before it was mainstream. 

And now, she’s sharing her no-BS playbook on AI, hiring, and leadership.

🔥 In this episode, we cover:

✔️ Why most companies are set up to fail with AI (07:15)

✔️ The biggest AI misconceptions that are costing businesses millions (13:42)

✔️ How to build an AI-ready workforce—before it’s too late (21:09)

✔️ The one interview question Sol swears by to spot top talent (36:45)

✔️ The truth about AI replacing jobs—and what the future really looks like (45:20)

✔️ How Sol’s rugby career shaped her leadership style (56:33)

This is the AI reality check every leader needs. If you want to stay ahead, don’t miss this one.

Get Sol's Bestelling Book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Survival-Guide-Real-World-Deployments/dp/1394272634

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 How do you scale a company from startup to $40M+ by putting employees first?

Sherry Deutschmann, Founder & CEO of BrainTrust, did exactly that.

She turned her people-first philosophy into an unstoppable business model—one that led to a massive exit and a $14M investor payout. Now, she's on a mission to help female founders break barriers and scale their businesses.

In this episode, Sherry shares:

✅ The power of profit-sharing and why her janitor made as much in bonuses as her CFO

✅ Why only 2% of women founders hit $1M in revenue—and how she’s changing that

✅ The hiring philosophy that built her $40M company (and the worst interview mistake she ever saw)

🔥 Don’t miss this conversation if you’re a founder, leader, or anyone who believes in building a business that thrives by investing in people!

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more insights from top founders & executives.

00:00 – Intro & Welcome to Sherry Deutschmann

02:12 – The birth of BrainTrust & why women founders needed it

05:45 – Why only 2% of women-owned businesses hit $1M in revenue

08:30 – The shocking VC funding gap for female founders

11:50 – How BrainTrust is helping women scale businesses 200%+ YoY

14:10 – Sherry’s unconventional hiring philosophy (and why she fired her CFO)

18:25 – The $14M investor payout story (from startup to massive exit)

21:55 – Why she never paid her executives more than her janitors

25:40 – How profit-sharing transformed company culture & performance

30:10 – The worst hiring mistake leaders make (and how to avoid it)

34:15 – Sherry’s favorite interview question (and how it reveals true character)

37:50 – Why Nashville is a booming hub for entrepreneurs

42:30 – Sherry’s biggest business lesson from selling her company

45:00 – The book every entrepreneur needs to read right now

📖 Get Sherry’s book: Lunch with Lucy – A must-read for leaders who want to build a thriving business through culture.

🔗 Learn more about BrainTrust: braintrust.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is AI making better hiring decisions than humans? Or is human judgment still king?

In this episode of Hire Learning, Oz Rashid sits down with Martin Robatti, a top HR and engineering leader at BNY Mellon, to break down how AI is transforming talent acquisition, why data-driven hiring beats gut instinct, and the hidden cost of bad hiring decisions.

🚀 Key topics include:

✅ Can AI outperform human intuition in hiring?

✅ How BNY Mellon is using AI to revolutionize HR

✅ The biggest hiring mistakes (and how to fix them)

🎧 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: AI vs. human judgment in hiring – who wins?

02:45 – Martin Brull’s journey: From Citi to BNY Mellon

06:30 – New York vs. Florida work culture: The real differences

10:15 – How BNY Mellon is leveraging AI in talent acquisition

15:50 – The true cost of bad hiring decisions (and how to avoid them)

20:35 – Why AI-driven interview standardization is the future

25:10 – How bias creeps into hiring decisions – even at the top

30:40 – AI’s role in analyzing engagement surveys

36:15 – The biggest hiring mistakes managers make

42:00 – The future of work: Why reskilling & upskilling are non-negotiable

48:20 – Martin’s hiring philosophy: Internal growth vs. external hiring

53:10 – Speed round: Dogs, Peruvian food, and leadership lessons

58:45 – Martin’s #1 career advice: “Don’t be afraid. Just jump.”

🔹 New episodes drop every Wednesday! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoy the show.

📌 Listen now on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most companies get HR completely wrong—and it’s costing them millions.

In this episode of Hire Learning, Lorna Hagen (Chief People Officer & Executive Coach) reveals how to align people strategy with business objectives to drive profitability, productivity, and engagement.

Lorna has transformed HR at major brands like Namely, Ann Taylor, and iHeartMedia, and now she’s helping CEOs and executive teams turn HR into a profit center—not just a cost center.

Oz and Lorna dive into:

✅ The CFO’s Best Friend? Why HR Should Be a Profit Driver

✅ How to Fix Broken Hiring Processes & Improve Retention

✅ The Key to Boosting Employee Productivity (Without Burnout!)

If you're an HR leader, executive, or hiring manager, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you build a high-performance culture that fuels business success.

00:00 – Intro: Meet Lorna Hagen & Her HR Leadership Journey

04:35 – Why Most Companies Misunderstand HR’s Role

09:12 – The CFO & CPO Partnership: Finding Profits Through People

15:45 – The #1 Mistake in Hiring (and How to Fix It)

22:10 – How to Align Business Strategy with People Strategy

28:30 – Employee Productivity Hacks: Clarity & Connection

35:50 – Why HR Leaders Need to Get Comfortable in the “Gray”

42:15 – The Importance of a Strong Candidate Experience

48:00 – Lorna’s Career Advice: The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make

51:30 – Rapid Fire Round: Books, Leadership & Ballroom Dancing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.