Secrets of Staffing Success

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Nicole Krensky to break down how AI is separating the leaders from the laggards in staffing and what firms must do now to stay competitive. About the Guest Nicole Krensky is Director of Product Marketing at Bullhorn, where she leads go-to-market strategy for Amplify, Automation, and Search & Match. With nearly a decade in tech marketing and deep exposure to AI adoption across staffing firms, Nicole works directly with companies navigating the shift toward AI-powered recruiting. Key Takeaways AI adoption is no longer optional—it’s operational. The pack is already separating. Automation amplifies recruiters; it doesn’t replace them. Database depth is a competitive weapon. Curiosity with action beats hesitation. Timestamps [00:39] – How AI is reshaping staffing firms [02:25] – The evolving role of the modern recruiter [05:12] – Leading AI adoption without team resistance [09:26] – Using AI to drive recruiting firm growth [12:10] – Why AI creates competitive advantage [13:11] – Best first step for AI in recruiting [16:10] – Eliminating the resume black hole with AI [18:30] – Improving candidate experience through automation [23:53] – Quick-win AI tools for recruiter productivity [28:35] – Increasing recruiter output with AI workflows [31:57] – Cleaning and leveraging your staffing database [35:44] – Advanced AI strategy for staffing leadership About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offering 50% off a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 Benefits in a Card helps staffing firms offer meaningful benefits to their entire workforce through flexible, unbundled plans designed for high-turnover environments—making it easier to control costs, improve retention, and stay competitive. https://www.BenefitsInACard.com TRICOM partners with staffing firms as an asset-based lender and full-service back-office provider, helping owners scale confidently by reducing risk and easing the operational strain of payroll, cash flow, and administration. https://www.tricom.com

ChatGPT, an AI-powered staffing analyst and strategist, breaks down talent markets, AI disruption, and survival tactics for firms. It explores specialization vs dilution. It covers data-driven advising, candidate experience, ethical AI safeguards, and how recruiters can shift from transaction work to strategic, consultative roles.

Paul Petersen, a fractional CHRO with 30+ years modernizing TA and HR tech, shares why the candidate black hole persists. He contrasts screening out versus screening in. He explains how tech should amplify recruiters, the value of transparent communication, building talent pools, and why relationships still beat 300-application ATS runs.

In this episode of InSights, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with David Searns, Co-CEO of Haley Marketing, to unpack why staffing firms must build a true growth engine—one that aligns marketing, sales, and buyer enablement to win in a more skeptical, competitive market. About the Guest David Searns is the Co-CEO of Haley Marketing and one of the most experienced voices in staffing industry marketing. With more than 25 years helping firms clarify differentiation and drive demand, David brings a deep, practical understanding of what actually fuels sustainable growth. Key Takeaways Marketing is a sales advantage, not a creative expense. Buyers decide long before sales ever gets the call. Differentiation starts with customer problems, not company features. Nurturing beats chasing when markets tighten. If you don’t define your aisle, you compete on price. Timestamps [02:20] Why staffing penetration is collapsing [04:55] Buyers are skeptical, busy, and informed [06:45] The danger of selling without buyer enablement [09:20] The six-layer growth engine framework [13:15] Why most differentiators don’t actually differentiate [17:10] Escaping the “staffing aisle” trap [19:00] How owners should pressure-test their messaging [23:40] Making sales drop-bys actually work [27:25] Why nurturing is the most ignored lever [31:30] Buyer enablement without giving away secrets [34:20] Why fewer employers are using temps [35:50] Learning how to learn in a changing market About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we’re offering 50% off a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by FoxHire. If you’re looking for an Employer of Record partner that helps recruiters confidently grow contract placements and build recurring revenue without taking on extra risk, FoxHire is perfect for you. Learn more at https://www.FoxHire.com/Haley  

Noah Yosif, Chief Economist and Head of Research at the American Staffing Association, breaks down 2026 labor market forces. He discusses AI’s task shifts and rising blue‑collar demand. He explains immigration’s hidden effects, policy influences on hiring, and why staffing should pivot to advisory and new revenue models.

In this episode of InSights, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with Brad Smith to unpack why selling staffing services is harder than ever—and how tightly integrated sales, marketing, and AI-driven buyer enablement are becoming the real competitive advantage heading into 2026. About the Guest Brad Smith is Chief Strategy Officer at Haley Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience helping staffing firms turn digital marketing, technology, and strategy into predictable growth. A Certified Inbound Marketing professional, Brad is a frequent industry speaker and contributor to leading staffing publications. Key Takeaways Selling got harder—but avoidance won’t fix it. Activity beats hope when markets tighten. Buyer education now happens before sales conversations. Specialization creates leverage in crowded markets. AI amplifies systems—it doesn’t replace them. Timestamps [01:10] – Why sales feels harder than ever [02:35] – The real reason leaders avoid quotas [04:45] – When inbound stopped being enough [05:10] – The shocking truth about 72 touches [07:00] – Why reps quit before momentum starts [09:15] – Turning marketing into sales leverage [10:45] – How buyers decide before calling you [12:40] – What buyer enablement actually includes [15:10] – A $1.1M lesson in control and scale [18:05] – Why marketing can’t fix broken sales [21:00] – Focus beats doing everything for everyone [26:20] – How AI shifts from advantage to necessity About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy30

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Ashley Andersen to reframe stress as a signal—not a setback—and explore how leaders can build mental strength, stay grounded in uncertainty, and keep showing up without burning out. About the Guest Ashley Andersen is the Founder & CEO of EzraSage, where she helps high-performing professionals and leadership teams build the mental strength to handle stress and pressure without burning out. With a clinical background in social work and psychology and experience as a certified executive coach and Dare to Lead™ facilitator, Ashley has worked with organizations ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Key Takeaways Stress is a signal, not a failure. Awareness comes before intention. Pause creates power. Purpose buffers pressure. Progress requires showing up. Timestamps [00:02] – Redefining stress beyond “good” and “bad” [02:10] – Why the brain defaults to danger mode [06:24] – The caveman brain at work meetings [08:04] – The invisible guest mindset shift [09:32] – Stop taking reactions personally [12:13] – The power of the pause [14:07] – Building accountability into team culture [17:37] – Alignment beats agreement [18:55] – Purpose as a stress buffer [23:18] – Finding purpose through lived experiences [28:09] – Why celebrating wins builds resilience [32:09] – Keep showing up when it’s hard About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy30

In this highlight reel from 2025, we bring you the BEST moments from the first 11 episodes of Take the Stage. Topics Include: 1. Stress Management  2. How to Stop Chasing Prospects  3. How to Develop a Winning Sales Mindset 4. What High-Performing Sales Teams Do Differently 5. Staffing Industry Trends to Impact 2026 6. Can We Stop the Staffing Industry's Decline? 7. Why Culture is Your Competitive Advantage  8. Cold Calling Tips  9. How to Develop Strategic Partnerships 10. Go-to-Market Strategies for Staffing Firms  11. Proactive Strategies for Staffing Firms Learn from the following industry experts: Cathi WIlliams  Rochelle Carrington James Abraham Joey Frampus  Barry Asin Mike Cleland  Patrick Morin Dan Fisher  Kendra Cato Avner Baruch Martin Borosko  Michael Napolitano About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

In this episode of Take the Stage, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with Julie Ann Bittner to unpack the truth about staffing funding: why it’s not a weakness, how the right partner fuels growth, and what smart owners must understand before cash gets tight. About the Guest Julie Ann Bittner is the President and CEO of TRICOM, a staffing-industry–specific funding and back-office partner with over 36 years of experience. Known for her high energy and deep industry insight, Julie Ann has spent decades helping staffing owners scale responsibly while navigating volatility, growth cycles, and uncertainty. Key Takeaways Funding is a strategic growth tool, not a sign of weakness. The right partner scales with your business—not against it. Waiting until cash is tight limits your best options. Industry-specific expertise beats generalist solutions. Proactive communication prevents reactive decisions. Timestamps [00:15] – Reframing funding as strength, not weakness [01:40] – Why banks struggle with staffing growth cycles [03:15] – Asset-based lending vs. factoring explained [05:16] – Funding realities for staffing startups [06:07] – Questions every owner must ask lenders [07:51] – The risk of client concentration [09:20] – Why waiting too long costs you options [11:14] – The danger of non-industry lenders [13:38] – Where staffing rebounds next year [16:02] – Industries quietly turning the corner [17:12] – AI’s real role in staffing today [23:53] – What true funding partnership looks like About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates. For over 20 years, they’ve helped staffing firms save money by securing federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at https://mja-associates.com      

Brad Bialy reflects on a tumultuous year in staffing, highlighting the need for resilience amidst threats like AI and turnover. He emphasizes that happiness stems from refined systems rather than fleeting milestones. Competing with giants like Amazon, he notes that candidates expect swift, transparent experiences. Personalization in marketing is crucial for re-engagement, while curiosity proves vital in building lasting relationships. Finally, the importance of aligning service with brand promises is underlined for authentic connections.