Episodes

Victoria Williams: The Rise of Wake and Vape: A Cannabis Success Story My guest on #thePOZCAST is Victoria Williams, a trailblazer in the cannabis industry and a pioneer for women of color. As the first African American woman to carry a product in an Illinois dispensary, Victoria has broken barriers at every turn. From launching the Kaviar brand and leading the first predominantly Black-owned craft grow, to opening dispensaries and championing Responsible Vendor Training, her journey embodies resilience and dedication to quality. With a commitment to advancing the industry responsibly, Victoria is shaping the future of cannabis in Illinois and beyond. We will dig into Wake n Vape and so much more. Connect with Victoria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-williams-912636229/ Learn more: https://www.wakenvape.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/wakenvapevlp?igsh=ZTA1YnpnNGF5anlr&utm_source=qr #thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise …

We proudly share #thePOZcast interviews from Unleash 2025 in Las Vegas with guest host Rhona Pierce! Gena Smith is the Chief Human Resource Officer for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in North America. A highly experienced human resources executive, Gena ensures that LVMH is best in class at selecting, developing, and retaining senior executives and creative talent. During her tenure with LVMH, she has helped to further develop talent at all levels of the organization, including through attracting accomplished senior-level executives, instituting learning and development programs to prepare executives to meet business needs, and promoting mobility for high-performing executives across the LVMH brands. She led the first-ever Diversity & Inclusion initiative for LVMH, launching it across North America in 2012. Prior to joining LVMH in September 2011, Gena was Global Managing Director at Karen Harvey Consulting, where she led the luxury & retail executive recruitment practice wor…

We proudly share #thePOZcast interviews from Unleash 2025 in Las Vegas with guest host Rhona Pierce! Matt Lavery currently serves as the UPS Director of Global Sourcing, Recruiting, & Onboarding. In this role, Matt develops and executes the company’s strategic plans for talent acquisition and the systems that support them. Candidate experience is the primary driver behind every decision, with a focus on consistently meeting and exceeding expectations. With over 28 years at UPS, Matt has led transformative initiatives across sourcing automation, internal mobility, and the ethical use of AI in hiring. He is a frequent speaker on workforce strategy, hiring tech, and operational efficiency. Over the course of his career, he has overseen the recruitment of more than 200,000 individuals annually, supporting UPS’s global workforce at scale. Matt began as a seasonal package handler in 1991 and became an employment specialist in 1997. He has since served in various leadership roles acr…

We proudly share #thePOZcast interviews from Unleash 2025 in Las Vegas with guest host Rhona Pierce! Ben Eubanks is a speaker, author, and researcher living in Huntsville, AL. Ben is the Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Build a Successful Workforce. Ben is an expert speaker on the future of work as it relates to talent, technology, and innovation. His speaking has reached over a hundred thousand business leade...

My guest on episode 422 of #thePOZCAST is Steve White. He is the Head of Talent Acquisition at Sam's Clubs and previously, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at BECU, focusing on transformative leadership, fostering a culture of excellence, and building strong partnerships. With a career dedicated to transforming talent acquisition teams, Steve is passionate about leading with intention and ensuring teams are built to thrive now and in the future. His approach emphasizes the 3Rs: building relationships, delivering transformational results, and improving readiness to enhance the business. Steve brings valuable experience from his previous roles, notably at Lockheed Martin and FedEx, where he honed his leadership skills and commitment to excellence in talent acquisition. He also serves on various boards, contributing his expertise in leadership, culture, and people-first strategies to drive organizational success. Steve is dedicated to aligning talent acquisition with a clear vision a…

My guest on #thePOZCAST is Shawn Nelson, the author of Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story. He is the founder and CEO of the Lovesac Company, which designs, manufactures, and sells modular couches and bean bag chairs. I am excited to discuss his book and entrepreneurial journey. “Don’t waste 25 years learning the hard way—get Shawn D. Nelson’s playbook for success. Order your copy of Let Me Save You 25 Years today: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Save-You-Years/dp/B0CHNZ6VY5?tag=googhydr-20&source=dsa&hvcampaign=books&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmj Personal Website: https://shawndnelson.com/ Company Website: https://www.lovesac.com/ Connect with Shawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawndnelson/ Summary: In this episode of #thePOZcast, Adam Posner interviews Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, who shares his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned over 26 years. From the inception of Lovesack to navigatin…

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/cvg-ckBLK70 E400: Life, Laughs, and LEGOS: Oliver Posner's Take on Success In this very special episode of #thePOZcast, I’m joined by my 6½-year-old son, Oliver. What happens when a seasoned podcaster hands the mic to a first-grader? You get curiosity, honesty, belly laughs, and a refreshing reminder of what really matters. Together, we talk about school, Legos, Jujitsu, what makes a good friend, and what Oliver thinks grown-ups sometimes get wrong. It’s an unscripted, unfiltered conversation full of heart—and proof that wisdom can come from the most unexpected places. This one’s for parents, dreamers, and anyone who wants to see the world through a more playful lens.Thanks for hanging with Dad & Ollie! Summary In this engaging conversation, a father and son explore their shared love for Legos, discuss interests in baseball and school, delve into favorite books, and reflect on friendships and family dynamics. The son shares his aspirations for the future,…

My guest on E418 of #thePOZCAST is Darren Marble, a true innovator in the world of capital raising and fintech. He is the CEO of Issuance, a leading SaaS-based investment platform that has helped companies raise over $300 million in securities investments. With a streamlined, mobile-first experience, Issuance is revolutionizing online capital raising. But Darren’s impact doesn’t stop there. He’s also the Executive Producer of Going Public®. This groundbreaking original series puts the power of investing into the hands of viewers, allowing them to ‘Click-to-Invest’ in real-time. Season 3 is set to stream exclusively on 𝕏 in Spring 2025. A seasoned entrepreneur himself, Darren has raised $10 million for his own ventures. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, and the Los Angeles Business Journal. We’re diving into the future of online investing, what it really takes to raise capital, and how Darren is helping reshape the way companies …

LIVE from Transform 2025! Video: We are proud to share Adam Posner's panel, Future-Proofing Talent Acquisition: Elevating the Candidate Experience Featuring: Ariana Moon, VP, Talent Planning & Acquisition, Greenhouse Software Cori Faro, VP, Talent Acquisition, Okta Panel Description: In today’s competitive talent market, a strong candidate experience is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative. Every interaction, from the first touchpoint on your career site to onboarding and beyond, shapes how candidates perceive your company and influence their decision to join. This panel brings together TA leaders to explore how organizations can design an engaging, transparent, and inclusive candidate experience. Attendees will gain insights into strategies for personalizing the hiring process, reducing friction, and ensuring that every candidate—whether hired or not—walks away with a positive impression of the company. Key Takeaways: Best practices for delivering a seamless, …

LIVE from Transform 2025! Kyle Forrest is the Future of HR Leader at Deloitte Consulting, responsible for identifying emerging trends and developing research-backed insights that shape the evolving HR landscape. He advises organizations on the human-related aspects of major business events, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and business transformations. In addition to his client work, Kyle leads Deloitte’s Next Generation CHRO Academy, helping aspiring HR leaders build critical skills and peer networks. He holds an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a dual B.A. from Rice University. We dig into: - The current state of TA & HR Tech from his POV - How can companies adopt skills-based hiring and workforce development to close the experience-gap and build a stronger talent pipeline - Why redefining the manager’s role is key to employee development and business growth - How companies can rethink tech investments to enhance the employee experience in the A…

LIVE from Transform 2025! John Baldino is the President @ Humareso | Human Resources Strategy, Talent Management, HR Tech and more! He is on a mission is to equip people and empower organizations. We build it all through comprehensive consulting and HR solutions. Our team's dedication to organizational design, talent management, and employee engagement has solidified our reputation as industry leaders. Recognized with multiple prestigious HR awards, his approach intertwines strategic business growth with a passion for performance management and leadership development. The collective triumphs are a reflection of our team's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in human resources. We dig into the current state of TA & HR tech and so much more! Learn more about Humareso: https://humareso.com/ Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbaldinohr/ Live from Transform 2025, we’re bringing you an exclusive podcast series packed with insights from some of the brightes…

The Future of Work: Insights from Dr. Angela Jackson My guest on episode 419 of #thePOZCAST is Dr. Angela Jackson. She is a powerhouse in the future of work. As the founder of Future Forward Strategies, she helps leaders reshape organizations and build the human capital needed to stay competitive. A lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education, she also led the Future of Work Grand Challenge, an initiative to reskill 25,000 displaced workers into living-wage jobs. Dr. Jackson’s insights on workforce innovation have been featured on CNN, Harvard Business Review, and major conferences like TEDx and Techonomy. Get ready for a deep dive into the future of work!" Check out her book, THE WIN-WIN WORKPLACE: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Results [Berrett-Koehler: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Win-Workplace-Thriving-Employees-Bottom-Line/dp/B0D6V6B4TN Connect with Angela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angela-jackson/ Summary: In this episode of the POZcast, Adam Posner int…

LIVE from Transform 2025! Adria Ferrier is the founder of Elayne, an AI copilot for financial and estate management. Elayne's mission is to modernize estate planning and affairs settlements, making it more accessible, efficient, and integrated into daily life. She launched Elayne after experiencing firsthand the disjointed, frustrating challenges families face after loss, along with its impact on careers. After her mom passed away, she spent months navigating banks, insurance companies, lawyers, taxes, and doing countless administrative tasks—like canceling her mom’s subscriptions and deactivating her social media—each with its own complex, manual process. The burden, on top of the impact of losing her mother, took a toll on her performance at work. Ultimately, she resigned, a decision made by nearly 50% of employees within a year of a major loss. Adria started her career in corporate M&A before transitioning to private equity at Blackstone in NYC. She later earned her MBA from Whar…

LIVE from Transform 2025 in Las Vegas! Steve Hunt is focused on helping companies design and deploy technology-enabled processes to improve workforce adaptability, experience, and productivity. I believe that meaningful and fulfilling work is critical to human happiness. Creating high-quality work environments positively influences the lives of employees, their families, their managers, their customers, and their broader society. Better work environments create better world environments. In the 20+ years I've been doing this sort of work, I've had the fortune to play a role in the implementation of systems that have improved productivity and engagement of millions of employees working for hundreds of companies ranging from small start up organizations to the largest employers in the world. My experiences have also led to authoring hundreds of articles and presentations on topics related to strategic HR and workforce productivity as well as two books on HR process design and implemen…

LIVE from Transform 2025! AJ Thomas is Founder and CEO of The Troublemaker Lab, an experience lab for legendary founders and their teams, and Founder and General Partner at Good Trouble Ventures, a VC fund investing in the Future of Entertainment & Creativity and its Digital Transformation. With a non-traditional background spanning startups, venture growth, and Fortune 100 companies, AJ has been a driving force at Google X serving in former roles leading Global Talent Experience and People Products. Now at Troublemaker Lab, she's coaching extraordinary leaders making a lasting impact. As a respected executive, advisor, speaker, and executive coach, AJ challenges leaders to create meaningful change and is often sought after to speak and facilitate future-focused conversations about talent, teams, and the impact of AI in organizational cultures. We dig into: - The Intersection of Technology & Humanity - Investing in the Future of Entertainment & Creativity - Working on the Future WI…

My guest on E417 of #thePOZCAST is Bashak Ilhan. She is a master of brand strategy and business development. As the founder of ROAD, they help startups and established companies unlock their full potential—whether scaling globally or securing investment. With expertise in retail, e-commerce, tech, and service industries, their firm operates across Austin, South Florida, and Istanbul, bridging markets in the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe.  Armed with an MSc in Electronic Commerce from the University of Westminster and a Digital Business Strategy certification from MIT, Bashak specializes in transforming businesses into powerful, purpose-driven brands. Get ready for a deep dive into strategic growth and branding! Connect with Bashak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basakilhan/Learn more: https://www.roadbranding.com/bashakilhanhttps://www.roadbranding.com/ #thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables…

LIVE from Transform 2025 Las Vegas! Cori Faro is the VP of Talent Acquisition at Okta, where she leads a global team with over 17 years of experience in the recruiting industry. Under her leadership, Okta has strengthened its commitment to comprehensive hiring practices and innovative talent strategies. Cori is dedicated to enhancing the candidate experience and ensuring a strong employee value proposition in the global market. Her strategic vision has significantly contributed to Okta’s reputation as an employer of choice in the tech sector. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two daughters while living outside Denver. We dug into: - Employee Value Proposition - Driving high-performance culture and hiring manager enablement- ensuring we know how to evaluate talent through the whole employee lifecycle starting with interviewing and recruiter performance expectations. - Challenge as a leader - Future trends Connect with Cori: https://www.linkedin.c…

Laurie Ruittimann: The Future of Hiring – Live from Transform 2025 Laurie Ruettimann is a former HR leader turned writer, entrepreneur, and speaker. In 2009, CNN recognized her as one of America’s top career advisors and Forbes named her blog as one of the Top 100 blogs for women. Those two events propelled her into the spotlight of fixing the world of work. Laurie hosts the popular podcast Punk Rock HR. Her work and writing have been featured in Business Insider, The New Yorker, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Vox. Laurie is a sought-after keynote speaker at business and management events worldwide. She has graced the stages of business conferences like SXSW, academic institutions like Harvard Business School, and stages like 92stY. You can also catch her on CNN, Fox, and NPR. We dig into: 1. Challenging conventional workplace norms. 2. If you could change just one ingrained belief about HR or leadership overnight, what would it be and why? 3. Your book, Betting On You, en…

LIVE from Transform 2025 in Las Vegas! Mita Mallick is a change maker with a track record of transforming culture and business. She gives innovative, culturally resonant ideas a voice and serves customers and communities with purpose. She’s had an extensive career as a multicultural marketer in the beauty and consumer goods space, being a fierce advocate for including and representing Black and Brown communities. Her book, “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workspace” is...

Hugo Malan: Future Proofing Workforce Solutions This week's guest on #thePOZcast Hugo Malan is a true force in workforce solutions, with a career spanning engineering, finance, retail, and talent strategy. He’s led major transformations at Kelly Services, EmployBridge, CDI, and even Sears—yes, the toy and fitness divisions too! From Barclays and Lehman Brothers to McKinsey and Los Alamos National Labs, he’s tackled everything from high-stakes investments to cutting-edge tech. With a Ph.D. in engineering and a mind for analytics, he’s revolutionizing how businesses find and leverage top talent. Summary In this episode of the POZcast, Adam Posner interviews Hugo Malan, a seasoned expert in workforce solutions. They discuss Hugo's diverse background in engineering, finance, and talent strategy, and how it informs his approach to workforce management. The conversation delves into the intersection of technology and talent, the challenges of government efficiency, and the importance of e…

LIVE from Transform 2025! Angela most recently served as the Senior Vice President, Talent &; Chief Human Resources Officer for Harvard Business Publishing. In this role, Cheng-Cimini led the Human Resources and Facilities & Administration units, spearheaded efforts to develop a talent roadmap that supports the business strategy and created a deeply engaged and diverse workforce. She is now the fractional Head of HR for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the preeminent source for nonprofit professionals, committed to the advancement of the common good. Angela brings 30 years of both generalist and specialist Human Resources experience, having worked across consumer product goods, professional services, and high-tech as well as nonprofits. She has shepherded businesses through start-up, growth, and maturity with key responsibility for helping organizations identify and build the necessary organizational capabilities. Angela previous roles included the VP of HR at ClearMotion, Inc. an aut…

Live from Transform 2025! Sarah Reynolds (they/them) is a creative, award-winning marketing executive and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). A veteran of the HR software market, Sarah is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Hibob, where they bring their deep industry knowledge, passion for storytelling, and keen eye for performance insights to bear in scaling HiBob’s global reach. Prior to joining HiBob, Sarah was Chief Marketing Officer at Udacity, Head of Commercial Marketing at APTC, and Vice President of Marketing at Salary.com. An openly non-binary executive, Sarah writes and speaks widely about diversity and inclusion, pay equity, the future of work, and the intersection of bias, ethics, and technology. They have contributed to Forbes, Campaign US, Yahoo Finance, Training Industry Magazine, and the Society for Human Resources blog, and frequently speak at live and virtual events hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing…

Live from Transform 2025 in Las Vegas! I am excited to welcome Tubi's people leaders, Natasha Valani & Cristina Navarro. Natasha Valani serves as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Tubi Media Group at Fox Corporation. In her role, she oversees talent management, performance, recruitment, culture & belonging, as well as the overall employee experience. Since joining Fox, Natasha has significantly contributed to increasing the diversity pipeline within the Technology sector and acts as a sponsor for the Women in Tech employee resource group, aimed at advancing, empowering, and connecting women technologists. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles in talent management and development at several Fortune 500 companies, including Mastercard and Aon. At Mastercard, she was instrumental in transforming performance management, leadership development, and employee engagement efforts. Excellence Award in 2017 for introducing both innovation and purpose to the …

Mike Koenigs is a serial entrepreneur with five successful exits, a 19x bestselling author, and a dynamic speaker who has engaged audiences of thousands. Mike specializes in helping entrepreneurs create impactful, lifestyle-compatible businesses, guiding them in building high-ticket offers, refining messaging, and enhancing their personal brands. With a proven track record of working with major brands like Sony, AT&T, BMW, and 3M, Mike has become a go-to expert for recently exited founders launching their "Next Act" companies. As a pioneer in teaching AI, he has shared his insights on prestigious stages, including Tony Robbins' events, MIT, and EO conferences, inspiring audiences with innovative AI systems and strategies. Visit AiAccelerator.com to discover how to 10x your productivity, clone your top employees, and monetize your IP with AI. If you are a founder and entrepreneur who's exited their business and now driven by impact and legacy; if you want to reinvent, grow, or upgra…