Hiring demand is back. But the playbook changed.

Companies still need talent. They just don't want to overhire, lay people off, and do it all over again.

So what are they doing instead?

In this episode of Stacked, we break down:

• The real reason RPO demand is gaining serious momentum again

• When to build internal TA vs bring in outside help

• Why AI is flooding pipelines with more noise, not better candidates

• How to actually build a hiring strategy that flexes with your business

If your hiring plans for 2026 feel uncertain, start here.

In this episode of Beyond the Offer, Penny Vamvakaris, Head of Talent Acquisition, North America at Weber Shandwick, breaks down what it really takes to build recruiting inside a performance-driven agency. From aligning hiring to revenue and future capability to using AI without losing judgment, Penny shares hard-earned lessons from 25+ years in consulting, startups, and global agencies. If you want recruiting to operate as a true business function, this conversation delivers.

AI isn't just changing how companies build.

It's changing who gets hired.

We're seeing a spike in fake candidates, AI-polished résumés, and hiring teams buried in noise. At the same time, demand for embedded RPO support is climbing fast.

In this episode, Matt Massucci and Mark Slocum talk about:

• Why community is a competitive edge again
• How curated founder and CIO events are driving real conversations
• What companies must do to separate signal from chaos

If you're hiring in tech right now, this one's for you.