In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, Angela Alberty talks with Beau Billington, Founder of The Free Agent, about the rise of fractional work and how it's reshaping both hiring and career paths.

Beau shares his journey from corporate life to building a platform for independent professionals and explains why more companies are turning to part-time executives to scale with flexibility. They dig into what makes fractional work successful, from setting clear expectations and managing risk tolerance to pricing models and the legal differences between 1099 and W-2 classifications. Beau also addresses compliance challenges, common myths about fractional talent, and the mistakes companies make when engaging part-time leaders. 

Whether you're a company exploring fractional hiring or a professional considering the leap, this episode offers grounded insight from someone who’s been shaping the space for nearly a decade.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, Carrie McDowell joins Angela Alberty live from ProcureCon to share how she went from fashion to staffing to leading Lyft’s contingent workforce program. 

Carrie unpacks the work behind rebranding a legacy program at a household-name company, how change management happens, and the role of internal relationships in driving lasting impact. She speaks candidly about getting laid off while pregnant, landing her dream role, and what it means to lead while raising two young children. 

From designing Lyft’s internal brand to building policies from scratch. 

Carrie shows what it takes to build something that lasts and why joy, support, and honesty are essential in work and life.

This one’s for anyone who's felt like they're carrying it all and still finding a way forward. 


In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, Angela Westhead shares her journey through the contingent workforce industry, from starting from the bottom to leading procurement at Zendesk. 


Along the way, she opens up about navigating layoffs, managing career decisions as a single parent, and learning how to set boundaries without compromising growth. Angela doesn’t just talk about titles or job moves—she shares what it took emotionally, financially, and personally to get where she is today. 


This episode reminds us that leadership isn’t linear and that fulfillment often stems from redefining success on your own terms.


Whether you're leading a team, navigating a layoff, or balancing career and caregiving, Angela’s story will hit home.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, Carrie McDowell joins Angela Alberty live from ProcureCon to share how she went from fashion to staffing to leading Lyft’s contingent workforce program.

Carrie unpacks the work behind rebranding a legacy program at a household-name company, how change management happens, and the role of internal relationships in driving lasting impact. She speaks candidly about getting laid off while pregnant, landing her dream role, and what it means to lead while raising two young children. From designing Lyft’s internal brand to building policies from scratch.

Carrie shows what it takes to build something that lasts and why joy, support, and honesty are essential in work and life.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, host Angela Alberty sits down with Patrick Ceant a leader with over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry to share insights from his career journey. From accountant to contingent labor expert, he highlights critical lessons in compliance, transparency, and safety.

We explore practical ways companies can integrate AI tools to streamline tasks, the importance of upskilling talent, and how flexibility helps retain a competitive workforce. Patrick also reflects on leadership principles learned through sports, fostering competitive mindsets in children, and why genuine human connection remains vital even in the age of AI.

Key Takeaways:
Patrick Ceant has 24+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry.He transitioned into contingent labor five years ago, focusing on compliance and safety.Transparency and safety are crucial in the oil and gas sector.Flexibility is essential for retaining top talent in a changing environment.AI can enhance efficiency by automating mundane tasks.

Upskilling is vital for adapting to future workforce needs.Leadership can be learned from sports and competition.Creating a competitive mindset in children prepares them for life.Human connection is irreplaceable in the workplace.Being a leader means taking initiative and moving forward despite challenges.

This one’s for anyone who's felt like they're carrying it all and still finding a way forward. 

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, Angela Westhead shares her journey through the contingent workforce industry, from starting from the bottom to leading procurement at Zendesk.

Along the way, she opens up about navigating layoffs, managing career decisions as a single parent, and learning how to set boundaries without compromising growth. Angela doesn’t just talk about titles or job moves—she shares what it took emotionally, financially, and personally to get where she is today.

This episode reminds us that leadership isn’t linear and that fulfillment often stems from redefining success on your own terms.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating a layoff, or balancing career and caregiving, Angela’s story will hit home.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, host Angela Alberty sits down with Lizzie Parnell to explore the dynamic evolution of the contingent workforce, the rise of globalization, and the importance of fostering a unified company culture. They discuss how AI is transforming workforce management, the critical role of cultural sensitivity in global operations, and why partnerships are key to navigating new markets and ensuring compliance.

Lizzie shares her two decades of experience in the staffing industry, offering real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities leaders face in an increasingly globalized and AI-driven world. From redefining contingent labor terminology to championing skills-based hiring, Lizzie emphasizes the need for a human-centric approach to workforce strategy. 

The conversation also touches on women's leadership, self-care in the workplace, and how leaders can create supportive environments for working mothers.

Key Takeaways:
The contingent workforce has evolved from temporary roles to critical business levers.
Global workforce management requires understanding and respecting cultural differences.
Building a unified company culture involves honoring diverse work practices.
AI can streamline talent acquisition, compliance, and skills-based hiring.
Partnerships are essential for navigating new markets and ensuring local compliance.
The term 'extended workforce' reflects the shift in contingent labor terminology.
Leaders must champion self-care and human-centric management practices.
Women's leadership includes advocating for supportive, flexible work environments.
Skills-based hiring improves engagement and helps future-proof organizations.
Companies must adapt to the changing landscape of labor laws and global workforce strategies.

For leaders navigating the complexities of global workforce management and AI integration, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical strategies.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, host Angela Alberty sits down with Patrick Ceant a leader with over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry to share insights from his career journey. From accountant to contingent labor expert, he highlights critical lessons in compliance, transparency, and safety.

We explore practical ways companies can integrate AI tools to streamline tasks, the importance of upskilling talent, and how flexibility helps retain a competitive workforce. Patrick also reflects on leadership principles learned through sports, fostering competitive mindsets in children, and why genuine human connection remains vital even in the age of AI.

Key Takeaways:

• Patrick Ceant has 24+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
• He transitioned into contingent labor five years ago, focusing on compliance and safety.
• Transparency and safety are crucial in the oil and gas sector.
• Flexibility is essential for retaining top talent in a changing environment.
• AI can enhance efficiency by automating mundane tasks.
• Upskilling is vital for adapting to future workforce needs.
• Leadership can be learned from sports and competition.
• Creating a competitive mindset in children prepares them for life.
• Human connection is irreplaceable in the workplace.
• Being a leader means taking initiative and moving forward despite challenges.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, host Angela Alberty sits down with Pratik Patel of Mastercard to explore the evolving workforce landscape and the role of data, AI, and sustainability in shaping the future of work. 

Pratik shares how organizations can move from basic data collection to advanced machine learning applications, ensuring they make informed decisions that optimize talent, streamline operations, and align with business goals.

The conversation covers key workforce strategies, including:
Leveraging AI and machine learning to transform workforce management and decision-making
Creating a strong business case for data-driven strategies, from initial buy-in to long-term implementation
Aligning sustainability goals with business objectives, ensuring real impact beyond surface-level initiatives
Bridging the gap between technology and talent for more effective stakeholder engagement and workforce planning
Understanding the role of governance and compliance in AI-driven workforce models

Pratik walks through how Mastercard built a scalable and sustainable talent strategy, from centralizing workforce data to implementing AI-driven supplier matching. He also highlights the company’s approach to sustainability, detailing how scope one, two, and three emissions factor into corporate responsibility and supplier partnerships.
In a special segment, an AI-generated question prompts a discussion on emerging technologies that will have the most significant impact on corporate sustainability initiatives.

The episode wraps up with actionable advice for leaders, emphasizing the importance of resilience, strategic storytelling, and data-backed decision-making to drive real change in workforce and talent management.
Tune in for a forward-thinking discussion on how AI, sustainability, and workforce innovation intersect to shape the future of enterprise talent strategy.

In this episode of Leaders Unfiltered, host Angela Alberty sits down with Lizzie Parnell to explore the dynamic evolution of the contingent workforce, the rise of globalization, and the importance of fostering a unified company culture. They discuss how AI is transforming workforce management, the critical role of cultural sensitivity in global operations, and why partnerships are key to navigating new markets and ensuring compliance.

Lizzie shares her two decades of experience in the staffing industry, offering real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities leaders face in an increasingly globalized and AI-driven world. From redefining contingent labor terminology to championing skills-based hiring, Lizzie emphasizes the need for a human-centric approach to workforce strategy. The conversation also touches on women's leadership, self-care in the workplace, and how leaders can create supportive environments for working mothers.

Key Takeaways:

• The contingent workforce has evolved from temporary roles to critical business levers.

• Global workforce management requires understanding and respecting cultural differences.

• Building a unified company culture involves honoring diverse work practices.

• AI can streamline talent acquisition, compliance, and skills-based hiring.

• Partnerships are essential for navigating new markets and ensuring local compliance.

• The term 'extended workforce' reflects the shift in contingent labor terminology.

• Leaders must champion self-care and human-centric management practices.

• Women's leadership includes advocating for supportive, flexible work environments.

• Skills-based hiring improves engagement and helps future-proof organizations.

• Companies must adapt to the changing landscape of labor laws and global workforce strategies.

For leaders navigating the complexities of global workforce management and AI integration, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical strategies.