“It’s not about kind of handing away our decision-making rights,” says Dr. Reece Akhtar. “It’s about using AI as a tool–emphasis on a tool–to help us become smarter humans, not the other way around.”

Dr. Akhtar is the CEO of Deeper Signals, an end-to-end Soft Skills Intelligence platform designed to help organizations make smarter and fairer talent decisions. He is a contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes and co-author of the book, The Future of Recruitment: Using the New Science of Talent Analytics to Get Your Hiring Right.

In today’s episode, Reece joins Daniel and Peter for a look at the current landscape of AI-powered talent management and a discussion about the best balance and approach for integrating AI into an overall talent strategy.

Tune in to learn:

• The three things to get right about using AI in the hiring process
• Why good interviews are still vital to the hiring process
• The one thing to remember when introducing AI into the hiring process

Listeners who want to dip into the AI for HR waters can try the Deeper Signals assessment tool here.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

In this episode:

1:07 – Introduction: Dr. Reece Akhtar

1:49 – The State of AI in Hiring

7:34 – Early Adoption to the Next Level

13:53 – Improving the Applicant Experience

23:02 – The Elements of Successful AI Adoption

27:18 – AI and the Interview Process

34:00 – Lightning Round

Resources:

Dr. Reece Akhtar LinkedIn

Deeper Signals

Deeper Signals Candidate Assessment Tool

The Future of Recruitment: Using the New Science of Talent Analytics to Get Your Hiring Right, Amazon

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

3 Human Needs to Retain Every Employee

Developing Employee Personas: A Practical How-To Guide

The 7 Elements of Employee Experience

6 Trends in Leadership and HR for 2025

10 Ways Our New AI Coach Can Grow Your Career

10 Cool Things Leaders Can Do With An AI Coach

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

When most people say they want to “be authentic,” what they really mean is they want to be comfortable, says Dr. Laura Sicola.

But “comfort zones and authenticity have nothing to do with each other when it comes to real performance,” she says.

Laura Sicola is a cognitive linguist, communication expert, speaker, and coach who helps leaders become master influencers. Her TEDx presentation, “Want to Sound Like a Leader?” has been viewed approximately 7 million times.

Laura joins Daniel and Peter today for a deep dive into authenticity and the myths around what it means to be an authentic leader.

Tune in to learn:

• Why discomfort is so important to becoming a more influential leader
• What sound boards can teach us about authenticity
• When code switching is healthy–and when it’s not

Anyone who wants to grow is going to experience discomfort, Laura says. “Embrace the opportunity to consistently challenge yourself in ways that are healthily uncomfortable,” she says.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

In this episode:

1:03 – Introduction: Dr. Laura Sicola

2:07 – What Authenticity is NOT

6:50 – Authentic Adaptation

13:07 – The Leadership “Mixing Board”

18:16 – Preferences vs. Values

24:25 – Generational Authenticity

32:04 – Closing Thoughts

Resources:

Dr. Laura Sicola’s Website

“Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start by Saying Your Name Right,” TEDx Talk

Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice, Amazon

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

Six Secrets to Your Leadership Growth

5 Executive Presence “Superpowers” of Introverted Leaders

6 Tips to Master the Language of Executive Presence

5 Tips to Help You Lead a Global Team

6 Tips to Build a Learning Organization

The Importance of Body Language in Executive Presence

10 Tips That Will Improve Your Presentation Skills

Here Come the Zoomers!

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Imagine being “paid to judge people”!

That’s how today’s guest jokingly describes his role. Tom Verboven is a Senior Director of Client Success at Mercer Talent Enterprise, where he advises clients on how to drive value through effective human capital strategies.

In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Tom offers his insights and advice for navigating a leadership assessment landscape that now includes artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Tune in to learn:

• Three shifts in leadership assessment over the last decade
• Three steps leaders should take as they use assessments in the future
• One thing leaders should do to establish an accurate standard of success

We need to embrace both the human and the technological, Tom says. “In the end, a leader is a human and needs to do good with other humans,” he concludes.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

In this episode:

:48 – Introduction: Tom Verboven

3:07 – Topic: AI’s Impact on Leadership Assessment

8:30 – The Changing World of Assessment

16:00 – The AI Avatar Experience

22:44 – Can AI Be Too Accurate?

25:03 – Steps for Leaders to Understand the Assessments of the Future

28:09 – Caution Around AI for Assessments

31:42 – The One Thing for a Leader to Establish an Accurate Standard of Success

Resources:

Tom Verboven LinkedIn

Mercer Talent Enterprise

Kahneman, D., Rosenfield, A., et al (2016, October). Noise: How to Overcome the High, Hidden Cost of Inconsistent Decision Making. Harvard Business Review.

What Are the Big 5 Personality Traits?, Very Well Mind

Behind the Headline: Unpacking the Reported Drop in Conscientiousness

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

7 Principles for Character Driven Leadership

The Advantages of an Online 360° Assessment

Six Ways to Leverage the Power of 360° Assessments for Your Leaders

When Should I Use a Lead Now! Assessment?

The Leadership Self-Assessment Question You Need

Stewart Leadership Assessment Services

Stewy: Your AI Leadership Coach

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.