Hiring for potential works—when you do it on purpose.

In this episode of The Intentional Workplace, Jacob Stone and Maria Williams unpack the real difference between betting on potential and hoping it works out. We explore when hiring for potential fuels growth, how to spot the soft skills that actually predict success, and why performance benchmarks still matter—especially for scaling teams.

Founders and business leaders will learn how to evaluate capability, coachability, and trajectory without sacrificing accountability or speed, and how to avoid the common trap of confusing optimism with strategy.

If you’re building for the long term and want to hire people who can grow and deliver, this 15-minute conversation will help you make smarter, more intentional talent decisions.