The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES

Stop Buying AI, Start Using What You Have

Most staffing firms don't have an AI problem.They have a utilization problem.They're buying tools they never fully implement. Stacking subscriptions nobody uses. Chasing the next shiny platform before they've squeezed value out of what's already on the shelf.My next guest lived this firsthand.Jason Alexander was the #1 sales rep globally at Robert Half. He co-founded and scaled BANKW Staffing to $100M in revenue. His own business partner used to call him the easiest sale in the world when it came to buying new software.Now he runs ChiefAI and helps staffing firms stop the bleeding — starting with what they already have.On Episode 70 of The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YES, Jason breaks down:→ Why 95% of the firms he assesses don't even have a business plan, let alone an AI roadmap
→ The AI agent he built that creates a 3-year rollout plan in 15 minutes
→ Why you should "bleed ChatGPT dry" before you buy anything else
→ What custom GPTs are and why almost nobody paying for ChatGPT is using them
→ The difference between handing a recruiter an AI tool and actually training them to use it
This one is packed with tactics you can act on today — not next quarter.

The Stalled Labor Market: Why 2026 Rewards Execution, Not Hustle

We’re back with a new episode of The Staffing Playbook Podcast:Ep. 69 | The Stalled Labor Market: Why 2026 Rewards Execution, Not HustleOn March 20 at 1:00 PM MDT, I’ll be joined by David Wilson from "The Ring of Hire Show" for a timely conversation on what’s really happening in the labor market right now.
A lot of leaders are still waiting for the market to “turn.” I don’t think waiting is the move.
This kind of market exposes the difference between activity and execution.When things stall out, the firms that win are not the ones doing more random hustle.
They’re the ones operating better.They’re tighter.More disciplined.Closer to the customer.Better at follow-up.Better at decision-making.Better at execution.
In this episode, we’ll dig into what a stalled labor market means for staffing leaders, where companies get stuck, and what practical moves actually matter in 2026.
If you lead in staffing, recruiting, sales, operations, or workforce strategy, this one is for you.

AI & Change: Why Most Staffing Firms Are Failing at Both

🎙️ Episode 68 of The Staffing Playbook Podcast is LIVEAI & Change: Why Most Staffing Firms Are Failing at Both🗓 March 5, 2026⏰ 1:00 PM MDT🎤 Guest: Lauren B. Jones 🐐In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Jones, Founder & CEO of Leap Advisory Partners — a true force in workforce innovation and digital transformationLauren doesn’t sugarcoat it.We talk about:Why buying AI tools doesn’t equal transformationThe leadership blind spots killing momentumChange fatigue inside staffing firmsWhat real operational redesign actually looks likeAnd how to build teams that embrace technology instead of resisting itIf you’re a staffing leader who:Feels pressure to “do something with AI”Has invested in tech but isn’t seeing ROIKnows your operating model needs to evolveOr wants to lead change without blowing up your culture…This conversation is for you.Lauren brings the rare combo of operator, strategist, and transformation architect — and she’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.The firms that win the next 5 years won’t just adopt AI.They’ll redesign how they work.Join us live on March 5th at 1:00 PM MDT.Let’s stop talking about AI hype…And start talking about execution.The Staffing Playbook Podcast, Powered by YESSponsored by Staffing Referrals

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
👉 RSVP to the event and join us live.

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.
 
👇 Follow The Staffing Playbook Podcast and be ready when it drops.
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