WorkTech Podcast

By WRKdefined

The WorkTech Podcast explores the critical trends shaping the future of work and HR tech. George LaRocque of WorkTech, drawing from years of advising top innovators, investors, and enterprises, guides... more

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FAQs about WorkTech Podcast:

How many episodes does WorkTech Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.

WorkTech Podcast episodes:

August 06, 2025 SmartRecruiters CEO Rebecca Carr on the SAP Acquisition, AI, and the Future of Talent Platforms
Rebecca Carr joins WorkTech's George LaRocque to unpack SmartRecruiters' SAP acquisition, the rise of AI-native recruiting, and what it means to stay product-first and HCM-agnostic.
Rebecca Carr, CEO of SmartRecruiters, days after announcing their acquisition by SAP. We talked about what the deal means for the market, how AI is changing recruiting, why product CEOs matter now more than ever, and the bold future of talent platforms.
In this episode, we look at HR Tech, talent acquisition, AI in recruiting, enterprise software, recruiting platforms, product-led growth, and the future of work. Rebecca Carr shares what made SAP the right partner, how SmartRecruiters is staying agile, and why recruiting is now front and center.
Key Takeaways
-SmartRecruiters’ acquisition by SAP marks a pivotal moment in HR tech and underscores recruiting’s shift from a bolt-on module to a core enterprise platform.
-Rebecca Carr’s product-first leadership is reshaping how talent platforms are built, prioritizing AI-native workflows and agile innovation.
-Despite the acquisition, SmartRecruiters will remain HCM-agnostic, preserving its flexibility and customer-centric approach across enterprise ecosystems.
-AI is no longer a future concept; 58% of candidates are using it, and SmartRecruiters’ Winston product is built to meet them where they are.
-SAP’s global reach and data infrastructure unlock new opportunities for SmartRecruiters to deliver insight across the entire employee lifecycle.
-This move signals more consolidation ahead in talent acquisition tech, especially in high-volume hiring and frontline work, as enterprises seek end-to-end solutions.
Learn more about SmartRecruiters at https://smartrecruiters.com
Learn more about the HR and Work Tech markets, and the deals shaping the industry at https://1worktech.com

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25min
July 28, 2025The Truth about VC with Allison Baum Gates, Semper Virens' General Partner
I sat down with Allison Baum Gates to talk about what it really takes to win in today’s venture-backed WorkTech market. From launching Semper Virens' accelerator to raising $177 million across two funds, Allison shares candid lessons, real market dynamics, and founder truths VCs rarely admit.
In this episode we look at venture capital, WorkTech, AI startups, HR Tech, startup funding, founder market fit, and the future of work. These are the forces shaping how emerging companies raise capital, go to market, and build competitive advantage in the most complex B2B environments today.
Key Takeaways
Founder market fit and self-awareness are crucial differentiators for success in early-stage WorkTech, HR Tech, and AI ventures.

The Semper Virens accelerator focuses on go-to-market readiness and real-world partnerships—not pitch decks.

Distribution strategy through ecosystems like health plans, payroll providers, and HR platforms is now critical for startup scale.

The $177 million in new funding from Semper Virens is backing startups solving real problems in health, wealth, and work.

Raising venture capital is not merit-based—it’s a structured game that requires narrative, strategy, and process mastery.

AI-native positioning and a well-run fundraising process are now separating the haves from the have-nots in venture outcomes.

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38min
July 16, 2025Gigged.AI Raises $1.34 M for AI, Agents, and On-Demand Talent. CEO Rich Wilson on The Future of Work
George LaRocque and Rich Wilson dig into Gigged.AI’s latest $1.34M funding round, the power of skills-based platforms, and what’s next for the future of work and agentic AI.
With $1.34 million in fresh funding, George talked with Gigged.AI CEO Rich Wilson about doubling down on the rise of skills intelligence and on-demand talent. They unpack how Gigged.AI is helping enterprise tech teams navigate hybrid work, digital transformation, and AI-powered resourcing with unmatched speed and flexibility.
In this episode we look at skills-based hiring, talent marketplaces, contingent workforce platforms, enterprise AI, internal talent mobility, agentic AI, and digital transformation. These keywords frame a high-growth narrative that’s reshaping how work gets done in modern enterprises.
Key Takeaways
Gigged.AI’s on-demand talent platform enables rapid, skills-based hiring for enterprise tech teams.

SIA, their new Skills Intelligence Agent, delivers actionable workforce insights from internal and external data.

Rich Wilson shares how agentic AI is key to managing internal talent, freelancers, and digital agents.

Gigged.AI's dual-platform model supports both immediate talent needs and long-term strategic workforce planning.

Their recent $1.34M raise signals growing investor confidence in platforms solving enterprise talent access.

The company’s focus on enterprise expansion and U.S. growth sets the stage for global scale.
Learn more about the product at https://giggedai.com
Get more Work Tech market intelligence at https://1worktech.com

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37min
July 14, 2025 How Agentic AI is Transforming the Employee Experience: MeBeBot's Secure, Scalable AI for Work
George LaRocque and MeBeBot CEO Beth White unpack how Mebebot One is unlocking the next level of AI-powered support, automation, and compliance across the workplace.
AI is moving fast. Beth White talks about how Mebebot One brings agentic AI to the enterprise with secure, compliant, and scalable support. From HR to IT, we explore how hybrid AI models reduce friction in the employee experience and deliver measurable ROI through workflow automation, smart content ingestion, and prescriptive knowledge delivery.
In this episode we look at agentic AI, HR automation, employee experience, hybrid AI platforms, compliance in AI, AI chatbots, and workflow automation. These keywords highlight how modern enterprises are leveraging AI to scale support and enhance internal operations securely.
Key Takeaways
Agentic AI enables HR and IT teams to automate support and reduce friction in employee workflows.
Mebebot One blends prescriptive and generative AI for accurate, compliant content delivery.
Hybrid AI platforms allow organizations to control sensitive content while enabling open responses for general knowledge.
Integration with collaboration tools like Teams, Slack, and SMS ensures AI is in the flow of work.
Scalable AI platforms like Mebebot unify siloed departments with a single support experience across functions.
Companies are prioritizing AI solutions that balance security, accuracy, and ROI in highly regulated environments.
Learn more about MeBeBot One at https://www.mebebot.com/
Get market insights and learn moare about tech trends for the future of work at https://www.1worktech.com

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32min
July 07, 2025From Clicks to Quality: How VONQ is Transforming Job Advertising and Candidate Screening with New AI Agents
I sat down with Vonq’s Ritu Mohanka and Bill Fischer to unpack CPA+, their latest AI-powered innovation. We explore how embedded agentic AI is streamlining candidate screening, optimizing recruiter workflows, and poised to make CPA models more effective by delivering quality, prescreened candidates directly inside 50+ ATSs.
In this episode, we look at recruitment automation, cost-per-application, AI in hiring, ATS integration, recruiter efficiency, agentic AI, and candidate screening. With hiring pressure rising, VONQ’s embedded AI-driven tools help talent teams speed up hiring and improve outcomes, without disrupting existing HR tech stacks.
Key Takeaways:
CPA+ brings prequalified candidates directly into ATS workflows, reducing recruiter workload and speeding up hiring cycles.

Agentic AI conducts dynamic screening interviews and generates candidate dossiers, enabling faster, data-driven decisions.

VONQ’s platform is embedded in 50+ ATSs, removing friction and driving instant adoption.

Recruiters save time and boost ROI by automating screening and scoring with transparent, explainable AI.

Compliance with the EU AI Act ensures fairness and transparency in every candidate evaluation.

VONQ’s LinkedIn integration powers high-quality CPA+ campaigns, with additional publishing partners launching soon.
Links Mentioned in the Podcast:
🌐 VONQ CPA+: http://bit.ly/3I5vQtX

🔗 Bill Fischer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billfischer

🔗 Ritu Mohanka on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ritu-mohanka
Get more Work Tech market insights at https://1worktech.com

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39min
March 26, 20252025 Outlook: Economic Uncertainty & Workforce Dynamics with Andrew Flowers, Appcast Chief Economist
Hiring is slowing, the job market is increasingly less dynamic, and economic uncertainty looms. Andrew Flowers, Chief Economist at Appcast, joins me to analyze the latest job market data, including hiring trends, workforce churn, wage growth, and how factors like AI, government policy, and inflation are shaping the future of work.

In this episode, we look at hiring trends, workforce turnover, wage growth, economic uncertainty, government layoffs, inflation impact, and talent acquisition strategies. With shifting market dynamics, HR leaders and employers need data-driven insights to navigate hiring, workforce planning, and talent retention in 2025.

See the charts Andrew references at 1worktech.com/podcast

Key Takeaways:
Hiring is slowing, but layoffs actually remain low, creating a stagnant job market with reduced churn.
Economic uncertainty is impacting employer decisions, leading to cautious hiring and lower job openings.
Healthcare is driving job growth, while leisure and hospitality are showing signs of weakness.
Wage growth is outpacing inflation, improving worker purchasing power but creating cost pressures for employers.
Federal workforce reductions could impact local economies, but broader economic effects remain uncertain.
HR leaders should monitor hiring rates, consumer spending, and government policies, as these will shape workforce trends in 2025.

Resources Mentioned:
Appcast Website: appcast.io
Recruitonomics by Appcast: recruitonomics.com
WorkTech Market Intelligence: 1worktech.com

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Market Insights
02:16 Current Economic Landscape
07:11 Job Market Dynamics and Trends
11:24 Sector-Specific Employment Trends
16:04 Impact of Federal Government Changes
25:52 Wage Growth and Economic Predictions
29:22 Key Metrics to Watch for in 2025

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37min
March 25, 2025JobGet’s M&A Strategy: What Acquiring Seasoned Means for the Hiring Market with CEO Tony Liu
Breaking down JobGet’s acquisition of Seasoned, its impact on hourly hiring, and how AI is shaping the future of recruitment.

JobGet is making big moves in the hiring market, acquiring Seasoned just after Snagajob. Tony Liu, CEO of JobGet, shares insights on why this deal strengthens their AI-driven recruitment strategy, enhances candidate quality, and streamlines hiring automation—giving employers more control and better hiring outcomes.

In this episode, we look at AI-driven hiring, recruitment automation, hourly workforce trends, candidate quality, talent marketplaces, hiring technology, and mergers & acquisitions in HR tech. As JobGet expands, its app-first approach and data-driven hiring tools are reshaping how employers attract and retain top talent.

Key Takeaways:
JobGet’s acquisition of Seasoned enhances AI-driven hiring automation, improving candidate quality and employer efficiency.
Merging talent pools from Snagajob and Seasoned creates a deeper, more engaged workforce marketplace.
Seasoned’s AI-based hiring automation and job-matching technology will integrate into JobGet’s platform.
JobGet’s app-first approach is attracting Millennial and Gen Z workers, making hiring faster and more personalized.
Employers gain better hiring insights with integrated ATS data, improving candidate quality and reducing hiring costs.
M&A remains a priority for JobGet, with more strategic acquisitions likely to expand its leadership in hourly hiring.

Resources Mentioned:

JobGet Website: jobget.com

Tony Liu’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tony-liu

WorkTech Market Intelligence: 1worktech.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to JobGet and Seasoned Acquisition
03:08 Market Dynamics and Acquisition Strategy
05:59 Quality and Technology in Recruitment
08:56 App-First Approach and User Experience
11:48 Integration of Platforms and Cross-Pollination
15:11 Data Analytics and Hiring Automation
17:48 Future of M&A Strategy and Conclusion

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26min
March 25, 2025Scaling HR with AI: How Symba Automates Onboarding, Offboarding & More with CEO Ahva Sadeghi
HR teams are under pressure to do more with less, and Symba is helping them get there. Ahva Sadeghi joins me to discuss how AI-powered workflow automation is transforming HR by streamlining onboarding, offboarding, compliance, and training—helping top employers boost efficiency while improving the employee experience.

In this episode, we look at HR automation, AI-driven workflows, employee experience, onboarding solutions, workforce efficiency, people operations, and internal mobility. As HR leaders seek to optimize processes, AI-powered platforms like Symba are making workflow automation more accessible, scalable, and impactful than ever before.

Key Takeaways:
AI-powered automation is revolutionizing HR workflows, eliminating inefficiencies and enhancing employee experience.
Organizations can automate key people processes, including onboarding, offboarding, compliance, and training.
Symba integrates with 300+ HR tools, streamlining processes and reducing tech redundancy.
HR leaders need automation strategies that align with business goals, rather than using AI for the sake of AI.
Companies leveraging Symba reduce manual processes, enabling HR teams to focus on strategic workforce initiatives.
Intelligence-driven insights will shape the future of HR, helping organizations optimize talent development and internal mobility.

Symba Website: symba.io
Ahva Sadeghi’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ahvasadeghi
WorkTech Market Intelligence: 1worktech.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Automation and AI in HR
02:36 Ahva's Journey and the Evolution of Symba
04:27 Market Shifts and Strategic Pivots
08:57 Understanding Symba's Product and Customer Integration
12:12 Workflow Automation: Creativity and Flexibility
15:50 The Role of Automation in Solving Business Problems
18:35 Overcoming Resistance to Change in Automation
19:57 Defining Success in Automation Projects
22:13 Future Directions for Symba and Automation

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28min
February 25, 2025How Lightcast is Powering Talent Intelligence with AI and Workforce Data with Cole Napper, VP of Research, Innovation, and Insights
Lightcast’s Cole Napper joins George LaRocque to discuss the power of workforce data, AI-driven skills taxonomies, and talent intelligence. They explore how organizations can leverage labor market insights to navigate workforce risk, optimize hiring strategies, and prepare for the evolving future of work.

This episode examines talent intelligence, workforce risk, AI-powered skills taxonomies, labor market insights, employer branding, competitive intelligence, and HR data strategy. As AI reshapes the future of work, understanding workforce dynamics and skills-based hiring has never been more critical.

Key Takeaways:
Talent intelligence is redefining workforce strategy, integrating labor market insights with internal HR data.
Skills taxonomies and ontologies powered by AI are streamlining workforce planning and talent mobility.
The Workforce Risk Outlook Report reveals which industries and companies face the biggest hiring and retention challenges.
AI is transforming talent intelligence, enabling organizations to anticipate workforce trends and upskill employees effectively.
Competitive intelligence is a game-changer, helping employers benchmark talent strategies against industry peers.
Lightcast partners with major HCMs and HR tech platforms, ensuring seamless integration of labor market data into HR ecosystems.
Resources Mentioned:
Lightcast Workforce Risk Outlook Report: lightcast.io/riskoutlook
Lightcast Website: lightcast.io
Cole Napper’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colenapper
More Market Insights: 1worktech.com

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35min
February 10, 2025AI Governance, Risk, and Adoption in HR with FairNow's Guru Sethupathy
AI is transforming HR, but adoption stalls without governance, compliance, and trust. Guru Sethupathy, CEO of FairNow, joins the WorkTech Podcast to break down AI risk, ethics, and compliance in HR tech. We explore how organizations can simplify AI governance, reduce risk, and ensure responsible adoption at scale.

This episode examines AI governance, HR compliance, risk management, ethical AI, data security, regulatory compliance, and AI adoption. With global AI regulations evolving rapidly, HR and HR tech leaders need a clear strategy to ensure compliance, build trust, and unlock AI’s full potential.

Key Takeaways:
AI governance is essential for responsible adoption, compliance, trust, and risk mitigation.
Organizations need clear AI governance frameworks to navigate evolving global regulations.
AI bias, privacy, and compliance concerns are top challenges for HR and HR tech vendors.
AI in HR is expanding rapidly, but without governance, adoption barriers increase.
Vendors and HR leaders must align on governance standards to streamline AI implementation.
AI regulations are increasing worldwide, making governance a competitive advantage.

Resources:
Forbes: Where the AI Regulatory Landscape Is Heading

Learn more about Fairnow at fairnow.ai
Get more HR and Work Tech global market insights at 1worktech.com

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34min

FAQs about WorkTech Podcast:

How many episodes does WorkTech Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.