The Weight of Leadership: Chris Hyams on Layoffs, Empathy, and the Future of AI

In this episode, Taylor sits down with former Indeed CEO Chris Hyams for an honest conversation about leadership, responsibility, and what it really feels like to be the person making the hardest decisions.Chris shares his unlikely path from addiction and recovery to leading a billion dollar company. They discuss the emotional weight of overseeing a company of 15,000 employees, navigating the uncertainty of COVID, and the painful reality of making layoffs that affected thousands of families. Throughout the conversation, Chris reflects on how recovery, humility, and servant leadership shaped the way he approached one of the toughest jobs in business. The conversation also explores why Chris chose to leave Indeed after more than a decade, his work in responsible AI, and why he believes artificial intelligence is one of the defining ethical challenges of our generation. Along the way, they discuss imposter syndrome, transparency, power, and what it means to lead without losing your humanity. It's an honest conversation about the unseen cost of leadership and why the people at the top are often carrying more than anyone realizes.Learn more about Chris's work at chrishyams.substack.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who might appreciate this conversation!Follow us on Socials @whothepodcareswww.whothepodcares.comTheme song by: Carl Thiel