Stopgap Talks

In a world where AI is reshaping the recruitment landscape, one question keeps coming up: what happens to the human touch?

In this first roundtable episode of Stopgap Talks, our Leadership Team explore why human connection is still the most powerful part of the recruitment process; for candidates, for clients, and for the long-term health of employer brands.

Together, they dig into:

• Why they chose recruitment in the first place
• What they love about working with candidates and clients
• How AI is helping and where it’s harming the hiring experience
• Why conversations reveal more than any CV or algorithm ever could
• And how human insight strengthens employer brand and improves hiring outcomes

From understanding personality fit and motivations, to guiding clients through market trends, to helping candidates navigate interview highs and lows, this episode is a reminder of why recruitment, at its best, is both a craft and a partnership.

If you’ve felt the frustration of “the silent process”, struggled with AI-driven screening, or simply miss speaking to a real human during job searches, this episode is for you!

Stepping away from your career to have children can be one of the most meaningful and life-changing experiences — but returning to work afterwards often brings a mix of emotions: excitement, uncertainty, and sometimes, self-doubt.

In this Stopgap Talks episode, hosts Sarah Windsor and Zoe Vannozzi open up an honest and compassionate conversation about what it really feels like to return to work after maternity leave — and how both employees and employers can make the process smoother, more supportive, and more empowering.

Drawing on their own experiences and years of helping marketing and creative professionals navigate career transitions, Sarah and Zoe explore everything from the practical steps to take before you go on leave, to the emotional adjustment of returning to a new version of working life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What to prepare before going on maternity leave — from policies and finances to planning your return
• How to manage the confidence dip that often comes with re-entry into the workplace
• The importance of flexibility and open communication between employees and employers
• Practical tips for balancing new parenthood with professional ambition
• How hybrid and flexible working have reshaped what returning to work can look like
• The positive side of change — how maternity leave can spark reflection, reinvention, and personal growth

Whether you’re planning maternity leave, returning from it, or managing someone who is, this conversation offers real insight, empathy, and practical advice to help you navigate one of the biggest transitions in modern working life.

Connect with our speakers:

• Sarah Windsor, Principal Consultant, Stopgap Connect on LinkedIn
• Zoe Vannozzi, Lead Consultant, Stopgap Connect on LinkedIn

✨ Follow Stopgap Talks for more open, practical discussions about marketing careers, leadership, and life at work.

Hiring your first Product Marketing Manager (PMM) can feel like a leap into the unknown. What skills matter most? How do you avoid chasing unicorns? And why does capability matter more than job titles when scaling niche roles?

In this episode of Stopgap Talks, Sarah Windsor, Principle Consultant at Stopgap, is joined by Hattie The PMM, founder of productmarketers.com and a leading voice in the global product marketing community.

Together, they unpack the challenges and opportunities of making that all-important first PMM hire—and share practical insights for hiring managers, founders, and marketers navigating this evolving role.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why PMM is still misunderstood—and what that means for hiring
• The biggest mistakes companies make when recruiting their first PMM
• The core capabilities that matter most (and why industry experience isn’t everything)
• How PMMs can build careers that accelerate fast—sometimes into six figures in just 2–4 years
• The rise of PMM in Europe and the role of AI in shaping its future

Whether you’re hiring, scaling, or building your PMM career, this is a must-listen.

In this episode of Stopgap Talks, host Amanda McCarthy sits down with Grace French, Director and Head of Culture at Stand, to explore what it really takes to build an employer reputation that goes beyond the surface.

Employer brand isn’t just a marketing exercise—it’s lived and experienced every day by the people inside your organisation. Grace shares her perspective on -

• What a “good” culture looks like and how to sustain it as businesses evolve
• How to create genuine advocates who embody your values
• The risks of neglecting culture—and how brand reputation can be damaged if internal and external messages don’t align
• The role of purpose and values in attracting (and retaining) top marketing talent
• What hiring managers should be thinking about in 2025 and beyond

Whether you’re leading a team, hiring talent, or building culture, this conversation is packed with insight for anyone looking to strengthen their employer brand from the inside out.

Connect with our speakers:

• Grace French – Director & Head of Culture, Stand - LinkedIn | Website | Contact | Stand on LinkedIn
• Amanda McCarthy – Consultant, Stopgap Recruitment | Connect on LinkedIn

In this episode of Stopgap Talks, host Amanda McCarthy is joined by Sara Tidy, a confidence and career reinvention coach who helps people rebuild after redundancy and other major career setbacks.

Redundancy can shake more than just your job title—it can challenge your identity, self-worth, and confidence. In this honest and uplifting conversation, Amanda and Sara explore how to navigate the emotional impact, reframe your mindset, and take practical steps toward a stronger, more confident future.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why redundancy still carries so much emotional weight
• How to move beyond shame and see it as a career pivot, not a setback
• The early steps to take when rebuilding your confidence
• How to approach interviews after redundancy with clarity and self-belief
• Real-life stories of surprising and positive career reinventions

Whether you’re facing redundancy, supporting someone through it, or simply curious about building resilience in your career, this episode offers hope, perspective, and actionable advice.

Connect with our speakers -

• Sara Tidy - Career, Confidence and Communications Coach. Visit Pear Tree Coaching or connect on LinkedIn.
• Amanda McCarthy - Consultant, Stopgap Recruitment Connect on LinkedIn

Follow Stopgap Talks on Spotify, Apple or Amazon Music to never miss an episode. And if something in this conversation resonated—please share, comment, or drop us a message.

For too long, menopause has been treated as a taboo subject—whispered about, misunderstood, or completely ignored in the workplace. But what if we saw it differently? What if menopause wasn’t the end of something, but the beginning of a new phase of empowerment, clarity and strength?

In this episode of Stopgap Talks, our Lead Consultant Kate Boston speaks with Michelle Vaughton—Founder of VOLT Consultancy, holistic performance coach, and former People Development Director—about why it’s time to reframe the conversation around menopause at work.

Michelle brings over 30 years of experience leading cultural transformation across industries. With a background in both business strategy and wellbeing (she’s also a qualified yoga teacher), Michelle takes a holistic approach to people performance—and she’s passionate about building inclusive cultures that work for everyone.

Together, they explore:

• What menopause actually is—and why perimenopause can be so destabilising
• How the stigma around ageing and loss of relevance still persists in the workplace
• What organisations risk when they don’t support menopausal employees
• Practical, empowering ways to go from coping to thriving during this life transition
• What employers can do to create inclusive, menopause-informed workplaces
• Tips for supporting yourself—physically, mentally and emotionally—through change

Whether you’re going through menopause yourself, supporting someone who is, or leading a team—this is a conversation for all genders and generations. It’s time to break the silence, shift the story, and build careers (and cultures) where no one gets left behind.

Connect with our speakers -

• Michelle Vaughton Founder, VOLT Consultancy Connect on LinkedIn
• Kate Boston Lead Consultant, Stopgap Recruitment Connect on LinkedIn

Follow Stopgap Talks on Spotify, Apple or Amazon Music to never miss an episode. And if something in this conversation resonated—please share, comment, or drop us a message.

#StopgapTalks #MenopauseAtWork #Menopause #Perimenopause #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceWellbeing #WomenInWork #CultureMatters #MarketingCareers #CareerLongevity #HolisticPerformance

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Stopgap’s Lead Consultant Kate Boston sits down with transformative life coach Katherine Ashmore—creator of The Mindset Exchange—to tackle one of the most common but rarely discussed challenges in career transitions: the inner critic.

Whether you're eyeing your next big role or supporting others through the hiring process, this episode is packed with “that’s me” moments. Katherine and Kate unpack how self-doubt, perfectionism and imposter syndrome subtly sabotage career decisions and interviews—and more importantly, how to shift your mindset for success.

Expect honest insights, practical mindset tools, and stories from the frontlines of job hunting and hiring. You’ll walk away more self-aware, more empowered, and more ready to own your value—on your CV and in the interview room.

Contect with our speakers -

Katherine Ashmore

• LinkedIn: Katherine Ashmore
• Free Live Training: Master Your Mindset and Build Real Confidence – 18 June, 8PM 👉 Register now: https://katherine-ashmore.mykajabi.com/master-your-mindset

Kate Boston

• LinkedIn: Kate Boston

Whether you're navigating a job move or want to bring more humanity into your hiring process, this episode offers both heart and strategy.

In this episode of Stopgap Talks, host Amanda McCarthy sits down with performance and wellbeing coach James Pickles to explore the emotional reality behind job searching, recruitment, and leadership. Drawing from James’ own experience of burnout and recovery, they dive into how community—and genuine human connection—can be the key to protecting mental health in a fast-moving world of work.

Together, they reflect on the silent struggles of job seekers, the emotional labour of recruiters, and the ways employers can lead with compassion and inclusivity. Whether you’re looking for your next role, building a team, or trying to support others in your workplace, this conversation offers fresh insight, real stories, and practical takeaways.

Connect with the Speakers:

James Pickles -

James is a performance coach, speaker, and mental health advocate who helps high performers protect their wellbeing while sustaining success. His coaching and talks are rooted in lived experience, creating space for honest reflection and forward momentum.

• Visit James' Website
• Connect on LinkedIn

Amanda McCarthy -

Amanda is a Stopgap consultant, passionate about supporting candidates with empathy and building inclusive communities in recruitment.

• Connect on LinkedIn

Listen & Subscribe:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Stopgap Talks and leave a review. Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable conversations and inspiring voices.

For more insights on marketing recruitment and workplace wellbeing, visit Stopgap.

Ever feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the idea of networking? Wondering if networking really matters post-pandemic? In today's episode, Claudine Farrell sits down with networking expert Benjamin Chilcott to unravel the art—and magic—of building powerful connections that genuinely help your career, business, and personal growth.

Benjamin shares insights from his extensive career, personal experiences, and the practical workshops he facilitates, offering listeners valuable strategies on how to network authentically and effectively.

Connect with the speakers:

Benjamin Chilcott

Interested in learning more about improving your networking skills or attending one of Benj's popular workshops?

• Visit Benjamin's website: https://benjamin-s-site-b6f3.thinkific.com/products/courses/wheresbenj
• Connect with Benjamin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchilcott/

Claudine Farrell:

• Connect with Claudine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudinefarrell1/

Listen & Subscribe:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue to bring valuable insights and inspiring conversations your way.

For more insights on marketing recruitment, visit Stopgap.

The marketing recruitment landscape is evolving faster than ever, and as we settle into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the lessons learned and look ahead to what’s next.

In this special episode of Stopgap Talks, Claire Owen (Owner & Founder of Stopgap) and Rowan Lawrence (Director of People & Values) share their insights on the biggest challenges and opportunities in marketing recruitment today.

🌟 What’s in store?

• The key hiring trends shaping marketing roles in 2025
• How AI is changing recruitment—and why the human touch still matters
• The skills marketing professionals need to stay ahead
• Practical advice for hiring managers looking to build top-performing teams

The themes shared in this episode are more relevant than ever as we move forward into the year. Whether you’re a job seeker or a hiring manager, this conversation will help you navigate the shifting landscape of marketing recruitment in 2025.

Connect with the speakers:

• Claire Owen: LinkedIn
• Rowan Lawrence: LinkedIn

For more insights on marketing recruitment, visit Stopgap.