But First, Coffee Podcast By WRKdefined Podcast Network cover art

But First, Coffee

But First, Coffee

By: WRKdefined Podcast Network
Listen for free

But First, Coffee is a live weekly talk show where Jackye Clayton and John Baldino bring candid, insightful conversations about the world of work, leadership, and all things people. Each episode blends expert insight with real-world experience—covering employee engagement, leadership, inclusion, technology, and culture. It's not just HR theory; it's HR reality, poured fresh each week.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Human Brand in an AI World

    Human Brand in an AI World
    Mar 13 2026
    AI is reshaping how we work, hire, and communicate. But what happens to the human side of branding when algorithms are writing the first draft? In this special Friday edition of But First, Coffee, recorded live from TalentNet in Austin, Jackye Clayton and John Baldino dig into what it means to build and maintain a human brand in an AI-driven world. They explore where AI helps, where it falls short, and why authenticity still wins when everything else can be automated. Key Takeaways: AI tools can accelerate content creation, but they cannot replicate the trust built through genuine human connection. Employer branding suffers when organizations automate messaging without a clear human voice behind it. Candidates increasingly detect AI-generated outreach and disengage from impersonal recruiting touchpoints. Authenticity in leadership communication drives higher employee engagement and retention. Organizations need a deliberate strategy for where AI assists versus where humans lead. Personal branding matters more than ever because AI makes generic content abundant. The most effective talent acquisition teams combine AI efficiency with human judgment and empathy. Culture cannot be automated. It is built through consistent, human decisions. Transparency about AI use in hiring and communication builds, rather than erodes, trust. Small, intentional human touches in candidate experience outperform polished, automated workflows. Keywords: human branding, AI in HR, employer branding, talent acquisition, authentic leadership, AI hiring tools, candidate experience, personal branding, workplace culture, HR technology
    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Swag Report LIVE from Transform 2026

    Swag Report LIVE from Transform 2026
    Mar 24 2026
    What happens when HR's biggest conference meets your favorite coffee-fueled duo? John Humareso and Jackye Clayton hit the Transform 2026 conference floor for a live swag report, grading the best (and worst) vendor merchandise on display. Key Takeaways: The swag game at HR tech conferences reveals more about a brand than any booth demo Best-in-show items that attendees actually kept versus what hit the hotel trash can Why branded merchandise matters for employer brand and vendor recall The evolution of conference swag from pens and stress balls to premium giveaways Live reactions and crowd favorites from the Transform 2026 exhibit hall What your swag choices say about your company culture Tips for vendors: what conference attendees actually want to take home Keywords: Transform 2026, HR conference, conference swag, employer brand, HR tech vendors, branded merchandise, conference marketing, vendor booth, HR technology, workplace culture
    Show more Show less
    1 hr
  • What Hiring Actually Looks Like Right Now

    What Hiring Actually Looks Like Right Now
    Mar 19 2026
    Hiring sounds clean in demos and messy in real life. In this episode, John and Jackye talk about what candidates and hiring teams are actually experiencing right now. Broken systems, tools without ownership, and AI that can organize data but can't replace judgment. This is an honest look at talent acquisition without the vendor gloss. Key Takeaways: The gap between how hiring tools are sold and how they actually perform in daily recruiting workflows continues to widen. Many organizations have invested in technology without assigning clear ownership, leaving tools underused or misconfigured. Candidates are experiencing longer, more fragmented hiring processes despite the promise of automation. AI can sort resumes and schedule interviews, but it cannot evaluate cultural fit, motivation, or potential. Hiring managers and recruiters often operate with different definitions of what "qualified" means for the same role. The best hiring outcomes still come from human judgment applied at the right moments in the process. Speed to hire has become a competitive advantage, but only when it does not sacrifice candidate quality. Internal mobility and referral programs remain underutilized compared to external sourcing channels. The recruiter role is evolving from sourcing specialist to strategic advisor, and not every organization is keeping up. Transparency with candidates about timelines, compensation, and process builds trust that technology alone cannot. Keywords: talent acquisition, hiring process, recruiting technology, AI in hiring, candidate experience, hiring manager alignment, recruiter strategy, internal mobility, hiring speed, workforce planning
    Show more Show less
    59 mins
No reviews yet