The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES

AI Strategy in Staffing — What’s Real, What Wins

There’s a LOT of noise around AI in staffing right now.Most of it sounds impressive.Very little of it actually moves the needle.That’s why I sat down with Pankaj Jindal, Co-Founder of Sense, someone who’s been building AI inside staffing long before it became a buzzword.This episode cuts straight through the hype and gets into:✅ Why AI should augment recruiters, not replace them✅ The difference between shiny tools vs. real business impact✅ Where AI is already driving measurable wins (sourcing, engagement, matching, productivity)✅ Why data quality + workflow design matter more than model selection✅ How leaders should think about AI as a strategy, not a featureOne big takeaway:AI doesn’t fix broken processes. It amplifies them. If your foundation isn’t solid, AI just makes the cracks show faster.If you’re a staffing leader trying to decide where to place your bets in 2026, this episode will help you focus on what actually works.📅 Feb 19, 2026⏰ 1:00 PM MDT🎧 The Staffing Playbook PodcastDrop a comment if you’re actively testing AI in your agency — I’d love to hear what’s working (and what isn’t).#StaffingLeadership #AIinStaffing #FutureOfWork #RecruitingTech #TheStaffingPlaybook #StaffingPodcast

3-Pillar Playbook for Scaling a Staffing Firm in 2026

Scaling a staffing firm in 2026 isn’t about working harder.
It’s about building the right operating system.
 
On the next episode of The Staffing Playbook Podcast, I’m joined by Matt Buffington, CEO & Founder of KinISO, to break down the 3 pillars every staffing leader must master to scale profitably in today’s market:
✔️ Sales
✔️ Service / Operations
✔️ Recruiting
 
Matt has spent 15+ years across technology, staffing, and sales, and now leads KinISO — a platform built to fundamentally change how staffing firms launch, operate, and scale.
 
We’ll dig into:
🔹 Why most firms stall between $10M–$50M
🔹 Where technology actually drives leverage (and where it doesn’t)
🔹 How to design a scalable operating model
🔹 What the best-run firms are doing differently heading into 2026
 
If you’re a staffing owner, executive, or leader serious about building a durable, scalable business — this episode is for you.
 
📅 Feb 5, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM MDT
🎙️ Live on The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES
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The State of Staffing 2026 — Live Roundtable

🎙️ The State of Staffing 2026 — Live Roundtable The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES📅 January 22 ⏰ 1:00 PM MDTThe staffing industry isn’t “changing.” It’s already changed.
In this live roundtable, we cut through the noise and talk honestly about what staffing leaders are walking into in 2026—and what actually matters if you want to win.
Tom Erb & Mark Winter go head to head in this compelling conversation
We cover:Why 2026 is the Year of the Customer, not sales, not growth-at-all-costsThe real gap between AI hype vs. operational realityWhy agencies that treat staffing like a commodity won’t surviveWhat leaders must fix now in operations, accountability, and experienceHow trust, consistency, and execution are becoming the true differentiatorsThis isn’t theory.
 It’s lived experience from operators who are in it every day—dealing with margin pressure, client expectations, talent shortages, and technology that only works if your fundamentals are solid.
If you’re an owner, executive, sales leader, or operations leader in staffing, this conversation will challenge how you’re thinking about 2026.👉 Join us live on January 22 at 1:00 PM MDT 🎧 The Staffing Playbook Podcast

The 2025 Staffing Playbook Podcast Recap

End-of-Year Episode of The Staffing Playbook We pulled the best moments from our 2025 guests—the insights that actually mattered, the ones that moved the needle, and the lessons staffing leaders need as we head into 2026. No hype. No recycled talking points. Just real strategies around leadership, sales, operations, and building teams that win in a tougher, more competitive market. If you’re running a staffing firm and want to be ahead next year—not reacting—this episode is for you. 👇 We’re live right now. Jump in and listen.

Becoming the Leader People Actually Want to Follow

Most people in leadership roles were never taught how to lead — they were promoted, handed a title, and expected to figure it out. But real leadership? The kind people willingly follow? That takes intention, skill, and self-awareness.
This week on The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES, we’re bringing in someone who has lived it, coached it, and built a career on transforming teams:
🎙 Guest Speaker: Andre Young Professional Speaker • Author • Leadership Trainer • Founder of You Evolving Now Former mental health therapist → pro athlete → organizational consultant Author of 7 Ways to Lead
Andre breaks down leadership in a way few people do — practical, human, direct, and immediately actionable. No fluff. No corporate buzzwords. Just the truth about what makes people actually want to follow you.
We unpack: ✔️ Why most leaders unintentionally limit their teams ✔️ How to build trust without playing “the boss” card ✔️ The behaviors teams desperately want but rarely get ✔️ The difference between leading and managing ✔️ How to evolve as a leader… even when you’re already good
📅 Releases December 22, 2025 ⏰ 1:00 PM MDTIf you manage people, plan to lead, or want to elevate how you show up in your organization — this episode is one you don’t skip.
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How Staffing Firms Should Do Marketing in 2026

If you think marketing in staffing is tough today… 2026 is about to raise the bar. AI, content velocity, buyer attention spans, and the shift to experience-driven branding are rewriting the rules — and we’re bringing in two people who don’t just talk marketing… they build it.
 
🎙 The Staffing Playbook Podcast
Hosted by Steven Farrell & Geneviève Bourgeois
💡 Guest Experts:
Mike Bradbury– the cat-shirt-wearing creative brain behind Type Marketing
Tracey L. – the queen of punchy, relatable storytelling who somehow ended up on WFAN Radio with Boomer & Gio
 
Together, we dig into:
✔️ What staffing firms must change going into 2026
✔️ Why most industry marketing still misses the mark
✔️ How to create content clients actually want
✔️ The rise of authenticity, community, and video-driven reach
✔️ The simple moves staffing leaders can take right now to win more orders
 
📅 Releasing: December 11, 2025
⏰ 1:00 PM MDT
🎧 Don’t miss this one — it’s packed with insights, real talk, and a whole lot of fun.
If you’re serious about leveling up your firm’s brand, demand generation, and client acquisition strategy… this episode is your roadmap.
 
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The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES

2026 "The year of the Customer"

“Why the Year 2026 Will Be the Year of the Customer.”If you’re in staffing or recruiting, you already feel it — 2026 is shaping up to be a completely different kind of year.Clients want more clarity, more partnership, and a lot less chaos.Recruiters are evolving fast.And AI is redefining what “great service” even means.In this upcoming episode, Geneviève Bourgeois and I break down:🔹 The real customer expectations rolling into 2026🔹 Why the volume-based staffing model is about to get left behind🔹 How AI-enhanced recruiters will raise the standard across the entire industry🔹 The top friction points that are costing agencies trust🔹 What HR leaders say they actually want moving forward🔹 And the three things every staffing firm must commit to in 2026If you want to walk into the new year with a competitive edge — don’t miss this one.🎧 Episode goes live Nov. 25 at 1:00 PM MDT

AI Isn’t Coming — It’s Here: What Staffing Leaders Can Learn from Whippy AI

New Episode Drop – The Staffing Playbook 🎙️AI isn’t coming — it’s already here.And staffing leaders who learn to use it the right way will dominate 2026.In Episode 60, we’re joined by Jack Kennedy, Co-Founder of Whippy, one of the fastest-growing AI platforms transforming how teams communicate, automate, and scale.We dig into:💡 The founding story behind Whippy AI📈 What Jack and his team have learned building an AI company from the ground up⚙️ Real use cases & case studies in staffing and beyond🧠 How to evaluate an AI software partner (without getting sold snake oil)🚀 And the big one — how staffing agencies can win in 2026 using AI strategicallyThis conversation isn’t about buzzwords. It’s about what works — and what’s coming next.🎧 Tune in Thursday, Nov. 13th @ 1PM MDT➡️ Ep. 60 | AI Isn’t Coming — It’s Here: What Staffing Leaders Can Learn from Whippy AIHosted by: Steven Farrell, CSP & Genevieve BourgeoisPowered by: Your Employment SolutionsSponsored by: Staffing Referrals

Cracking the MSP Code | Episode 3: Maximizing Value, Minimizing Risk

🎙 Cracking the MSP Code | Episode 3: Maximizing Value, Minimizing RiskThe Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YESWhen it comes to MSPs, value and risk go hand in hand. Agencies that fail to understand how MSPs operate often sacrifice margin—or expose themselves to unnecessary liability.Join hosts Steven Farrell, CSP & Genevieve Bourgeois as they welcome back Mandy Hileman and Josh Moskoviz for the final chapter of our “Cracking the MSP Code” trilogy:✅ How to maximize value while navigating complex MSP layers✅ The hidden risks agencies overlook in contracts and compliance✅ Why alignment between agency, client, and MSP determines long-term success📅 Date: October 30th, 2025🕐 Time: 1:00 PM MDTThis episode isn’t just theory—it’s the operational playbook for staffing leaders who want to protect margins, elevate partnerships, and thrive in MSP-driven ecosystems.👉 Don’t miss Episode 3: Maximizing Value, Minimizing Riskhashtag#TheStaffingPlaybook hashtag#StaffingPodcast hashtag#MSPStrategy hashtag#StaffingIndustry hashtag#RecruitmentLeadership hashtag#WorkforceSolutions hashtag#YESStaffing

Cracking the MSP Code Episode 2: Where Did All the A Players Go?

Top talent isn’t vanishing—it’s evolving. Wage compression, specialized job orders, and shifting candidate expectations are reshaping healthcare staffing.Join hosts Steven Farrell, CSP & Genevieve Bourgeois, with guests Josh Moskoviz (VP, Trio Workforce Solutions) and Mandy Hileman (Sr. Director, Triage Staffing | Healthcare Staffing), as we dive into: ✅ Why the quality of talent feels different than it used to ✅ How wage compression is changing hiring strategies ✅ What agencies must do to stay competitive in a specialized, candidate-driven market