John Federman: Harnessing Data for HR Success: LIVE from UNLEASH 2025
We proudly share #thePOZcast interviews from Unleash 2025 in Las Vegas with guest host Rhona Pierce!
John currently serves as the CEO of HireRoad, driving strategic initiatives and fostering growth with his extensive executive leadership experience. Prior to HireRoad, he held notable positions including Chief Corporate Development Officer at Salsify and CEO of JRNI, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s scheduling platform, which integrates customer engagement and omnichannel conversion strategies driven by deep analytics. Before his ventures in technology and e-commerce, John made impactful strides in the advertising industry.
As the CEO of AdSmart from August 1998 to August 2001, he pioneered the advertising network marketplace, achieving remarkable growth and ultimately facilitating the company’s acquisition by Engage for $437M. John’s visionary leadership and proven track record of leading SaaS companies across a multitude of industries position him to drive strategic growth and innovation at HireRoad.
Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfederman/
Learn more: https://hireroad.com/
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Summary:
In this episode, the conversation revolves around the evolving role of HR in mid-sized companies, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the impact of effective leadership. John Federman, CEO of Higher Road, shares insights on connecting buyers and sellers, the significance of team accountability, and the transformative power of analytics in HR. The discussion highlights the challenges mid-sized companies face in leveraging data and the need for HR professionals to adapt to a more strategic role within organizations.
Takeaways
- The job of a CEO is to make the team accountable.
- Connecting buyers and sellers is key to enabling success.
- Data-driven solutions are changing the HR landscape.
- Mid-sized companies can leverage analytics for better ROI.
- HR professionals are evolving to become data-savvy leaders.
- Data cleansing is essential for effective analytics.
- Understanding employee career aspirations is crucial for leadership.
- There are common truths in leadership across industries.
- Being a mentor is a significant aspect of leadership.
- HR must speak the same language as other business functions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:46 The Role of a CEO and Team Accountability
01:43 Connecting Buyers and Sellers Across Industries
03:05 The Impact of Data-Driven Solutions in HR Tech
06:26 Understanding ROI in Mid-Sized Companies
08:05 The Evolution of HR Professionals
11:51 Data Needs of Mid-Sized vs. Larger Companies
13:03 Taking Action Towards Data-Driven HR
16:03 Leadership Insights and Personal Reflections
