Unlocked Professional: AI and Future of Work

Jeff Midland | AI & Future of Work Enthusiast
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Most companies are stuck in "experimentation theater". Buying AI tools that go nowhere while their teams are exhausted by the hype. Welcome to The Unlocked Professional, where we stop playing with AI and start running it like a business operation. Hosted by Jeff Midland, we interview the visionaries from Chief AI Officers to Workforce Futurists. We give you the "Cheat Code" for staying relevant. Learn to move from being just a worker to an Architect of the future. We dive deep into Human-Centric AI, Agentic workflows, and the ADOPT method to ensure you remain irreplaceable. Stop the social grinding and start building a real strategy that works with AI, not against it.

  1. 1d ago

    How This Recruiter Became an Engineer Using Artificial Intelligence | Bryan Hong

    Navigating strict compliance while trying to modernize talent acquisition? Bryan Hong, Head of AI Services at Astranis, joins Jeff to share how he built multi-agent recruiting workflows inside one of the most regulated aerospace environments in tech. In this episode, he breaks down his leap from finance and agency recruiting into engineering, how his six-agent swarm compresses weeks of talent research into hours, and why AI fluency has become a non-negotiable skill for modern recruiters. Key Topics Bryan Hong’s transition from finance into agency recruiting, tech sourcing, and AI engineering Building compliance-ready AI workflows within regulated aerospace environments The architecture of a six-agent recruiting swarm (Sensei, Atlas, Hunter, Shakespeare, Oracle, QA) Reducing talent research and candidate prep time from weeks down to hours Agency grit versus in-house ownership and deep business context The five pillars of top recruiters: interpersonal skill, domain, data, influence, and AI fluency Using AI as an accelerator to build tools without needing a traditional coding background Navigating enterprise security, compliance, and moving prototypes to production Episode Timestamps 0:00 Building AI systems within regulated aerospace environments 1:26 Bryan’s background in finance, fintech, and falling into recruiting 6:03 Why regulated hiring at Astranis made recruitment automation critical 9:20 How a six-agent swarm cuts candidate research from weeks to hours 14:30 Using AI to build functional tools without becoming a full-time coder 19:13 The prompt engineering mindset required for iterative AI development 21:35 The key capabilities separating level one recruiters from level four domain owners 32:00 Getting AI tools past strict enterprise security and compliance protocols 43:17 How to evaluate true AI fluency and scientific prompt design in candidates 51:16 Why AI fluency is becoming a core job requirement rather than a bonus skill 56:23 Where to follow Bryan's work, prompts, and automation builds Guest Links Website: https://www.astranis.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanhong/ Keywords: Bryan Hong, AI in recruiting, recruiting automation, agentic workflows, multi-agent systems, enterprise AI, regulated aerospace, talent acquisition, recruiting strategy, AI fluency, prompt engineering, recruiter productivity, future of work

  2. Aug 5

    Why Most Leaders Are Playing Checkers With Artificial Intelligence | Kelly Monahan

    Struggling to balance aggressive AI implementation with employee burnout and organizational wellbeing? Dr. Kelly Monahan, Managing Director at the Upwork Research Institute and former Future of Work Lead at Meta, joins Jeff to challenge how business leaders approach workforce transformation. In this episode, she breaks down why short-term cost-cutting undermines long-term innovation, how skills-based workforce planning replaces rigid job descriptions, and why maintaining humanity is essential when AI rewrites the future of work. Key Topics Aligning organizational AI strategy with human-centered workforce goals Macroeconomic pressures driving AI adoption for cost-cutting versus long-term innovation Core future skills: resilience, systems thinking, AI fluency, and adaptability Shifting from rigid job descriptions to skills-based workforce planning The impact of AI on knowledge work and potential rebalancing toward physical skills How AI democratizes expertise and reshapes traditional positional authority The leadership framework of Drift, Delirium, and Dream for organizational transformation Cross-industry AI applications for operational flexibility and customer experience Episode Timestamps 0:00 Leaders prioritizing AI strategy over workforce wellbeing 0:30 Kelly's background from Kodak layoffs to human-centered AI research 2:47 Short-term cost-cutting versus long-term value creation 5:43 Identifying core business problems before deploying AI tools 6:11 Moving from rigid job titles to competency-based skill mapping 13:04 Labor market shifts, skill re-evaluation, and identity disruption 16:22 Top five skills for future employment in an AI-driven economy 26:41 Assessing organizational readiness, AI ROI, and strategy over hype 30:42 The Drift, Delirium, and Dream framework in leadership development 33:01 How AI democratizes expertise and diminishes formal corporate authority 42:51 Final advice on personal agency and continuous learning Guest Links Website: https://www.beyondthedesk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-monahan-ph-d-18879413 Keywords: Kelly Monahan, human-centered AI, future of work, skills-based hiring, workforce planning, Upwork Research Institute, leadership development, AI strategy, organizational culture, upskilling

  3. Jul 29

    Skills-Based Hiring: How Vervoe's CEO Is Rebuilding the Interview | Omer Molad

    Sending out resumes only to meet dead ends and radio silence? Omer Molad, Co-founder and CEO of Vervoe, joins Jeff to challenge how companies evaluate human potential entirely. In this episode, he breaks down why traditional resumes fail to predict performance, how Vervoe's audition-style simulations replace outdated screening methods, and why the future of talent acquisition belongs to skills-based hiring rather than pedigree. Key Topics The measurement problem in modern hiring Why resumes are misleading marketing documents Audition-based hiring and real-world task simulations AI-powered assessments for candidate evaluation Balancing AI proficiency with fraud detection Remote-first work culture and distributed teams Voluntary obsolescence and continuous self-reinvention Episode Timestamps 0:00 Why hiring is a measurement issue, not a talent shortage 0:29 Omer's journey from candidate to founder 1:57 Why traditional resumes fail to identify actual capability 2:56 The inspiration behind Vervoe's real-job scenario assessments 6:17 Remote work culture and living the Australian countryside lifestyle 11:25 Moving past pedigree and replacing interview fatigue 14:43 How AI assesses current skills and future candidate potential 18:33 Detecting AI cheating and maintaining assessment integrity 25:42 Designing practical simulations that mimic on-the-job tasks 34:46 Why companies are abandoning traditional resume screening 48:15 Embracing continuous reinvention and voluntary obsolescence 50:11 Where to find Omer and follow his work Guest Links Website: https://vervoe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omermolad/ Keywords: Omer Molad, Vervoe, skills-based hiring, AI assessments, recruitment technology, future of work, talent acquisition, skill validation, remote work, audition-based hiring

  4. Jul 22

    From Cirque du Soleil to Career Coach: Why Your Resume Isn't Getting Past AI | Mindy May

    Sending out hundreds of applications and getting silence in return? Mindy May, a Certified Career Coach and former HR Director with experience at companies including Cirque du Soleil, joins Jeff to challenge how most professionals approach the job search entirely. In this episode, she breaks down why positioning beats volume, how to turn your resume into a marketing document that gets noticed by both ATS systems and human recruiters, and why interview preparation is the difference between hoping for an offer and actually getting one. Key Topics Positioning over application volume Resume and cover letter as marketing tools How ATS systems and human recruiters both shape hiring decisions DISC assessments for career alignment AI tools for job seekers and career coaches Interview preparation and storytelling Episode Timestamps 0:00 Why job seekers often have a positioning problem, not just a resume problem 0:27 Mindy's background in HR, psychology, and leadership 6:07 Why applying to more jobs is not the real solution 7:37 What ATS means and how it affects job seekers 8:55 Why resumes should be treated as marketing documents 15:24 Why a tailored cover letter can still make a difference 20:35 Whether candidates should reach out directly to recruiters or hiring managers 29:19 How DISC assessments help coach candidates more effectively 35:03 How people are adopting AI in the workplace 40:29 Using AI to improve interview prep and storytelling 46:12 Why interviews are not a dress rehearsal 51:02 Where to find Mindy and follow her work Guest Links Website: https://www.careercoachsvc.com/coach/mindy-may-mba/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindymay-coach Keywords: job search positioning, ATS resume optimization, resume as marketing document, DISC career assessment, AI in job search, cover letter strategy, interview preparation, applicant tracking systems, career coaching, LinkedIn for job seekers

  5. Jul 15

    Hiring Data Nobody Talks About | Jen Emmons

    Most professionals approach a job search the same way they did a decade ago, and that mismatch is exactly what holds them back. Jen Emmons, a career coach and recruiting strategist with over 20 years in HR leadership, has built her practice around helping experienced professionals reframe their value in language that actually lands with recruiters and hiring managers. In this episode, she breaks down how to update your resume for the role you want rather than the one you had, why the transferable skills matrix changes everything for career pivoters, and what it really takes to walk into an interview and get the offer. Key Topics Updating your resume to reflect value, not just responsibilities The transferable skills matrix for targeting the right roles Overcoming ageism and ATS fears Networking as relationship building Career pivots with clarity Interviewing to get the offer, not just hope for it Episode Timestamps 00:00 How job seekers unknowingly work against themselves 01:23 Jen's background and the conversation begins 05:35 Resume mistakes recruiters notice right away 08:21 ATS vs. hiring manager review 12:12 The transferable skills matrix 14:56 The biggest fear: ageism 17:22 Dispelling myths about AI and recruiting systems 22:29 Why networking is really relationship building 27:36 The root cause filter framework 33:46 Career pivots and moving forward with clarity 39:27 Interviewing to get the offer, not just hope for it 50:21 What to say to AI skeptics 54:12 Closing thoughts and where to connect Guest Links Website: https://www.jenemmonsconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenemmons Keywords: career transition, resume strategy, transferable skills matrix, ageism in job search, applicant tracking systems, career pivot coaching, networking for job seekers, interview preparation, recruiting strategy, HR leadership

  6. Jul 8

    Why Your Job Application Never Gets Seen and What AI Can't Fix About Hiring | Bob Pulver

    What happens when AI starts making hiring decisions and no one is watching? Bob Pulver, a former Fortune 500 IT executive turned HR tech and AI ethics specialist, brings rare cross-functional expertise to one of the most consequential shifts in the modern workplace. In this conversation, he unpacks how AI is reshaping every stage of recruitment from sourcing to onboarding, what transparency and accountability in AI-driven hiring tools actually require, and why the traditional resume may already be on borrowed time. Key Topics AI across the full recruitment lifecycle Responsible AI, bias mitigation, and hiring audits Candidate fraud risks and AI-assisted assessments Internal mobility and workforce reskilling Human oversight in AI talent decisions Future skills and education in an AI-enabled workforce Episode Timestamps 00:00 The AI ecosystem in hiring: machine-to-machine and human interaction 00:24 Bob Pulver's experience and transition from Fortune 500 to HR tech 03:51 The impact of AI on talent decision-making and ethical concerns 08:40 A pivotal moment: transitioning from IT and automation to talent and AI ethics 13:05 AI in talent acquisition: sourcing, screening, and predictive analytics 17:28 The mechanics of AI in resume screening and job description alignment 20:28 Challenges of bias, fairness, and accountability in AI hiring tools 28:56 The role of applicant tracking systems and recruiter workflows amidst increasing applicant volume 34:48 The dangers of candidate fraud, AI bias, and the need for fair evaluation standards 43:29 The importance of social analytics, behavioral assessment, and critical thinking skills 51:38 The ethical use of AI and importance of transparent policies in hiring 54:02 Practical steps for candidates and employers to navigate AI-powered talent processes 56:26 Resources: Bob's work on Work Defined Podcast and Elevate Your AIQ Substack Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobpulver Podcast: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/elevate-your-aiq Website: https://elevateyouraiq.substack.com/ Keywords: AI in hiring, AI recruitment tools, responsible AI hiring, bias in talent acquisition, human oversight in AI, workforce reskilling, candidate fraud, HR technology, talent acquisition automation, future of work skills

  7. Jul 1

    She built Microsoft's Great Copilot Journey Program. Now, AI is her Co-Founder | Kristin Ginn

    Are you navigating the challenges of AI implementation in your organization? Kristin Ginn shares practical insights from her experience designing programs like the Great Copilot Journey and founding trnsfrmAItn, emphasizing the importance of addressing the human side of AI adoption. Key Topics Kristin's background and how her tennis performance mindset influences her approach to AI The significance of human-centered AI adoption strategies How to build organizational buy-in from top leadership to frontline employees A four-tier framework for empowering employees with AI: AI 101, Tech 101, AI Trail, and fun, engaging training methods The common barriers to AI acceptance, including professional identity and status quo bias Practical tips for leveraging AI as an assistant, explorer, editor, and coach Examples of innovative organizational approaches, such as Canva's week-long AI immersion How AI can democratize access to strategic insights and resources Kristin's personal journey from corporate marketing to AI consultancy Episode Timestamps: 00:00 - Why employee adoption often gets overlooked in AI initiatives 02:18 - The moment Kristen realized AI's transformative potential 04:45 - Moving from marketing campaigns to AI program development 06:42 - Ensuring workforce readiness for AI tools 09:22 - How AI helped Kristen bootstrap her own business 11:58 - Overcoming confidence and bias in quitting the corporate world 14:24 - The human side of AI rollout and avoiding quiet retreats 16:44 - How to prevent token maxing from undermining AI value 19:01 - Special organizational initiatives for AI adoption (like Canva's week-off) 23:41 - The three layers of activating AI culture: Leadership, Champions, Foundation 26:27 - The four layers of AI integration for individuals and companies 30:40 - Personalization and making AI training engaging through familiar analogies 32:09 - Practical frameworks for using AI as an assistant, explorer, editor, and coach 34:40 - Addressing professional identity fears around AI 38:49 - The tennis analogy for embracing AI habits 41:24 - AI as a strategic partner to unlock new access and resources 43:12 - How to follow Kristen and leverage her frameworks Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnkristin/ Company Website: https://www.trnsfrmaitn.com/ Personal Website: https://www.kristinginn.com/ Keywords: AI workforce adoption, human-centered AI strategy, Microsoft Copilot training, Great Copilot Journey, AI change management, AI champions program, employee AI readiness, professional identity and AI, AI adoption framework, organizational AI culture

  8. Jun 24

    Goldman Sachs. BCG. Then She Walked Away to Build a Brand | Kelly He-Sun

    In this conversation, we discover how Kelly He-Sun navigated her impressive career from Goldman Sachs to BCG in her early 20s, and how she leveraged content creation and AI tools to build her personal brand. This episode offers actionable insights on top-down communication, systematized AI integration, and career development in a rapidly evolving work landscape. Key Topics Transitioning from premier global institutions like Goldman Sachs and BCG to personal brand creation The mental model of top-down communication and leading with answers in high-stakes meetings How early career professionals can manage rapid growth and earn promotions under pressure The strategic role of socialization and networking during university to open career pipelines Evaluating intentional exit strategies from high-profile management consulting roles Differentiating yourself and building an authentic personal brand in a crowded content market Common alignment and communication pitfalls seen inside elite consulting teams Practical applications of AI tools like Genspark and Perceptis.ai for data and slide creation Recruiter insights for maximizing the impact of coffee chats and case interview performance Shifting from isolated, tool-by-tool AI software adoption to comprehensive work systems Episode Timestamps 00:00 Tool Review: Looking at Genspark's data visualization and design capabilities 01:37 Trajectory: Kelly’s early career journey from Goldman Sachs to BCG and beyond 02:24 Mental Models: The core philosophy of leading with answers and structured thinking 03:46 Under Pressure: Achieving rapid promotions and managing heavy professional workloads 04:29 Networking: Strategic advice on college socializing and building strong foundations 10:04 Balance: Kelly’s favorite methods for recharging and protecting personal time 12:00 Motivation: A deep look into Kelly's underlying work ethic and career drivers 16:00 Clean Breaks: Why leaving high-profile corporate consulting is an intentional choice 22:24 Brand Strategy: Creating standalone personal branding in a crowded media space 25:12 High Stakes: Deploying top-down communication structures during crucial meetings 28:20 Team Friction: Common hurdles coaches identify within modern consulting teams 35:10 Slide Generation: A deep-dive demonstration of Perceptis.ai for visual storytelling 40:15 Copilot Insights: Surprising operational use cases inside Microsoft 365 Copilot 42:50 Recruitment Playbook: Mastering coffee chats and structured interview preparation 46:21 Turnarounds: Common pitfalls in case interviews and converting weaknesses to strengths 51:16 Future Leadership: The changing role of systemized AI workflows in business management 59:36 Strategic Architecture: Moving beyond scattered tool usage to true systemic AI integration 64:37 Stay Connected: How to follow Kelly's latest content insights and professional advice Guest Links: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kellyhe-sun Instagram: https://instagram.com/kellycareermode Keywords: personal branding, management consulting, BCG, Goldman Sachs, top-down communication, case interview prep, future of work, Genspark, Perceptis.ai, career development

See All (21)

Trailer

About

Most companies are stuck in "experimentation theater". Buying AI tools that go nowhere while their teams are exhausted by the hype. Welcome to The Unlocked Professional, where we stop playing with AI and start running it like a business operation. Hosted by Jeff Midland, we interview the visionaries from Chief AI Officers to Workforce Futurists. We give you the "Cheat Code" for staying relevant. Learn to move from being just a worker to an Architect of the future. We dive deep into Human-Centric AI, Agentic workflows, and the ADOPT method to ensure you remain irreplaceable. Stop the social grinding and start building a real strategy that works with AI, not against it.

Information