Expert Intelligence with Paul Estes

Mastering Career Chaos with Christopher Bishop

Christopher Bishop, a self-described "nonlinear multimodal careerist" who's navigated eight careers, joins Paul Estes to discuss his new book Improvising Careers: Succeed in Jobs That Don't Exist Yet (pre-order here). From touring rock musician opening for the Eagles to IBM executive to quantum technology expert, Christopher shares how to thrive in a world where the average person will have 8-10 jobs by age 38.
In this compelling conversation, Christopher reveals his "Future Career Toolkit" featuring practical tools for identifying your strengths and finding opportunities in emerging fields. Paul and Christopher explore how to leverage transferable skills, the importance of embracing technological chaos, and why you should apply for jobs even when you only have 60% of the listed requirements.
You'll Learn:
Why you should "chase the maelstrom" and seek out areas where business models are being transformed by new technologies
How Christopher transitioned from a professional musician to an IBM executive by recognizing transferable skills
The "Future Career Toolkit" 
Why you should apply for jobs even if you don't have all the requirements, especially in bleeding-edge tech
How to develop a workplace "persona" that helps you succeed in new environments
Why the upcoming AI agent revolution represents opportunities rather than threats
Practical strategies for connecting with industry leaders to find career opportunities
Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations.

AI Literacy Starts with Play, Not Automation with Adam Hofmann

Adam Hofmann, leader of Elixirr's generative AI practice, joins Paul Estes to share insights on moving organizations from AI curiosity to implementation. Drawing from his journey from entrepreneur to AI strategy consultant, Adam reveals how shifting from technical experimentation to cultural engagement is key to successful AI adoption. Paul and Adam discuss the phenomenon of "present bias"—how our experiences with today's AI tools can limit our ability to envision their future potential.
From boardroom directives to CFO-led initiatives, this episode examines who's driving AI adoption and how companies can build momentum through targeted proof-of-concepts. Whether you're struggling with organizational alignment or looking for practical ways to start implementing AI, Adam's focus on playful experimentation offers a refreshing perspective on building AI literacy across your company.
You'll Learn:
How "present bias" limits our ability to see AI's exponential growth potential
Why CFOs and finance leaders are often surprising champions of AI adoption
The importance of identifying high-ROI use cases before diving into implementation
How to avoid the "internal cluster" problem when assigning AI ownership
Why making AI accessible and fun is crucial for organizational adoption
Simple ways to start building AI literacy by replacing everyday tasks
Creative approaches to AI experimentation, including Adam's music creation story
In This Episode:
Microsoft Copilot & Copilot Studio
Riffusion
ChatGPT
Claude
Azure AI Foundry
Service Now
Bolt.new
Cursor
Replit
 

The Case Against Rushing AI in School with Pip Sanderson

Pip Sanderson, from the National Institute of Teaching in England, brings a refreshingly balanced perspective from the front lines of AI and education. While many edtech enthusiasts rush to implement AI solutions, Pip challenges us to consider what's at stake in our pursuit of technological efficiency and how we might preserve the human essence of learning. In this thought-provoking conversation, Pip and Paul explore the real impacts of AI on students' cognitive development and the importance of preserving struggle in the learning process.
From the ethical considerations of AI-powered teaching tools to the critical importance of metacognitive skills, this episode offers a nuanced look at technology's role in education. Pip shares insights from recent research suggesting that while AI tools may improve short-term understanding, they potentially limit the development of higher-order thinking skills essential for long-term success. Parents and educators alike will find valuable guidance on navigating today's technology landscape with children's best interests at heart.
You'll Learn:
Why the push for "efficient learning" through AI might be undermining crucial cognitive development
How research shows AI tools may improve short-term understanding but limit higher-order thinking skills
The importance of preserving "desirable difficulty" and struggle in the learning process
Why boredom plays a crucial role in child development that technology often eliminates
How to evaluate the real benefits versus potential harms of AI in educational settings
The danger of schools adopting AI solutions without sufficient understanding of the technology
Practical advice for parents navigating technology decisions with their children
Mentioned in This Episode:
Cognitive Resonance
Books by Bernie Neville
"ChatGPT impacts student engagement from a systematic review and meta-analysis study" by Yuk Mui Elly Heung and Thomas K.F. Chiu
Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Zero-Admin Recruiting with Marcus Sawyerr

Marcus Sawyer, EQ app CEO and former Adecco Group X president, is building the AI recruiting revolution he predicted five years ago. In this eye-opening conversation with Paul Estes, Marcus reveals how AI is transforming hiring and Paul shares an experiment where AI ranked his friend's "best" resume dead last. If you're job hunting in 2025, you need these insider tips on getting past AI gatekeepers to land your dream role. From Marcus's "Zero Admin Revolution" mission to his practical OTT framework for implementing AI agents, learn how AI is transforming recruiting while keeping human relationships at the core of the recruiting process.You'll Learn:
How AI analyzes resumes differently than humans—and what this means for your job search
Why the "Zero Admin Revolution" is transforming recruiting (and how to benefit)
The simple "OTT" framework for understanding and implementing AI agents
Why finding the hiring manager is more crucial than ever in an AI-filtered world
How to distinguish between companies truly solving problems with AI versus those just chasing the next shiny tech tool
The critical first steps anyone can take today to get started with AI (hint: it begins with play!)
Marcus's powerful “10 Ps" planning framework for implementing AI effectively
Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.Producer: David GrabowskiTheme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

The Future of Creative Work in an AI-Powered World with Mark Heaps

Mark Heaps went from cutting out photos by hand to shaping AI’s future at Groq—and trust us, he’s got receipts. In this no-filter conversation with Paul Estes, Heaps drops the ultimate truth bomb: AI won’t replace humans, but humans who master AI will replace those who don’t. After a nail-biting story involving his son, a lionfish sting, and an LLM that saved the day, you’ll understand why this creative-turned-tech-exec is convinced we’re just scratching the surface of AI’s potential.
 
From building basketball team apps on the fly to transforming how we experience NBA games, Heaps breaks down the real-world applications revolutionizing how we live and work. He’s seen creative professionals move from eye-rolling dismissal to existential dread to genuine curiosity—all in 18 months. Get ready for a masterclass in why critical thinking will never go out of style, how latency issues are the real innovation bottleneck, and why your kids should be more worried about developing unique opinions than memorizing facts.
 
Connect with Mark on X and Instagram @lifebypixels
 
You’ll Learn:
How the “labor” parts of creative jobs are vanishing (and why that’s not terrible news)
The reason creative professionals have shifted from fear to fascination with AI
Why your R2-D2 and C-3PO moment is coming—and how to be Luke Skywalker in the scenario
The critical skills to future-proof yourself when AI can do almost everything else
How agentic workflows are creating thousand-bot debates that deliver better answers
What parents should tell their kids about navigating an AI-dominated future
Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don’t miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.
 
Producer: David GrabowskiTheme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Collaboration in an Outcome-Based World: Insights from Tim Sanders

Collaboration is essential for the success of all businesses. Companies are more likely to succeed with a collaborative culture; therefore, business owners need to collaborate with talent to grow their company and preserve their resources. Gig models are a great way for businesses to work with freelancers and contractors without the hassle of finding and managing employees. They are also more cost-effective in the long run. Join this conversation with Tim Sanders and learn more about the future of an outcome-based world where entrepreneurs will only hire on demand. Learn more about the importance and types of collaboration. 
As a former Yahoo chief solutions officer and best-selling author, Tim Sanders is one of the top-rated leadership keynote speakers on the lecture circuit. His keynotes at conferences and corporate meetings offer actionable insights into leadership development, sales, collaboration, and corporate culture. He’s passionate about motivating audiences to move to action. Tim’s mission is twofold: lead professionals to deepen all their relationships through the generosity and expand their collaborative webs to solve their toughest challenges.
 
Tune in!
What You Will Learn:
[00:01] Quick bio of today’s guest, Tim Sanders
[01:06] What inspired Tim to write his book, Love is the Killer App
[05:50] Correlation between what you study and your income
[07:02] Common talk that Tim has heard from people off stage
[07:58] Why human service will be obsolete by 2050
[10:07] The one problem companies can solve through gig platforms
[13:42] Importance and types of collaboration in a company 
[16:08] Distributed collaboration
[18:49] Tim’s takeaway on collaboration
[21:37] Disruptive collaboration
[25:16] Protect and nurture your ideas
[28:38] The power of curiosity
[30:57] Damn collaboration
[33:22] The future of outcome-based world
[35:14] Working with a freelancer
 
Standout Quotes:
“Be a student, and when you learn something, become a teacher.” - Tim Sanders [02:43]
“There’s always a correlation between what you read and your income.”-Tim Sanders [05:50]
 “If you study Tony Robbins and what turned his life around, it was one year in an apartment in San Diego, where he literally read 500 books. If you study Mark Cuban’s life, his turnaround was two years when he read about 80 books a year to master his space.”- Tim Sanders [05:58]
“Millenials don’t think or care about talent. They care about delivering work.”- Tim Sanders [07:29]
“Gig economy is the future of doing business. For digital natives, that could be the only way to get the services you are looking for.”-Host [11:56]
“All innovations come from four distinct personalities.”-Tim [18:04]
“Big ideas show up as ugly babies, and it’s your job as a leader to protect them so that they eventually get cute.”-Tim [25:38]
“If you approach everything from curiosity… then you start to learn.”-Host [28:38]
Resources Mentioned
Tim’s Book, Love is the Killer App: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Killer-App-Business-Influence/dp/1400046831.
Rework by Jason Fried:  https://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012
Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World by Marco Iansiti: https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Age-AI-Leadership-Algorithms/dp/1633697622/.
 
Stay Connected
Tim Sanders
Website: https://timsanders.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanderssays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandersSays/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gonzobiz/featured

Gigging the Gap: Navigating the Future of Workforce Shortages with Jason Radisson

Gigging the Gap: Navigating the Future of Workforce Shortages with Jason Radisson"
The gig economy, also known as the on-demand or freelance economy, is a rapidly growing sector of the global workforce. It is an economy that allows people to work independently in short-term, freelance jobs instead of traditional long-term employment. The gig economy is now seen as an effective solution to the global shortage of skilled front-line workers. By taking advantage of this new way of working, companies can access a larger pool of talented individuals willing to take on short-term projects or assignments, helping businesses fill their staffing gaps quickly and easily without going through the traditional hiring process.
 
Join this conversation with Jason Radisson as we discuss the advantages of using a gig economy in solving global workforce shortages and how it can benefit employers and employees. Jason Radisson is a serial unicorn breeder. His latest venture is Shift One, where he is the Founder & CEO, a platform that is helping solve the global shortage of skilled front-line workers, with more than 300,000 users, from nurses to solar technicians. Jason learned startup skills early in life.
 
Jason was born to a 16-year-old single mom and worked blue-collar jobs from short order cook to HVAC technician to fund school and climb out of poverty. From that inauspicious start, he went on to Harvard, a Fulbright Scholarship, and McKinsey & Company. Since becoming an entrepreneur, Jason has worked with more than a dozen first-tier VCs, firms like Softbank, Accel, DST, Andreessen Horowitz, Monashees, and Sequoia. Together he and his teams have built and scaled multiple tech unicorns, platforms that today provide work and improved living standards to millions of workers from Bogota to Boston.
 
Tune in!
What You Will Learn:
[00:34] Backstory of Jason Radisson
[02:24] How the gig economy will affect every industry
[03:24] Jason’s journey to technology and work
[06:55] His first experiences with doing work with automation
[11:43] How to balance the strengths and weaknesses of the gig economy
[15:20] What motivated Jason to become a founder
[17:19] Why Jason decided to operate his company in stealth mode
[18:40] The greatest challenge he has faced with customers
[21:38] What’s the future of Shift One company
[23:59] How Shift One helps in reshaping the old way of staffing
[27:19] Bringing a new ethical approach to blue-collar work
[29:39] Episode wrap-up and calls to action
 
Standout Quotes:
“Almost any job can be broken into smaller jobs that can be done on-demand.” - Jason [02:30]
“When people talk about the gig economy, there are two sides of the coin. Some people believe that it provides a good opportunity, while others believe that it takes advantage of workers.”-Host [11:08]
“There’s a problem with traditional staffing that technology and a new way of thinking can help solve.”- Host [23:37]
“One of the greatest challenges to navigate when outsourcing is to determine the fair price for the labor.”- Jason [28:10]
“A lot of people don’t understand that work is a choice in the gig economy.’-Host [28:48]
Stay Connected
Jason Radisson
Website: https://www.shiftone.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jasonradisson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Direct Acess- Removing the Middleman

The Future of Hiring: How SkillGigs is Revolutionizing Staffing with Brad Hill
The traditional brick-and-mortar staffing agencies have inefficient and biased ways of connecting employers with talent. Online platforms are beginning to disrupt this gig economy industry by providing a more efficient way to find the right people for the job. In this conversation, we are joined by Brad Hill from SkillGigs to talk more about their approach to effectively matching employers with the right talent for a job. Skillgigs is a technology that simplifies hiring and alleviates staffing shortages by placing talent quicker. With SkillGigs, there are no middlemen between employers and the people with the required talent. This ensures employers get the perfect fit.
 
Brad Hill serves as the SkillGigs’ division president of IT and digital, providing strategic and operating oversite for the company’s technology business. Over a 25-year career, Brad acquired global experience in design, construction, and execution in business development, executive leadership, operations, general management, and strategic consulting within the IT solutions & IT staffing industry. 
 
Additionally,  Brad worked for the Allegis Group for 19 years, primarily in their TEKsystems division, where he was an instrumental member of the team that helped scale TEKsystems to over $700mm in revenue. He also served as senior vice president of the ManpowerGroup business, Experis, where he was responsible for over $300mm in revenue. Brad earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Southwest Baptist University.
 
Tune in!
What You Will Learn:
[00:18] Brad Hill’s backstory and how he got into the gig space
[01:50] Effectively connecting who has it and who deserves it
[03:31] The inefficiencies of most staffing agencies
[07:51] The talent journey
[09:08] Specific problem that Skillgigs exists to solve
[10:20] How long will it take someone to be approved to start working in Skillgigs
[13:13] Most common types of jobs Brandhill has witnessed in Skillgigs
[17:18] Gig economy platforms as the next step of eCommerce
[21:27] Why staffing agencies are disrupting themselves
 
Standout Quotes:
“We are living in a world where direct access to everything we need and consume is the norm.” - Brad [06:55]
“The gig economy platforms are the next step of eCommerce.”-Host [17:18]
 “Many online talent platforms have elements of converging the VMS world of 20 years ago.”- Brad [20:30]
“Digital talent is the most decentralized form of work. You can work from anywhere and on your terms and at your pace.”- Brad [23:52]
“Platforms such as Skillgigs is the next 20-year disruptor.”-Brad [27:04]
Stay Connected
The Skillgigs Platform
Website: https://skillgigs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillgigs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skillgigsonline/

The Future of Work: Navigating the Pivot with Heather McGowan

The Future of Work: Navigating the Pivot with Heather McGowan
The times of relying on outdated methods of working your way up the corporate ladder are ending, ushering in a new era of work that requires leaders to prepare their people and organizations for unprecedented changes. The gig economy is rising, with independent contractors filling labor shortages and creating opportunities for more flexible working arrangements. Automation and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we work, shifting the balance of power between employers and employees. To stay competitive in this changing landscape, leaders must develop strategies to attract and retain talent while also leveraging technology to drive innovation. 
 
In this episode with Heather McGowan, we talk about everything you need to know about the future of work and how you can be better prepared for the pivot. McGowan is an author, advisor, and keynote speaker. She speaks at more than 75 events per year to companies from finance to consumer products to education to government agencies to media organizations—virtually every industry sector that engages humans. McGowan holds an undergraduate degree in industrial design from Rhode Island School of Design, an MBA from Babson College, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
 
Listen in to learn why McGowan believes that in the Third Industrial Revolution, we learned (once) in order to work, and now, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will work in order to learn (continuously).
Tune in
What You Will Learn:
[00:01] Quick bio of today’s guest; Heather McGowan
[00:56] How our default factory settings of work have changed
[01:43] How people have reacted to taking the leap of changing their life
[03:01] How companies have pivoted to this shift
[04:30] What leaders need to do about their independent workers in their workforce
[05:31] Causes of the massive shortage in the labor force
[07:43] How leaders are reluctant to adapt to changes in the labor market
[10:38] Creating a work environment that Gen Z wants to work
[12:16] Data on the prevalence of diversity and the gig economy
[14:15] The framework of leadership around mindset
[17:15] The “we culture.”
[19:04] What is job scouting, and how it affects your purpose in a career
[21:43] The human behavior that needs to change in leadership
[22:47] Quiet quitting
[24:34] What Heather has witnessed as a common issue among people in the post-pandemic era
[25:30] Episode wrap-up and calls to action
 
Standout Quotes:
 “It takes about sixty days for a habit to form.”- Heather [00:57]
“Anything that has changed is a result of someone taking a risk.”- Host [07:23]
“Companies should only be formed around solving a specific need.’-Heather [10:40]
“In a skills-based economy, the human potential is the king!” - Host [23:31]
“Quiet quitting in the labor market is when somebody decides that they are no longer going to focus on a job, but their family and mental health.”-Heather [23:40]
Resources Mentioned
The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy by David Gelles: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Broke-Capitalism-America_and/dp/198217644X
 
Heather’s Book: The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast, and Thrive in the Future of Work: https://www.amazon.com/Adaptation-Advantage-Learn-Thrive-Future/dp/1119653096
Stay Connected
Heather McGowan
Website: https://heathermcgowan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermcgowan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heathermcgowan

The Gig Economy: Why it’s Faster, Cheaper, and Better with Rob Beiderman

The Gig Economy: Why it's Faster, Cheaper, and Better with Rob Beiderman
The gig economy is not just about freelancing. It can be used for any contract work that requires talent. It also applies to organizations that want to outsource their work to save on costs but want to retain control over their brand and culture. The gig economy helps companies save on labor costs and acquire talent at scale by tapping into a global marketplace free from geographical restrictions or regulations. Join this conversation with Rob Beiderman and learn why companies need to pivot from a traditional talent network to a digital one which is faster, cheaper, and better.
 
Rob Biederman is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and former co-CEO of Catalant Technologies, the market leader enabling companies to get from strategy to execution faster. Biederman is also co-author of Reimagining Work: Strategies to Disrupt Talent, Lead Change, and Win with a Flexible Workforce, which lays out a vision and path for a new relationship between global companies and talent. More than 30 percent of the Fortune 100 use Catalant’s platform to frictionlessly access and deploy talent, ranging from employees to over 70,000 elite independent consultants and 1,000 boutique firms in Catalant’s Expert Marketplace.
 
Tune in!
What You Will Learn:
[00:01] Meet Rob Beiderman
[00:35] A bit about Catalant
[02:09] Rob’s pivotal moment in becoming a founder
[03:43] The world of remote working in 2013
[05:53] The time Rob saw the magic of the Catalant gig model
[07:43] What has been hindering Catalant from being a 4-billion dollar company
[09:05] Why Catalant has pivoted from a traditional talent network to a digital one 
[11:15] Current areas of interest for investors that Rob has witnessed
[13:24] A bit about Halo
[15:04] A brief case study where a Halo scientist engaged with a client
[18:11] What’s the future of Uber
[21:15] Different markets where the gig economy model can be applied
 
 
Standout Quotes:
“Every founder once had a pivotal moment where they decided never to follow a certain road of entrepreneurship.” - Host [01:55]
“With the gig model, you get work done better, faster and cheaper.”-Rob [07:49]
 “In the gig model where you put an idea out to everyone, you will always get surprised at what you get back in return .”- Host [17:16]
Resources Mentioned
Connect with a global network of scientists from universities and startups actively looking to partner with the industry: https://www.halo.science/
Stay Connected
Rob Beiderman
Website: https://gocatalant.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdukebiederman/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BiedermanRob