Hiring Insights

Top Talent Advocates

A podcast dedicated to providing insights into executive hiring. Whether you are an executive, an attorney, a recruiter, a coach, or a candidate, there is something for you to learn and discover.

  1. Spencer Anderson | Navigating Careers in Professional Sports: Career Strategy, Talent Management, and Leadership

    FEB 27

    Spencer Anderson | Navigating Careers in Professional Sports: Career Strategy, Talent Management, and Leadership

    Mosah Fernandez Goodman sits down with Spencer Anderson, Vice President of Basketball Analytics and Strategy at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, on this episode of Hiring Insights. After building a foundation in law and business, Spencer charted a unique path into professional sports, ultimately working with Indian Pacers. He shares how he combined a JD, MBA, and a passion for sports into a leadership role, and what it really takes to thrive in such a competitive industry. Whether you’re exploring a career in sports, data analytics, or executive leadership, this conversation offers candid insight into breaking into a market, hiring for both skill and culture, and leading in a results-driven environment. Highlights from the episode:Non-linear career paths can still lead to executive rolesSpencer combined a JD, MBA, and internships to pivot from law into sports analytics, showing that aligning passion with emerging skill sets (like data analytics) can open niche leadership opportunities. Cultural fit often outweighs pure technical talent in hiring decisionsAnderson emphasized that hiring for team fit and values, then training for domain knowledge, has been more successful than hiring purely for raw talent that lacks alignment with organizational culture. Networking and strategic exposure are key entry points into competitive sectorsInformational meetings, internships, and leveraging academic networks were instrumental in breaking into the NBA, highlighting that access often comes from proactive relationship-building rather than traditional applications. Leadership is defined by hands-on collaboration and leveraging team strengthsEffective leadership, according to Anderson, means not being above any task, actively collaborating with teams, and identifying individual strengths to maximize collective performance. Decision-making requires balancing long-term strategy with immediate operational demandsAnalytics teams must support both forward-looking planning (years ahead) and real-time needs (game-by-game decisions), illustrating how data informs but does not replace executive judgment. The job market is becoming more specialized and competitive, not broaderWith limited roles (e.g., only 30 NBA teams), opportunities are shifting toward niche areas of expertise such as machine learning, data engineering, and skill-development analytics, reinforcing the need to think broadly about adjacent industries and alternative entry points.

    28 min
  2. Jonah Perlin, Heather Stevenson, & Matt Schwartz | Career Evolution in Law: The Role of Mentorship and Strategic Networking

    04/03/2025

    Jonah Perlin, Heather Stevenson, & Matt Schwartz | Career Evolution in Law: The Role of Mentorship and Strategic Networking

    Heather Stevenson, Jonah Perlin, and Matt Schwartz, three attorneys united by The Legal Mentor Network, share a strong commitment to building community through social media, networking, and mentoring, and join Mosah Fernandez Goodman on this episode of Hiring Insights. They explore how legal professionals navigate career transitions, leverage mentorship and networking, and embrace nontraditional paths while drawing on diverse experiences to foster meaningful connections and support others in the field. Episode Highlights: Nonlinear career paths can lead to success, and career pivots can open unexpected opportunities. Translating non-legal experience to law helps improve problem-solving, adaptability, and communication. Leveraging social media for career growth can open doors. Posting insights, answering questions, and engaging online can lead to mentorship opportunities and unexpected career connections. Authenticity in online presence fosters meaningful connections. Genuine, experience-based content that benefits people reading, builds a personal brand that can attract career opportunities over time. Strategic networking provides long-term benefits. Some people are natural connectors, while others need to develop relationship-building skills. Building relationships early, especially in law school, pays off over time as professional connections evolve into key decision-makers. What is the Legal Mentor Network? Scaling mentorship through innovation helps more professionals. The Legal Mentor Network provides mentees with mentors and expands beyond one-on-one support to career-focused events and networking opportunities. This episode of Hiring Insights is sponsored by Job Lasso -- unlocking hidden talent and revolutionizing how top professionals and employers connect.

    50 min
  3. Kevin Lewis | Hiring, Growth, and Board Expectations: Executive Insights

    01/10/2025

    Kevin Lewis | Hiring, Growth, and Board Expectations: Executive Insights

    Kevin Lewis joins Mosah Fernandez Goodman on this episode of Hiring Insights. Kevin is the Chief Financial Officer at Hudl, where he draws on a diverse career spanning finance, technology, and agriculture. With global experience, private equity exposure, and a background that includes both fast-growing startups and established organizations, Kevin’s journey offers a unique perspective on building high-performing teams, thriving in high-growth environments, and collaborating effectively with boards. Highlights from this episode: Career Navigation and Challenges Decision-making pitfalls, such as prioritizing short-term gains over long-term growth opportunities. Challenges faced in managing a nonlinear career path. Industry Transitions and Adaptability Emphasizing transferable skills over industry-specific expertise. Building and Leading Teams Key qualities and attributes sought when building finance and accounting teams. The significance of hiring for organizational fit and culture. Evaluating Candidates and Red Flags in Hiring Methods to assess a candidate’s fit beyond technical qualifications. Spotting red flags in resumes and interviews. Hiring in High-Growth Environments Adjusting hiring processes to meet the velocity of fast-growing companies or industries. Balancing the need for rapid hiring with maintaining team quality and fit. Leadership and Cultural Fit Identifying leadership qualities that align with organizational culture. Prioritizing soft skills like communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Strategic Board Engagement Maintaining transparency by presenting clear updates, including wins and areas needing improvement. Talent as a Core Asset Emphasizing talent management, particularly in technology-driven organizations where human capital and intellectual property are critical. Prioritizing acquisitions of technology that integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure. Economic and Job Market Insights Highlighting the evolving nature of job markets with increased opportunities at senior levels for growing companies. Interview Preparation and Career Transition Advising candidates to focus on storytelling—clearly articulating their experiences, passions, and fit for prospective roles. Stressing the importance of leveraging personal networks to uncover opportunities.

    34 min
  4. Michelle Comella | Redefining Success: Navigating Career Path Journeys

    11/07/2024

    Michelle Comella | Redefining Success: Navigating Career Path Journeys

    Michelle Comella sits down with Mosah Fernandez Goodman on this episode of Hiring Insights. Michelle is an attorney and certified professional coach working with AMLaw 25 firms, her current role is the Global Director of Career Services at McDermott Will & Emery, a program that she designed and launched in 2020. Prior to making the transition into coaching, Michelle was dedicated to practicing law, that is, until she realized that the responsibilities of a general counsel did not motivate her in the way she felt the right career should. With expertise from previous roles at Kirkland and Ellis, and companies such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity, her broad legal experience make her an invaluable resource for career guidance. Topics discussed in this episode:  Navigating Career Transitions: Michelle discusses the importance of understanding what one seeks in a career change, rather than only focusing on leaving a current role. She highlights the need to explore opportunities that fulfill new personal and professional aspirations. Trends in Employment and Career Needs: Two prominent trends among professionals—employment gaps due to economic and personal reasons, and the increasing importance of cultural fit in career choices. Networking and Personal Branding: Michelle emphasizes the value of networking and building a personal brand. She suggests using platforms like LinkedIn to showcase expertise, values, and professional interests, helping professionals remain connected and expand their career opportunities. Approaching Networking in Job Searches: Networking can be intimidating and off-putting for some people. Subtle tactics to open the conversation to job searches without making a direct job request. Using Social Media for Professional Networking: Present yourself authentically on LinkedIn. Benefits of Leveraging Third Parties in Job Searches: Advantages of involving mentors, coaches, or talent advisors. These third parties can offer objective perspectives, help answer tough questions, and provide alternative interpretations to avoid negative assumptions during the job search process. Handling Employment Gaps During Job Searches: Strategies for explaining resume gaps, especially during interviews.

    37 min
  5. Stewart Hirsch | Unlocking Your Potential: Referral Power, Networking Confidence, Leadership Skills, Career Advancement

    07/17/2024

    Stewart Hirsch | Unlocking Your Potential: Referral Power, Networking Confidence, Leadership Skills, Career Advancement

    Stewart Hirsch, a seasoned expert in the world of coaching and professional development, joins Mosah Fernandez Goodman on this episode of Hiring Insights to share insights into unlocking your career potential through the power of referrals, networking with confidence, developing the right leadership skills, and career advancement. Stewart practiced law for 21 years, in law firms and in-house, including TJX, Staples, Welch’s and others, developing extensive experience advising senior executives and leading business initiatives. As an executive and leadership coach, Stewart serves as a sounding board and strategic thought partner for C-Suite and other executives, assisting with communication and relationship-building. Having coached hundreds of lawyers and other professionals to increase business, Stewart brings a wealth of knowledge and insight. Topics discussed in this episode: How do coaching services for executives and lawyers address the professional gaps they may be experiencing? What specific coaching areas can they benefit from, and what services can help them become more well-rounded individuals? Beyond coaching and independent learning, people can use various other methods to grow and expand. Continually work to not only enhance skills and knowledge but also foster personal and professional development through diverse experiences and connections. Leadership is often about inspiring. Some people think it's about managing and that can be part of it, there has to be some management work in there, but it's really about inspiring others and influencing others to do what is needed and creating a collaborative environment. What does it look like to be a successful outside or in-house counsel? We all are referral sources for each other, whether you call it that is in question, but you do it all the time. Referral sources are resources. Networking: we must have the mindset of both caring and curiosity about other people, it’s a way of thinking. Overcome fear or reluctance to network by taking the focus off of you. Focus on the other person. People like to talk about themselves. How and why to use LinkedIn as a tool to connect or reconnect with people in your network.

    49 min

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A podcast dedicated to providing insights into executive hiring. Whether you are an executive, an attorney, a recruiter, a coach, or a candidate, there is something for you to learn and discover.