Wondering how AI is changing the hiring process? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with Katie Fortunato, Co-Founder and EVP of Innovation and Platform Strategy at Hire Innovations, about how AI is transforming recruitment, reshaping the job market, and creating new opportunities and challenges for employers and job seekers alike.

Katie shares insights from the front lines of talent acquisition, unpacking how automation, the creator economy, and shifting workforce expectations are redefining how companies connect with talent. From the rise of AI-driven hiring tools to the growing importance of employer branding and personal networks, this episode offers a practical look at what it takes to succeed in the future of work.

Katie’s top 3 tips:

1. Learn AI and apply it to your work - understand how AI can streamline processes and make you more effective as a marketer.
2. Stay curious and keep up with change - platforms, tools, and algorithms evolve constantly, making continuous learning essential.
3. Network proactively (especially in person) - Build real connections, show up, and create opportunities beyond job applications.

The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube, Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠all other podcast platforms. 

And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us. If you have other feedback or would like to be a guest on the show,  email the podcast team! 

Timestamps

• 0:02:14 – How AI is disrupting recruitment (and creating new problems)

• 0:04:40 – Where AI works best in the hiring process

• 0:07:13 – What job seekers need to change in an AI-driven world

• 0:08:03 – Employer branding: where marketing meets HR

• 0:11:24 – The evolving job market and Gen Z expectations

• 0:16:05 – The impact of AI on marketing careers

• 0:18:25 – What’s working in marketing today: the creator economy

• 0:20:59 – Turning employees into influencers and brand advocates

• 0:24:51 – The reality of applying for jobs in today’s market

• 0:25:53 – Advice for entry-level candidates

• 0:31:16 – How senior professionals can stay competitive

• 0:33:32 – The rise of the gig and fractional economy

• 0:36:02 – Small teams, AI, and the future of work

• 0:39:19 – Personal branding and standing out to employers

• 0:41:23 – Katie’s top tips for junior marketers

Ever wondered how fast fashion brands tackle sustainability? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with ⁠Sarah Whittaker⁠, Head of Sustainability Communications at Primark, about how one of the world’s largest fashion retailers is navigating the challenge of becoming more sustainable while maintaining affordability at scale.

From addressing common misconceptions around fast fashion to embedding more responsible practices across teams and supply chains, Sarah shares a behind-the-scenes look at how communications helps shape perception, influence behaviour, and avoid greenwashing. She also explores how brands can simplify complex sustainability messages, empower employees as advocates, and balance commercial realities with ethical responsibility.

Sarah’s Top 3 Tips:

1. Keep sustainability messaging simple and focused – narrow in on what matters most to your audience
2. Back up every claim with evidence – avoid absolutes and communicate progress, not perfection
3. Engage your internal teams first – employees are your most powerful (and credible) advocates

The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube, Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠all other podcast platforms. 

And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us. If you have other feedback or would like to be a guest on the show, email the podcast team! 

Timestamps:

• 0:00:49 – Sustainability communications vs marketing explained

• 0:02:47 – What Primark stands for as a global brand

• 0:05:50 – Tackling perceptions of fast fashion and low cost

• 0:08:56 – Communicating sustainability reports in a more engaging way

• 0:12:03 – What circularity means in fashion

• 0:14:10 – Working with suppliers to drive sustainability

• 0:16:16 – Regulation vs voluntary sustainability efforts

• 0:19:15 – Do customers really care about sustainability?

• 0:23:52 – What sustainability actually includes (beyond environment)

• 0:25:41 – Most effective channels for sustainability communication

• 0:28:41 – Empowering employees to talk about sustainability

• 0:31:34 – Keeping messaging clear and avoiding greenwashing

• 0:35:33 – Sarah’s career journey into communications

• 0:37:58 – Agency vs in-house: key differences

• 0:40:02 – Career advice for marketers and communicators

In this special episode of the DMI Podcast for International Women’s Day, host Taz Kelleher speaks with Areej AbuAli, founder of Women in Tech SEO, and Maeve Kneafsey, entrepreneur, host of the Transform Gov podcast, and long-time leader in digital and public sector innovation.

They share practical lessons from building communities, scaling businesses, securing funding, and leading with clarity in a fast-moving industry. This conversation is full of grounded advice about confidence, decision-making, community building, and the shift that AI is creating for founders.

Top 3 tips from Areej & Maeve

1. Be decisive and stop waiting for perfect conditions: Progress comes from action, not from over analysis.
2. Push yourself forward: Say yes to opportunities, speak on stages, and treat visibility as core to leadership.
3. Build and invest in community: The right network accelerates your business, your learning, and your confidence.

The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube, Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠all other podcast platforms.   

And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so others can find us. If you have other feedback or would like to be a guest on the show, email the podcast team!  

Timestamps

01:26 — Acting on an idea

03:29 — Knowing which ideas to commit to

04:53 — Recognizing meaningful innovation

06:19 — Representation and confidence

09:14 — Finding your voice

11:07 — Evolving beliefs about success

16:39 — Early decisions that shaped growth

20:17 — Pricing, confidence, and commercial conversations

22:19 — What people underestimate about scaling

24:36 — Testing, learning, and dropping what doesn’t work

26:39 — Patterns in companies that succeed

30:22 — What matters less than people think

31:58 — The power of community

36:19 — How to find a mentor

40:45 — AI and the future for founders

44:22 — Leadership habits for women

47:10 — Biggest opportunities for women in digital marketing