In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Luis Garcia, President and Co-Founder of PETE, an Orlando-based HR tech startup, about how personalized, scalable training solutions – covering everything from onboarding to compliance and technical upskilling – are not just helpful, but essential for long-term success.
Luis is an experienced international executive with 25+ years in technology, digital media, and education. He is also the co-founder of Collectiva, offering fractional executive services to game tech startups, helping them scale and prepare for fundraising. Previously, at Full Sail University, he led the growth of technology and gaming programs, increasing student enrollment by 130% and boosting revenues from $40MM to $60MM. He also played a key role in launching Full Sail’s online university, growing its student base from 13 to 12,000, generating $180MM in revenue.
Luis Garcia
PETE (Personalized Education, Training and Enrichment) is an innovative AI-powered learning platform that is transforming workforce training.
The platform enables companies to streamline knowledge management by creating customized virtual academies. With PETE, businesses can develop, host, and manage tailored courses without the need for a dedicated training department.
From personalized onboarding to sales and compliance training, PETE’s adaptive technology ensures each employee receives the most relevant content based on their role and experience, maximizing the impact of their learning.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Luis and Ben talked about:
Expanding internationally presents businesses with significant challenges, especially when it comes to hiring and managing teams across borders while remaining compliant with local laws and regulations. Companies are increasingly seeking solutions that simplify these complexities and support seamless global operations.
Dee Coakley
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Dee Coakley, CEO and Co-Founder of Boundless, a platform providing Employer of Record (EOR) services, about helping businesses expand globally without the need for local infrastructure, enabling them to seamlessly hire talent in over 30 countries.
Dee has an impressive background, having served as COO for three scaling, venture capital-funded startups: Masabi in London, Bizimply in Dublin, and Axonista, which has locations in both Dublin and New York. She is also the founder of two consultancy firms, Solas Consult and Lucid, where she advises early-stage and scale-up tech companies. Additionally, Dee acts as an advisor to various tech-focused organizations and mentors programs that support tech startups.
Boundless is a world-class Employer of Record (EOR) that supports global teams with exceptional expertise and customer service. By simplifying international employment, Boundless ensures robust compliance and seamless HR operations for businesses of all sizes. The company combines an intuitive employment platform with deep local market knowledge to effectively manage compliance and HR processes. Fully owning the corporate and employment infrastructure in the countries where it operates, Boundless guarantees consistent and compliant employee contracts along with 100% accurate payroll processing each month.
While technology firms make up about 30% of its client base, Boundless serves a diverse range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, and digital marketing. These companies often face challenges such as sourcing the right talent domestically and supporting relocating employees. By handling employee payroll, taxes, benefits, contracts, and onboarding, Boundless empowers businesses to expand their remote teams effortlessly, allowing clients to focus on their core operations while remaining compliant with local employment regulations. With its commitment to providing a reliable solution for global employment, Boundless enables companies to confidently manage their international workforce and thrive in the global market.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Dee and Ben talked about:
Luca Lotterio was a psychology student who gained diverse experience working in the restaurant industry while studying. He began his career in Edinburgh before relocating to Tenerife and later Romania. Luca has worked in various roles in the restaurant industry, including in the kitchen, on the floor, and in management. He has also spent time working in different seasons in the mountains and on the seaside, gaining a wide range of experience in the food and beverage industry.
The discrepancies observed in the hospitality industry and the inefficiency of traditional hiring methods that fail to bring in the right candidates were the triggers for Luca to co-found a business.
Restworld aims to enhance the matching of job demand and supply in the hospitality sector by addressing high worker turnover rates and improving working conditions for industry professionals.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Luca and Ben talked about:
Good4work is a total talent recognition software with a mission to harness the power of Web 3 to increase team and employee engagement by recognizing and rewarding talent for individuals and teams.
It complements traditional talent management tools with an inspiring approach for teams.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Geraldine and Ben talk about:
In a recent episode of the A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Keith Goode, Vice President of Products and Services at ZeroedIn Technologies, an innovative technology company specialized in people analytics, about elevating the voice of HR and monetize change through next-generation people analytics.
Keith Goode
ZeroedIn specializes in extracting, compiling, and managing data to help organizations tackle their people management challenges.
As a leader in the people analytics space, ZeroedIn is dedicated to breaking down silos and providing a platform that aggregates and analyzes data seamlessly, delivering valuable insights for strategic decision-making.
ZeroedIn also offers a range of resources, including white papers, expert articles, and e-books to help you gain a deeper understanding of the power of HR analytics and how it can transform your organization’s performance.
Keith boasts over a decade of experience as the Vice President of Client Services, steering the implementation and support strategies for the ZeroedIn platform.
Keith’s extensive background includes management consulting and corporate positions at esteemed organizations like General Dynamics, AON Hewitt, and Saba. Armed with over 20 years of expertise in human capital management and business intelligence solutions, Keith is passionate about leveraging technology-led approaches such as Data Mining, Collective Listening, Machine Learning, and Predictive Modeling. He thrives on deploying these innovative techniques within a platform that directly addresses real-world HR and business challenges.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Keith and Ben talk about:
In a recent episode of the A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Rahul Arora, CEO of Intervue.io about the challenges companies face in sifting through hundreds of applicants and how Intervue.io’s on-demand interviews platform is helping to accelerate the hiring process, saving both time and resources.
Rahul Arora
But that’s not all – find out about Rahul’s experience on Shark Tank India, where he secured the highest investment offer in the show’s history, and his plans for expanding Intervue.io into the US market.
Rahul Arora, Co-Founder & CEO of Intervue.io since January 2021, brings a wealth of experience to the tech industry.
Intervue.io is a revolutionary platform transforming the recruitment landscape and enabling organizations to optimize engineering bandwidth through outsourced candidate evaluations.
Companies confidently delegate their tech interviews to Intervue.io, where skilled engineers from distinguished companies conduct assessments and provide insightful recommendations.
With asynchronous interviews, the platform shortens the recruiting cycle from 30 days to approximately 5 days, achieving an impressive recommendation-to-hire ratio of up to 90%.
Intervue.io supports interviews in over 45 major languages. The platform offers comprehensive features such as audio/video calling, a robust question bank, auto-recording/playback, and collaborative take-home assignments, ensuring a seamless and efficient interview experience.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Rahul and Ben talk about:
In the most recent episode of A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Michelle O’Keeffe, Co-Founder of Platform55, an innovative HR tech company supporting working parents and managers in navigating family-related issues in the workplace.
Michelle O’Keeffe
Michelle’s journey in the corporate world is marked by her dedication to addressing the challenges faced by working parents. As the Co-Founder of Platform55 since June 2021, Michelle has spearheaded the development of a cost-effective solution that streamlines HR processes, supports employees, and aligns with critical agendas such as gender pay gap reporting, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.
Prior to Platform55, Michelle co-founded the Parenting Institute, now integrated into Platform55, with the mission of supporting working parents and advocating for senior management positions for working Moms and Dads. This passion for work-life balance and inclusivity is evident in Michelle’s commitment to her vision.
Michelle is not just a co-founder; she is a multifaceted professional with over 15 years of experience as a Lecturer, Guest Speaker, Start-Up Mentor, and Business Advisor. Her journey includes a significant role as the Managing Director at Electric Media | Irish Times Group, where she received the IAPI ‘Judges Special Recognition Award’ for her outstanding achievements in the media sector.
Michelle’s entrepreneurial spirit is highlighted by her role as the Founder and Managing Director of Travel Affiliate, where she introduced groundbreaking digital technology for the travel industry. She also played a pivotal role in launching Media Brokers, Ireland’s first programmatic network, during her tenure at Electric Media.
Platform55 was founded by Michelle O’Keeffe and Tracy Gunn, both of whom were balancing senior leadership positions while raising young families. Drawing from their first-hand experience of the demands of balancing family life with their careers, they recognized the need to support parents in the workplace. Their mission is clear: to ensure that individuals can have a fulfilling family life and career.
Recognizing the significant costs incurred by companies in recruitment, attrition, litigation, and support services related to family policies, Michelle and her team have crafted a self-serve platform. This platform grants employees 24/7 access to resources and offers expert support through live workshops and coaching on various topics relevant to working parents, managers, and HR professionals. With Platform55, companies can provide timely support without exhausting HR resources.
Platform55 collaborates with a diverse range of clients who share a common goal – to transform their companies into better places for parents and families. Recognizing that every organization is unique, Platform55 understands that they are at different starting points in creating family-friendly workplaces. That’s why the company offers a variety of solutions tailored to meet specific needs and budgets.
Are you looking to enhance your HR consulting or HR-related business? Here is an opportunity for you to partner with Harrison Assessments International, a global leader in psychometric assessments.
In the most recent episode of A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Vessy Tasheva, CEO of Vessy.com, a global DEIB and Mental Health consultancy, about the concept of person-market fit and its impact on the evolution of an HR business.
Vessy Tasheva is a prominent figure in the field of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B). As the founder of Vessy.com, her consultancy engages with clients worldwide, particularly focusing on fast-growing tech companies in FinTech, gaming, cybersecurity, and eCommerce, primarily those 2-4 years pre-IPO.
Vessy Tasheva
Vessy has garnered recognition for her impactful work, receiving accolades such as being featured in the Top 30 Diversity & Inclusion Leaders You Must Follow in 2022 by LeadersHum. In 2021, her company was listed in the Top 10 of Emerging Diversity & Inclusion Companies in Europe by Manage HR Magazine and she was personally recognized as one of the Top 50 D&I Influencers globally by Onalytica. Her influence extends to 2020, when she was named one of the UK’s most influential D&I leaders by Hive Learning, and 2019, recognized as one of the most influential D&I Leaders globally.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Vessy is an angel investor in digital health and mental health. She actively contributes to societal change as an Advisory Board Member of Deystvie, an organization dedicated to impacting the lives of LGBTI people in Bulgaria, and serves as a Diversity & Inclusion Board Member of Positive Luxury, working towards a sustainable future for the luxury industry.
In November 2022, Vessy launched a video course on Inclusive Leadership on the SocialTalent learning platform, achieving the remarkable feat of ranking #2 in the Most Watched courses with an impressive NPS of 87. Prior to her entrepreneurial venture, Vessy accumulated 11 years of experience, notably serving as the Chief Strategy Officer of a talent tech startup and holding various roles across product, marketing, and culture in companies ranging from 4 to 800 employees.
In this episode, Vessy shared her insights on the importance of aligning personal purpose with your business’s market fit. She discussed how her journey from launching the business to its evolution over the years centered on understanding the human element within the diversity, inclusion, and belonging space. Her exploration led her to focus on developing trust-driven inclusive leadership, self-trust, and interpersonal trust, eventually incorporating psychoanalytic principles to foster a healthier workplace environment.
Moreover, Vessy’s unconventional approaches to marketing and the expansion of her business were equally enlightening. From prioritizing community building, thought leadership, and producing detailed reports to venturing into complementary side projects and promising angel investment, Vessy exemplifies the significance of aligning personal strengths and passions with business strategies.
Vessy also shared valuable advice, emphasizing the importance of active listening and authentic conversations in tailoring your HR business to your market and personal strengths. They shed light on how to obtain genuine feedback without falling into the “mom test” trap and recognizing the crucial timing for innovation and adaptation within the constantly evolving landscape.
Today we’re joined on the show by Jasper Ettema from JET Growth to talk about how to pitch your HR Tech company (or consulting firm).
Entrepreneur born in the Netherlands, living in Austria, active around the globe, Jasper has been involved in hundreds, if not thousands, of business plans & pitch decks processed.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Jasper and Ben talked about:
Different types of pitches and how to adjust your pitch for each situation.
Kalina and her team recognized the challenges faced by companies when it comes to training employees effectively and engagingly. Unlike traditional methods that rely on lengthy presentations or documentation, Coach Microlearning takes a different approach. The platform leverages the power of microlearning, presenting information through content-based learning games.
The beauty of Coach Microlearning lies in its simplicity and personalization. Employees utilize a mobile app that prompts them with questions based on their specific learning needs. They earn points for correct answers and receive immediate feedback on incorrect responses. This gamified approach not only increases engagement but also allows employees to learn at their own pace.
The platform goes a step further by leveraging advanced technology to detect knowledge gaps and deliver targeted learning materials to fill those gaps. It’s a personalized learning experience without the need for L&D professionals to manually create learning paths.
The impact of Coach Microlearning extends beyond mere knowledge acquisition. The platform is designed to enhance employee performance and contribute to key business outcomes. Whether it’s boosting sales, reducing workplace accidents, or improving overall productivity, Coach Microlearning aligns training with organizational goals.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Kalina and I talked about:
I was delighted to be joined on the A Better HR Business show by Pete Schramm, CEO and Founder of Lattitude, a human connection platform for cultivating engagement through conversations.
I was delighted to be joined on the A Better HR Business show by Vicknesh Ramachandran, CEO and Co-Founder at Labourly™, an HR software platform that streamlines candidate certification management and speeds up the placement of candidates by automating the recruitment workflows.
Vicknesh Ramachandran
Vicknesh believes that service and relationship building are the most important criteria for success.
In the realm of IT, Vicknesh holds the experience and expertise to handle various needs, ranging from website portal design and hosting to groundbreaking app development. With nearly 20 years of proven technical and management proficiency, he is a cutting-edge information technology solutions and network specialist. Vicknesh has earned the trust of numerous clients, including the Windsor Allergy and Asthma Education Centre, the Town of Kingsville, Odette School of Business (University of Windsor), Centre for Business Advancement and Research (CBAR, University of Windsor), and Connecting Windsor Essex.
Labourly™ is a recruitment management tool built specifically for Human Resource Departments and Staffing Agencies in the trades and skilled labor markets.
To address the problem of endless amounts of paperwork and phone calls checking certifications, all before even shortlisting a candidate, Labourly™ provides an innovative tool that automates the paperwork process by effectively tracking the certifications and licenses of each candidate.
Additionally, it utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that matches eligible candidates to relevant job openings.
I was delighted to be joined on the A Better HR Business show by Adam Botterill, Co-Founder and CEO of Equal Employer®, a software company aiming to reduce or remove bias in the hiring and promotion processes, through a human-guided approach.
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