In this episode of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan sits down with Michelle Keefe, VP of HR at Bowes Professional, to talk about her inspiring journey from administrative roles to HR leadership. Michelle shares how she built her career by embracing challenges—including launching an office overseas with zero experience—and how she managed years of heavy business travel while raising her son.

She also discusses the evolution of workplace flexibility, the impact of strong leadership on work-life balance, and why companies must treat employees with trust and respect. Whether you're a working parent, an HR professional, or just looking for career inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

The 2025 job market has everyone scratching their heads. One minute, we’re seeing strong job numbers. The next? Layoffs. Some companies are scaling fast, others are stuck in hiring freezes. It’s a mixed bag—and it's creating uncertainty across the board.

In this episode, Ryan & Emily break it all down:

🔹 The rise of temp-to-perm and extended interview processes
🔹 How hesitation is impacting hiring
🔹Advice for both employers and candidates navigating the confusion

“The market isn’t broken—it’s just cautious.”

That nuance is key. And how you respond to it—whether you're hiring or job searching—makes all the difference.

Rolodex.

But that’s exactly what legacy firms want you to think.

They sell prestige. They sell access. They sell fear. And some companies buy it—because no one wants to screw up a high-profile hire.

Here’s the truth: access is the easy part. Executives respond more than anyone. The real challenge? Fit. Immersion. Results after the hire. And most firms skip that part entirely.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick rip the curtain off the smoke-and-mirrors world of exec search—and explain why most firms are failing their clients (badly) in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 109, “What Everyone Gets Wrong About Executive Search.”