The New Talent Playbook Podcast

Rob Levin
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Strategies that drive business success through the power of exceptional talent. Hosted by serial entrepreneur Rob Levin, The New Talent Playbook podcast explores practical strategies to help leaders build stronger, more resilient businesses. With over 30 years of experience and a reputation as a top speaker on business and entrepreneurship, Rob shares impactful insights alongside industry experts to help you navigate challenges and optimize your talent strategy. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or talent professional, this show delivers actionable advice to unlock growth through exceptional talent.

  1. 2d ago

    The talent problem AI won't solve – Part 1 | Jeff Hyman

    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.  Key Takeaways  Talent is now the biggest competitive advantage: The companies that win will be the ones with people who can learn faster, adapt faster, and ask better questions.  AI raises the bar on human judgment: As technology becomes easier to copy, the quality of your team matters more, not less.  Culture and role fit must both be weighted: Jeff makes the case for judging candidates on both ability and organizational DNA, not just skills.  Structured interviews beat gut feel: Interviewing should be repeatable, disciplined, and science-driven instead of casual or improvisational.  Timestamps  02:18 — Hiring and retention have changed dramatically, especially in the last six months with AI screening which allows the expansion of the candidate pool and changing expectations.  07:48 — Talent selection is the number one driver of success and a leading cause of business failure.  12:07 — The real differentiator is people: teams that learn, iterate, and analyze faster than competitors.  13:40 — Why should culture and role fit each count for 50%.  19:24 — The best way to know if a person is a good long-term hire is a project. When you see them in action on their day-to-day you're able to see how they perform  About the Guest  Jeff Hyman is a veteran executive talent acquisition expert, serial entrepreneur, and the author of Recruit Rockstars. He has built four companies backed by $50 million in venture capital, placed more than 4,000 top performers, and regularly shares his thinking in outlets like CNBC, Inc. Magazine, Fortune, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.  More About Jeff Hyman  Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn  Your Next Read Recruit Rockstars  Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    The talent problem AI won't solve – Part 1 | Jeff Hyman

  2. Aug 18

    AI. Buyers. Employees. Everything changed. Do this now

    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 buyers, talent, and operations: Don't look at market shifts in isolation. Buyers are buying differently, talent expectations have shifted, and laws, regulations, and technology are all moving at the same time.   Protect time for high-value thinking: The CEO's job includes thinking about change at a macro level. If you don't create time for that work, urgent tasks will crowd it out. Decide what capabilities you need, then source them deliberately: Once you know what's changed, ask whether the skill should be built internally, bought through a consultant or hire, or developed through upskilling. Use AI and modern tools for precision, not just speed: The episode's point is not simply to move faster. It's to use tools like AI to target better, make smarter decisions, and improve execution quality.  Episode Highlights  00:56 — How buyer behavior has changed, especially in B2B, and why marketing and sales must adapt.  03:10 — Leaders must "harness change" or risk being harnessed by it.  05:22 — Strategy and change management usually sit inside the CEO's unique ability and should be reviewed quarterly, not annually.  06:05 — Leaders must protect time for high-payoff work instead of getting buried in urgency.  08:59 — The most important starting point is the CEO's own time, focus, and ability to think strategically.  Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    AI. Buyers. Employees. Everything changed. Do this now

  3. Aug 11

    The biggest HR mistakes businesses don't realize they're making

    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 Takeaways  Write policies that reinforce the culture you actually want: Embed company values upfront and present policies as part of your culture, not arbitrary rules.   Train managers to apply rules consistently and escalate early: Managers often lack the knowledge to enforce fairly or recognize when to escalate. Proper training prevents unfairness and catches complex issues like accommodations before they become problems.  Use company values to evaluate behavior, not just performance numbers: Values serve as a code of conduct for assessing toxic behavior, especially high performers who undermine culture.   Audit remote-work practices for state and local law exposure: With employees across multiple states, the law where employees sit, not headquarters, applies. Ensure policies account for varying jurisdictions to prevent compliance gaps.  Episode Highlights  02:36 The connection between legal risk, compliance, culture, values, and mission.  04:02 Company values are the foundation of culture and help address toxic high performers.  07:40 Remote work and the complexity of multi-state compliance.   09:45 Employee handbooks as the bridge between policy, compliance, and inclusive company culture.  12:48   How people should be thinking about how AI is changing the workforce  About the Guest  Joel Greenwald is a widely published author and distinguished employment attorney with over two decades of speaking experience to business and professional organizations internationally and across the US. As founder and managing partner of Greenwald Doherty LLP, he treats employment law as a strategic asset, focusing on proactive legal counsel, immersive management training, and innovative solutions that help employers prevent problems before they start. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been consistently recognized as a Super Lawyer.  More About Joel Greenwald  Connect with Joel on LinkedIn  Check out Greenwald Doherty  Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    The biggest HR mistakes businesses don't realize they're making

  4. Aug 4

    Owners are doing $25-an-hour work, and it's costing them millions

    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 expectations: Define what success looks like before the work begins.  Treat culture as a system: Culture should be built into leadership, not treated as a slogan.  Protect strategy time: Recurring strategy blocks are a business asset, not a luxury.  Episode Highlights  [01:44] The market is shifting fast: Rob opens by describing a multi-lane economy, where some customers are thriving and others are under pressure.  [02:22] You are part of the talent team: He reframes leadership as a talent responsibility, not just an operational one.  [03:19] Protect your unique ability: He shares Dan Sullivan's idea that owners should spend most of their time where they create the most value.  [06:34] Culture is part of strategy: Rob emphasizes that culture has to be intentionally built into the business, not left as an afterthought.  [07:10] Buy back your time: One lever is getting help with lower-value work so founders can stay focused on higher-value decisions.  [09:58] Strategy time compounds: Rob closes by urging listeners to protect non-negotiable strategy time, because those blocks create long-term returns.  More Resources:   How to Make Remote Work at Your Company 7 Culture Moves Behind a Fast-Growing Company Simple Shifts to Build a Stronger Team and Higher Profits  The 3 Things That Separate Business Owners Who Lead from Those Who Just Keep Up Don't Have an Assistant? You are One. (Stings a little, doesn't it?) How I Stopped Being the Ceiling on My Own Business  Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit. 👉 More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard

    Owners are doing $25-an-hour work, and it's costing them millions

  5. Jul 21

    AI Won't Fix Your Business Until You Fix This

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but many business owners are still asking the wrong question. Instead of wondering "What can AI do?", they should be asking "What business problem are we trying to solve?" In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with brand strategist, author, and Bornstein Group CEO Gal Borenstein to discuss why AI should be viewed as a force multiplier, not a replacement for people. They explore how leaders can use AI to improve decision-making, strengthen trust, and create more competitive businesses without losing the human judgment that customers and employees value most.  Key Takeaways  AI should amplify people, not replace them: The greatest value comes when AI handles repetitive tasks while humans focus on judgment, creativity, and relationships.  Solve business problems before buying AI tools: Technology delivers the best results when it's applied to clearly defined operational challenges.  Trust remains a human responsibility: AI can help scale communication, but authentic leadership, transparency, and customer relationships are what build lasting trust.  Learning will become the most valuable skill: Employees who continuously adapt and learn how to work alongside AI will create significantly more value than those who rely solely on existing processes.  Episode Highlights  01:49 – AI is a force multiplier, not a workforce replacement  03:14 – Start with the business problem, not the technology  08:21 – Benchmark your business before implementing AI  10:49 – The future belongs to continuous learners  15:53 – Trust is your biggest competitive advantage  22:42 – The best place to start with AI  About the Guest  Gal Borenstein is the Founder and CEO of The Bornstein Group, a branding and marketing agency specializing in technology companies. With more than 30 years of experience helping B2B and government-focused organizations build trust and market differentiation, he's also the author of Don't Believe the Hype and Beating Goliath with AI, where he explores how businesses can leverage AI while maintaining authenticity and customer trust.  More About Gal Borenstein  Connect with Gal on LinkedIn  Check out borensteingroup.com   Gal's Books Don't Believe the Hype: When Trust is on the Line   Beating Goliath With AI   Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    AI Won't Fix Your Business Until You Fix This

  6. Jul 14

    Stop hoping. Start building the team you need.

    In this episode, Rob Levin makes the case that hiring cannot be passive if you want to grow. Hope is not a strategy. If your business is hitting a people bottleneck, you need to stop waiting for the "perfect" person to appear and start building a faster, more intentional hiring process.  Rob explores why owners often stay stuck in their comfort zone, how that slows growth, and what a CEO should actually be focused on: strategy, the right people, resources, and culture. He also shares the common hiring mistakes small businesses make, including weak job descriptions, poor candidate experience, and relying too heavily on people they already know.  Key Takeaways  Why proactive hiring is more effective than waiting for the right person to appear How to move through the hiring process with greater speed and intention The CEO's four core responsibilities when leading a business Common mistakes that can make it harder to attract the right talent How company culture and the candidate experience influence talent decisions  Timestamps   01:09 Passive vs. active hiring and the importance of urgency  03:17 Comfort zone and trust in hiring decisions  05:18 Common failure modes in small business hiring  05:38 The importance of a compelling candidate experience  06:58 The CEO's four core responsibilities  07:58 Moving with intent and speed in hiring  09:06 Making your company appealing to candidates  09:38 The value of taking risks in hiring and learning from failure  10:31 How to be proactive when hiring  Additional Resources  A Lot of Businesses Are Going Offshore. A Lot of Them Are Doing It Wrong. Hiring Is Harder Than Ever, and That's Exactly Why You Can't Stop Why Great People Are Passing on Your Company Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.    More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    Stop hoping. Start building the team you need.

  7. Jul 7

    Why Great People Are Passing on Your Company

    Most businesses think marketing drives growth. Shawn Busse argues that it starts much earlier, with your culture. In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with the founder and CEO of Kinesis and author of Marketing From the Inside Out to discuss why brand and culture are inseparable, how a strong employer brand attracts better talent, and why mission, vision, and values should shape every hiring decision. If you're struggling to recruit great people or differentiate your business, this episode is your playbook.  Key Takeaways  Culture is a growth strategy: Companies with intentional cultures build stronger teams, happier customers, and more sustainable growth.  Clarity attracts the right people: Clearly communicating your mission and expectations helps great candidates opt in, and poor fits opt out.  Your employees are part of your brand: The experience your team has directly influences the experience your customers receive.  Purpose belongs in your hiring process: Job descriptions should sell your mission first and list technical skills second.  Episode Highlights  02:44 – Brand is your reputation: your brand isn't your logo, it's how customers, employees, and partners experience your business.   05:54 – Culture creates business growth: investing in mission, vision, and values produces a stronger ROI than increasing marketing spend.  07:03 – The hiring-to-customer cycle: hiring people who align with your purpose leads to happier customers and more referrals.  17:16 – Use AI to evaluate your employer brand.  21:34 – Why understanding your best employees is just as important as knowing your ideal customer.  23:12 – The first steps every business should take to build a culture that attracts and retains A-players are to have their mission, vision, and values clear.  About the Guest  Shawn Busse is the Founder and CEO of Kinesis, a growth studio that helps owner-led businesses build stronger brands through strategy, culture, and marketing. He's the author of Marketing From the Inside Out, a Certified Vistage Speaker, and has spent more than 25 years helping businesses grow by aligning their brand with their people.   Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn  Check out Kinesis  Your next read: Marketing From the Inside Out by Shawn Busse  Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit.  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    Why Great People Are Passing on Your Company

  8. Jun 30

    Consider this Your Wake Up Call (For Business Owners Only)

    Rob Levin argues that small and midsize business owners need to act now: get hands-on with AI, intentionally improve culture, and carve out time to think strategically. He points to a growing economy with inflation pressure, a setup he describes as "profitless prosperity", and says the owners who win will be the ones who adapt faster.  Key Takeaways  AI is no longer optional. Owners should take a course, experiment, and build with AI personally. Block 2 hours this week to learn one AI workflow that could free up your time and help your team deliver better service.  Culture determines who joins, stays, and leaves. Audit your culture, review Glassdoor/Indeed, then ask your top performers what is working and what is broken.  You need strategic time away from the noise to rethink products, vendors, customer behavior, and new capabilities. Schedule a weekly strategy block.  The businesses that move quickly will outperform the ones that keep waiting for conditions to improve. Identify one product, service, or process to improve, automate, or eliminate in the next 30 days.  Timestamps  01:06 — Wake-up call for business owners  02:44 — Why now: AI, growth, and inflation  04:09 — Dive into AI yourself as the owner  05:41 — Improve culture by design  07:12 — Protect time for strategy and next moves  08:15 — Final challenge: which group will you be in?  Additional Resources  ITR Economics on Profitless Prosperity  What Every Business Owner Should be Doing with AI Right Now The State of AI for Business Report  7 Culture Moves Behind a Fast-Growing Company Don't Have an Assistant? You are One Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free Action Kit  More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow  Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  Follow Rob Levin on Substack.  Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

    Consider this Your Wake Up Call (For Business Owners Only)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Strategies that drive business success through the power of exceptional talent. Hosted by serial entrepreneur Rob Levin, The New Talent Playbook podcast explores practical strategies to help leaders build stronger, more resilient businesses. With over 30 years of experience and a reputation as a top speaker on business and entrepreneurship, Rob shares impactful insights alongside industry experts to help you navigate challenges and optimize your talent strategy. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or talent professional, this show delivers actionable advice to unlock growth through exceptional talent.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Levin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 WorkBetterNow. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The New Talent Playbook Podcast