Hiring as Improv: Embracing the Unscripted in Job Searches (EP.85)

In this episode, we explore what it means to approach hiring as improvisation—especially from the perspective of job seekers navigating ambiguous, pressure-filled, and often inequitable processes.Joining host Tim Cynova are two brilliant minds who live at the intersection of the performing arts and organizational transformation: Courtney Harge, founder of CHarge Advisory Hub and Kate Stadel, General Manager of Arts at YMCA Calgary. Both bring deep experience in theater and arts leadership—and share how their training has shaped how they build teams, lead organizations, and show up in interviews.We explore:Why job seekers rarely get a full script—and how to adapt when you’re handed a vague promptHow theater skills like reading a room, holding tension, and embracing failure help candidates and hiring managers alikeWhat hiring managers can do to reduce unnecessary ambiguity and bring more care and intention into the processWhy “just be yourself” is both true and insufficient advice—and how to pick which version of yourself to show up asWhy sometimes the goal is to “interview to get fired”—so you and the organization can learn quickly if it’s a fitWhether you’re hiring, job seeking, or just rethinking the systems we all move through, this episode offers insight, laughter, and plenty of permission to improvise.Highlights:Meet the Guests (01:28)Theater Skills in Leadership and Hiring (02:50)The Art of Storytelling in Job Interviews (07:05)Embracing Feedback and Authenticity (08:54)Reimagining the Job Seeking Process (20:03)Evaluating Candidates Beyond Skills (22:53)The Purpose of Interview Questions (23:42)Challenging Traditional Hiring Practices (24:49)Authenticity in Job Interviews (27:17)The Importance of Values and Kindness (28:05)Navigating Interview Dynamics (29:40)The Role of Improvisation in Interviews (38:07)BIOSABOUT COURTNEY HARGECourtney is a Midwest-made, Brooklyn-refined, theater maker, facilitator, creative leader, and cultural strategist. She has been working in the service of artists, art-making, and healthy organizations for the last fifteen years. Recently, she was the CEO of OF/BY/FOR ALL, a nonprofit dedicated to improving arts, civic, and cultural institutions through community-centered strategizing. She is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Colloquy Collective. Her work on anti-lynching plays was featured on NPR in 2015. She’s also the Lead Consultant for CHarge Advisory Hub, a consulting service offering human-centered, tech-supported solutions for mission-driven organizations. She holds an MPS with Distinction in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute and a BFA with Honors from the University of Michigan in Theater Performance. Courtney is also an alum of APAP’s Emerging Leaders Institute, artEquity’s Facilitator Training, and Lead for Liberation’s Conscious Executive program. Learn more about her and her work at courtneyharge.com and chargeadvisoryhub.com.ABOUT KATE STADELCurrently the General Manager of Arts for YMCA Calgary, Kate is a dedicated community leader and arts administrator with a wealth of experience spanning 20 years. Her passion lies in leveraging the transformative power of the arts to foster personal and communal growth. Kate believes deeply in Art as Belonging—the idea that the arts are a vital tool for building inclusive spaces where all voices feel seen, heard, and valued. She is committed to creating environments where creativity becomes a catalyst for connection, equity, and empowerment. Kate possesses a keen ability to craft strategic business plans that yield tangible results, contributing to the development of a dynamic and lively arts community hub. Her work consistently reflects her core values of accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Kate was named as part of Avenue Magazine's prestigious Top 40 Under 40 class of 2020. katestadel.comABOUT TIM CYNOVATim Cynova is the host of the Work Shouldn’t Suck podcast, where he and guests explore bold ideas and practical strategies for creating workplaces where people thrive. At the consulting firm WSS HR Labs, he draws on deep experience leading and advising mission-driven organizations through growth, change, and complexity to help them dust off outdated policies, challenge default approaches, and design values-centered workplaces that align people strategy, organizational culture, and operational infrastructure. A certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and trained mediator, Tim’s path has taken him from orchestral trombonist to C-level roles in multiple $25M+ nonprofits around the globe. Whether consulting, teaching, or recording, he brings curiosity, candor, and a knack for making workplace design engaging and actionable.