Monica Marquez has held big titles at Google, EY, and Goldman Sachs, but now she's teaching companies how to ditch their outdated playbooks and embrace a new way of working with AI. In this episode, Monica and Rob unpack why the people team, not IT, needs to lead AI transformation, how to automate without losing the human touch, and what it really means to "unlearn" your way to better work. She shares how her team at Flipwork is helping organizations build adaptive, human-centered workflows and why leaders must create safe spaces for experimentation.

Also discussed: how to turn prompting into repeatable agents, the problem with "work slop," and why the best AI onboarding might come from a Clippy-inspired bot named Flippy.

• AI transformation must be people-led, not tech-led

• Unlearning is the new competitive edge in a world moving faster than ever

• "Work slop" is real, and AI isn't to blameHigh-value work starts when you stop doing what AI can do faster

• The best use of AI is treating it like an intern, not an oracle

• Prompting is table stakes. Turning prompts into agents is the real differentiator

• Empowering people to automate their own workflows requires safe space and structure

• People teams must guide AI adoption to protect ROI and increase tool adoption

• AI should amplify your "authentic intelligence," not replace it

• A modern talent strategy must account for psychological safety, rapid experimentation, and clear permission to try new things

¡Ay, Ay, Ay, AI! Newsletter

Monica Marquez on LinkedIn

LHH Recruitment Solutions

A Beautiful Working World

A Soundbeam Studios Production

Tony Castellanos has seen recruiting from every angle: Google, Square, various startups, and now as Head of Compensation & Talent at Nextdoor. In this episode, Tony breaks down how his team is using AI to rethink recruiter training, eliminating the "practice on candidates" problem by simulating real conversations with virtual personas. He and Rob also dive into community-led recruiting, why values alignment trumps pedigree, and how automation should empower recruiters to be more human.

Also on the mic: the death of the "Apply Now" mentality, the future of AI interview agents, and why Nextdoor's most beloved teammate might be a benefits bot named Ben.

• AI-driven training gives recruiters reps without risking candidate experience

• Recruiter excellence starts with values alignment and relationship building

• Referrals aren't just about "who do you know", they're part of a broader community activation strategy

• Recruiters should act like talent strategists, not inbox managers

• Tools like CodeSignal enable voice-to-voice interview simulations with real-time feedback

• Giving AI agents names and personalities makes adoption more natural and team-friendly

Tony Castellanos on LinkedIn

LHH Recruitment Solutions

A Beautiful Working World

A Soundbeam Studios Production

André Martin has been CLO at Nike, Mars, and Target, so when he talks about the cost of disengagement, we listen. In this episode, André joins Rob to talk about his new book Wrong Fit, Right Fit, why work feels broken for so many, and what leaders can do about it. From rewriting job descriptions to rethinking culture as a daily operating system instead of a poster, André lays out a blueprint for restoring energy, engagement, and trust inside modern organizations.

Also discussed: why climbing the ladder might take you further from your craft, how companies can stop catfishing candidates, and why your offsite might be a total waste of time.

• Work is always happening, which is why companies must intentionally design for recovery and restoration

• Culture is not a value statement, it's how work actually gets done, shared, and socialized

• Disengagement is expensive; $9.6 trillion in lost productivity comes from people doing the wrong work in the wrong place

• Protective narratives are a red flag; rationalizing and blaming are signs of misalignment

• The best offsites are not packed with content, they are focused on building deep relationships and trust

• Promotions should not pull people away from their craft; getting better at your job should not always mean managing more people

• A more honest hiring process that includes how ideas are shared and decisions are made can reduce bad-fit attrition
  
  

Wrong Fit, Right Fit: Why How We Work Matters More Than Ever

André Martin on LinkedIn

LHH Recruitment Solutions

A Beautiful Working World

A Soundbeam Studios Production