"Personal Branding” might be the most overused and misunderstood buzzword in modern marketing. Here's the truth... Posting more doesn’t make you memorable, and being visible doesn’t mean you’re valuable. There's a science to owning the room in 2026...In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Sharon Bondurant to break down what it really takes to own the room in 2026 through clarity, consistency, courage, and human connection in an AI-driven world.

Sharon Bondurant is the founder of The Finders, an Arizona-based recruiting firm she launched in 1998 that has grown into a twice-named Inc. 5000 company with over 6,000 placements across Tech, HR, and Finance. She’s known for her human-first approach to recruiting, emphasizing long-term relationships, trust, and sustainable growth.

• Clarity beats chasing everything.
• You grow when you get uncomfortable on purpose.
• Relationships compound faster than cold outreach.
• Consistency builds trust long before opportunity appears.
• Courage creates access where skill alone cannot.

• [00:00] – Is standing out harder in 2026?
• [02:10] – Why strategy determines visibility
• [03:30] – Defining your true ICP
• [05:15] – The danger of saying yes to everything
• [07:40] – Letting go of good to become great
• [09:00] – Starting with your existing network
• [10:40] – Unlocking revenue in your database
• [14:00] – Listening as a competitive advantage
• [19:30] – Rebuilding in-person relationships
• [22:00] – Becoming the authority in the room
• [25:30] – The “third door” to new opportunities
• [36:45] – Why consistency and follow-up win

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.

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

In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with David Searns to explore why selling staffing services has become harder and how firms must rethink their product, pricing, and messaging to compete in a changing market.

David Searns is the Co-CEO of Haley Marketing and one of the staffing industry’s most respected marketing strategists. With more than 25 years of experience helping staffing firms differentiate, position their services, and drive demand, David brings a deep understanding of how marketing, sales, and product strategy intersect to fuel growth.

• Selling staffing hasn’t just gotten harder...the product itself may be outdated.

• Differentiation starts with defining a unique product, not louder promotion.

• The firms that control performance data will control the future of staffing.

• Value must be defined from the buyer’s perspective—not the recruiter’s.

• Specialization creates pricing power where commoditization destroys it.

[00:00] – Is staffing actually harder to sell today?

[02:41] – Why staffing penetration dropped dramatically

[05:24] – Rethinking staffing as project-based work

[07:36] – The consulting model staffing can learn from

[10:55] – Escaping the dangerous “markup conversation”

[12:57] – Using AI as a strategic thought partner

[15:21] – Why HR buyers are risk-averse

[18:01] – The call center story that changed pricing

[20:52] – Why A-players should cost dramatically more

[24:29] – The power of owning performance data

[30:41] – Stop selling to everyone: define the bullseye

[32:08] – The four P’s of marketing staffing firms ignore

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.

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offer 50% off of 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 FoxHire.com/Haley.

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Brett Cavanagh to explore why staffing firms must abandon the old transactional playbook, embrace a consultative mindset, and leverage technology like AI while doubling down on the human relationships that truly drive success.

Brett Cavanagh is the President of TempWorks Software and Lone Oak Payroll. With more than a decade of experience working directly inside staffing firms before moving into technology leadership, Brett now helps agencies scale through smarter systems, operational discipline, and deeper alignment between technology and the real-world demands of recruiting and staffing.

• The old staffing playbook is breaking in a changing market.

• Talent inventory determines who wins in staffing.

• Commoditized staffing always becomes a race to the bottom.

• AI won’t replace recruiters—it will expose weak ones.

• The future belongs to consultative staffing firms.

[00:00] – Is selling staffing harder than ever?

[01:40] – Why cold calling candidates is fading

[04:05] – What winning staffing firms do differently

[05:49] – The shift from transactional to consultative selling

[08:24] – Why fear drives bad staffing decisions

[10:58] – The danger of competing on price

[16:03] – Building a true candidate-first experience

[21:43] – The “sports agent” mindset for recruiters

[24:45] – How AI will reshape staffing

[32:23] – AI will expose average recruiters

[37:14] – Where growth still exists in staffing

[46:03] – Brett’s advice for the next generation

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.

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

In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with Hailey Birkner (Account Manager with Haley Marketing) to unpack why retention is built between deliverables and how intentional account management drives deeper relationships, stronger loyalty, and more revenue from the clients you already have.

Hailey Birkner is an Account Manager at Haley Marketing, where she helps staffing firms turn strategy into sustainable momentum. With a background in automation and client experience, she lives at the intersection of service, clarity, and trust—coaching clients toward consistent, long-term success.

• Retention is earned between the wins.

• Consistency beats intensity—every time.

• Silence is not success; feedback fuels growth.

• Automation supports relationships, it doesn’t replace them.

• Authenticity is your only real competitive advantage.

• [03:25] – “Retention is built between deliverables” reframed
• [04:12] – Why service alone is just table stakes
• [05:08] – Consistency over intensity in client relationships
• [06:25] – Scaling personalization without losing authenticity
• [08:09] – Coaching vs. transactional account management
• [09:52] – Quarterly touchpoints that create momentum
• [11:00] – Using automation to nurture at scale
• [13:42] – Plan your work, work your plan
• [15:05] – Why silence is not success
• [16:54] – Creative follow-ups that re-engage clients
• [18:58] – Writing emails people actually respond to
• [21:06] – Segmenting accounts for smarter growth

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.

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offer 50% off of 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 FoxHire.com/Haley

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.

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.

• 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.

• [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

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.

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

In this episode of Take the Stage InSights, Brad Bialy sits down to interview ChatGPT (yes...the AI-powered LLM) to unpack the real state of staffing, the rise of AI, and what firms must do now to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting talent market.

For sake of this conversation, ChatGPT was primed to be an AI strategist and staffing industry analyst specializing in the intersection of talent markets, technology, and future disruption. With a data-driven lens and objective insights, ChatGPT explores how automation, workforce trends, and evolving recruiter roles are reshaping the future of staffing.

• Transactional recruiting is dying; consultative partnership is winning.

• AI will eliminate tasks, not the need for trust.

• Specialization builds authority; dilution breeds confusion.

• Data is no longer optional—it’s your competitive edge.

• Speed matters, but humanity closes the deal.

[00:01] – Resetting the staffing narrative

[01:52] – The uncomfortable truth about talent shortages

[03:34] – Why recruiters must become career architects

[06:32] – Specialize or slowly disappear

[07:49] – Selling roles vs. solving business problems

[08:22] – Designing candidate experience that actually wins

[12:02] – When AI becomes a gatekeeper (and how to stop it)

[14:26] – The legacy mindset killing growth

[17:43] – The questions that elevate you to strategic partner

[21:53] – What AI will automate first — and fast

[25:48] – Fewer recruiters. Bigger results. Here’s why.

[29:35] – The AI blind spot redefining success

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.

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offer 50% off of 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 FoxHire.com/Haley

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Paul Petersen to unpack why the candidate black hole still exists in recruiting and how human-centered, tech-enabled recruiting can finally fix it.

Paul Petersen is a fractional CHRO and executive workforce strategist with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations modernize talent acquisition, HR technology, and workforce strategy across global enterprises. He’s known for blending deep HR tech expertise with a relentless focus on the human experience for both talent and hiring managers.

• Speed without intention creates invisible talent.

• Screening out is easier than building trust—but far less effective.

• Communication is the real differentiator in modern recruiting.

• Technology should amplify recruiters, not replace them.

• Great recruiters act like agents, not gatekeepers.

[00:23] – Why the candidate black hole still exists

[02:54] – Screening out versus screening in explained

[05:16] – When “speed to hire” becomes the wrong metric

[06:48] – The two personas that actually matter

[08:35] – Can AI really fix the candidate experience?

[10:33] – The Domino’s pizza tracker analogy for recruiting

[14:02] – Why talent pools are massively underutilized

[16:26] – Predicting talent needs before jobs open

[20:53] – Paul’s 300-application job search story

[25:11] – Why recruiters should think like sports agents

[30:37] – The hiring manager’s missing voice in HR tech

[35:27] – Integrity as a long-term recruiting advantage

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

• [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

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.

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