Episode 4 - Start at the end

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Nicole Krensky to break down how AI is separating the leaders from the laggards in staffing and what firms must do now to stay competitive. About the Guest Nicole Krensky is Director of Product Marketing at Bullhorn, where she leads go-to-market strategy for Amplify, Automation, and Search & Match. With nearly a decade in tech marketing and deep exposure to AI adoption across staffing firms, Nicole works directly with companies navigating the shift toward AI-powered recruiting. Key Takeaways AI adoption is no longer optional—it...

In this episode of Take the Stage InSights, Brad Bialy sits down to interview ChatGPT (yes...the AI-powered LLM) to unpack the real state of staffing, the rise of AI, and what firms must do now to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting talent market. About the Guest For sake of this conversation, ChatGPT was primed to be an AI strategist and staffing industry analyst specializing in the intersection of talent markets, technology, and future disruption. With a data-driven lens and objective insights, ChatGPT explores how automation, workforce trends, and evolving recruiter roles are reshaping the future of staffing. Key Takeaways Transactional recruiting is dying; consultative partnership is winning. AI will eliminate tasks, not the need for trust. Specialization builds authority; dilution breeds confusion. Data is no longer optional—it’s your competitive edge. Speed matters, but humanity closes the deal. Timestamps [00:01] – Resetting the staffing narrative [01:52] – The uncomfortable truth about talent shortages [03:34] – Why recruiters must become career architects [06:32] – Specialize or slowly disappear [07:49] – Selling roles vs. solving business problems [08:22] – Designing candidate experience that actually wins [12:02] – When AI becomes a gatekeeper (and how to stop it) [14:26] – The legacy mindset killing growth [17:43] – The questions that elevate you to strategic partner [21:53] – What AI will automate first — and fast [25:48] – Fewer recruiters. Bigger results. Here’s why. [29:35] – The AI blind spot redefining success About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offer 50% off of a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by FoxHire. If you’re looking for an Employer of Record partner that helps recruiters confidently grow contract placements and build recurring revenue without taking on extra risk, FoxHire is perfect for you. Learn more at FoxHire.com/Haley

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Paul Petersen to unpack why the candidate black hole still exists in recruiting and how human-centered, tech-enabled recruiting can finally fix it. About the Guest Paul Petersen is a fractional CHRO and executive workforce strategist with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations modernize talent acquisition, HR technology, and workforce strategy across global enterprises. He’s known for blending deep HR tech expertise with a relentless focus on the human experience for both talent and hiring managers. Key Takeaways Speed without intention creates invisible talent. Screening out is easier than building trust—but far less effective. Communication is the real differentiator in modern recruiting. Technology should amplify recruiters, not replace them. Great recruiters act like agents, not gatekeepers. Timestamps [00:23] – Why the candidate black hole still exists [02:54] – Screening out versus screening in explained [05:16] – When “speed to hire” becomes the wrong metric [06:48] – The two personas that actually matter [08:35] – Can AI really fix the candidate experience? [10:33] – The Domino’s pizza tracker analogy for recruiting [14:02] – Why talent pools are massively underutilized [16:26] – Predicting talent needs before jobs open [20:53] – Paul’s 300-application job search story [25:11] – Why recruiters should think like sports agents [30:37] – The hiring manager’s missing voice in HR tech [35:27] – Integrity as a long-term recruiting advantage About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offering 50% off a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 Benefits in a Card helps staffing firms offer meaningful benefits to their entire workforce through flexible, unbundled plans designed for high-turnover environments—making it easier to control costs, improve retention, and stay competitive. https://www.BenefitsInACard.com TRICOM partners with staffing firms as an asset-based lender and full-service back-office provider, helping owners scale confidently by reducing risk and easing the operational strain of payroll, cash flow, and administration. https://www.tricom.com

In this episode of InSights, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with David Searns, Co-CEO of Haley Marketing, to unpack why staffing firms must build a true growth engine—one that aligns marketing, sales, and buyer enablement to win in a more skeptical, competitive market. About the Guest David Searns is the Co-CEO of Haley Marketing and one of the most experienced voices in staffing industry marketing. With more than 25 years helping firms clarify differentiation and drive demand, David brings a deep, practical understanding of what actually fuels sustainable growth. Key Takeaways Marketing is a sales advantage, not a creative expense. Buyers decide long before sales ever gets the call. Differentiation starts with customer problems, not company features. Nurturing beats chasing when markets tighten. If you don’t define your aisle, you compete on price. Timestamps [02:20] Why staffing penetration is collapsing [04:55] Buyers are skeptical, busy, and informed [06:45] The danger of selling without buyer enablement [09:20] The six-layer growth engine framework [13:15] Why most differentiators don’t actually differentiate [17:10] Escaping the “staffing aisle” trap [19:00] How owners should pressure-test their messaging [23:40] Making sales drop-bys actually work [27:25] Why nurturing is the most ignored lever [31:30] Buyer enablement without giving away secrets [34:20] Why fewer employers are using temps [35:50] Learning how to learn in a changing market About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we’re offering 50% off a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by FoxHire. If you’re looking for an Employer of Record partner that helps recruiters confidently grow contract placements and build recurring revenue without taking on extra risk, FoxHire is perfect for you. Learn more at https://www.FoxHire.com/Haley