Episodes

Rob Levin makes the case that remote work is becoming a talent requirement, not a nice-to-have. Using commute data and hiring trends, he argues that SMBs need to widen their talent pool, manage through KPIs, and build culture intentionally across distributed teams. Key Takeaways Remote is a talent strategy: Commute friction is pushing candidates away from on-site roles. Location should not limit hiring: Nearshore and offshore are natural extensions of remote. Manage by outcomes: KPIs r...

In this episode, Rob Levin explains why offshore hiring is becoming a major topic for business owners right now. He points to four main drivers: it is harder to find great people locally, engagement and productivity are trending the wrong way, owners are increasingly unwilling to tolerate disengaged team members, and more peers are finding success with offshore talent. His message is practical: offshore should not be treated as a shortcut or a cheap labor play, but as an opportunity to raise tal...

In this episode of The New Talent Playbook Podcast, host Rob Levin argues that hiring decisions should be driven by outcomes, not hourly price. The cheapest hire can be the most expensive mistake when it creates rework, constant follow-up, and missed customer value. His core point: start with the opportunity a great person creates, then evaluate price in that context. Key Takeaways Great talent is an investment, not a line-item to minimize: Stop optimizing for the cheapest hire and start ask...

In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with Don Gregori, COO of First Factory, for a conversation about what it really takes to scale a company across locations without losing the culture, clarity, and trust that make it work. They dig into the operational side of growth, why people still drive every outcome, how leaders can build systems that stay sustainable, and what it means to keep adapting in an AI-shaped world. Key Takeaways Growth does not just add headcount: it changes how leaders nee...

In this episode Bones Ijeoma has a practical conversation with Rob Levin about how leaders should think about AI inside a business. Bones Ijeoma does not frame AI as a magic shortcut or a replacement for leadership. Instead, he shows how to evaluate where AI fits, which work should stay human, and how to use automation and AI to improve an existing operating system rather than disrupt it. The discussion is especially relevant for founders and operators who want leverage without losing judgment, ...

In this part 2 episode with Jeff Hyman, Rob Levin about what it really takes to hire better people. The conversation centers on candidate experience, authenticity, project-based interviews, the true cost of mishires, and why leaders need a clear hiring process instead of relying on instinct alone. Key Takeaways Treat hiring like a system, not a reaction: Build a repeatable process so every hire is deliberate, not rushed. Design the candidate experience to match the actual job and culture:...

In this episode Rob Levin sits down with Jeff Hyman. The conversation centers on why people remain the biggest differentiator in business, even as AI makes technology easier to copy. Jeff explains why most leaders overestimate their hiring ability, why culture matters as much as role fit, and why interviews are a weak predictor unless they are structured and disciplined. For founders and business owners, the message is clear: hiring is not a side task: it is a core lever for performance. List...

Rob Levin makes a clear case that the challenge for founders and CEOs is not simply change itself, but the number of simultaneous changes hitting the business at once: buyers are buying differently, talent expectations have shifted, regulations are moving, and AI is reshaping how work gets done. The leaders who win will review strategy more often, protect time for high-value thinking, and decide quickly what capabilities the company needs next. Key Takeaways Audit what's changing across buye...

In this episode, employment attorney Joel Greenwald explains why compliance works best when it reinforces culture instead of feeling like a penal code. For founders and operators, the message is simple: strong values, clear policies, trained managers, and fast escalation pathways reduce legal risk and help teams perform better. Joel shares practical systems leaders can put in place now, especially for remote teams and growing companies navigating more complex state and local rules. Key Takeaw...

Rob Levin argues that the old model of annual planning is broken. In a fast-changing market, founders and business owners need to spend more time on strategy, culture, and leadership, the work that compounds, instead of getting trapped in firefighting and administrative work. Key Takeaways Audit where your time is going: Make sure you're spending time on strategy, not just firefighting. Delegate low-value work: Get out of the work that pulls you away from your unique ability. Set clear...