IN THIS EPISODE...

Sarah Fortier is the CEO of Outwitly Inc. She shares her journey from industrial design to founding Outwitly in 2016, initially as a consulting firm and later focusing on staffing. Fortier emphasizes the importance of proactive contractors, effective onboarding, and maintaining a supportive community through Slack and coaching. She stresses the importance of stakeholder savvy in managing client relationships and the adaptability of blended workforces in response to industry shifts.

Outwitly, Inc. is an eight-figure UX and service design staffing agency. They specialize in helping clients build high-impact teams by placing UX and service designers on long-term contracts.

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Full show notes, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork. (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Sara”)

If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to http://RateThisPodcast.com/blended

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Be sure to:

• Check out our website at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork
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ABOUT SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP (SDL):

This podcast is brought to you by Shockingly Different Leadership, the go-to firm companies trust when needing to supplement their in-house HR teams with contract or interim HR, Learning, and Culture experts to assist with business-critical People initiatives during peak periods of work. Visit https://shockinglydifferent.com to learn more.

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1. Sara’s journey from UX design to building a successful staffing agency.

2. Qualities and mindsets that make external talent thrive in blended workforces.

3. Strategies for helping contractors feel connected and supported, even when remote.

4. Balancing business profitability with contractor well-being and client satisfaction.

5. Tips for effective onboarding and integration of external talent.

6. Advice for organizations considering blended workforces for the first time.

7. What soft skills are most important for success as a contractor?

8. How can companies foster a sense of community among external team members?

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[2:20] How Sara balances family life and a demanding career

[3:40] Sara’s transition from industrial design to launching a staffing agency.

[6:07] Outwitly’s approach to partnering with organizations to build high-impact teams.

[7:33] Advantages of using contractors for flexibility and business...

IN THIS EPISODE...

Brendan Noud, CEO and co-founder of LearnUpon, discusses the evolution of his learning management system (LMS) company. LearnUpon, which was founded by two individuals in 2012, and now employs over 300 people worldwide. Brendan highlights the importance of AI in enhancing administrative tasks and learner engagement. He also emphasizes the importance of businesses understanding their training goals and selecting LMSs that align with their specific needs.

LearnUpon prioritizes ease of use and learner experience, catering to diverse audiences, including employees, customers, and partners. LearnUpon's success is attributed to its customer-centric approach, 24/7 support, and strategic partnerships.

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Full show notes, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork. (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Brendan”)

If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to http://RateThisPodcast.com/blended Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Be sure to:

• Check out our website at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork
• Follow Karan on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
• Follow SDL on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram

ABOUT SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP (SDL):

This podcast is brought to you by Shockingly Different Leadership, the go-to firm companies trust when needing to supplement their in-house HR teams with contract or interim HR, Learning, and Culture experts to assist with business-critical People initiatives during peak periods of work. Visit https://shockinglydifferent.com to learn more.

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1. Brendan’s path from consulting to founding LearnUpon.

2. Early challenges and the global growth of LearnUpon.

3. What makes LearnUpon’s learning management system (LMS) stand out?

4. How AI is used to enhance the platform.

5. Focus on customer partnership and 24/7 support.

6. Brendan’s tips for choosing an LMS.

7. How does LearnUpon handle customer feature requests?

8. What trends or risks does Brendan see in the LMS industry?

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[00:36] Brendan shares his background.

[01:14] Founding LearnUpon and its global growth.

[06:45] Description of an LMS and LearnUpon’s unique features.

[09:02] LearnUpon’s customer partnership approach.

[11:19] Integrating AI into the platform.

[14:04] Challenges of building a US customer base.

[20:06] Signature Segment: Brendan’s entry into the LATTOYG Playbook: Advice for companies choosing an LMS.

[22:45] Industry trends and risks.

[25:16] Balancing customer...

IN THIS EPISODE...

Laura Azzarella, co-founder of Applied Potential Solutions, shares her journey from media production to HR, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology, particularly AI, to automate administrative tasks and optimize HR processes. She highlights the need for proper onboarding and communication with vendors to ensure successful integrations. Laura also stresses the importance of HR leaders being AI-savvy and not being afraid to experiment with technology.

Applied Potential Solutions is a tech-forward HR consultancy that helps businesses optimize talent strategies through strategic technology integration. Led by Laura Azzarella, the firm specializes in implementing HR systems, leveraging AI and technology to automate administrative tasks, and helping organizations develop more efficient HR practices. Their services range from process improvement to comprehensive HR technology solutions.

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Full show notes, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork. (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Laura”)

If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to http://RateThisPodcast.com/blended Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Be sure to:

• Check out our website at http://BlendedWorkforcesAtWork
• Follow Karan on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
• Follow SDL on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram

ABOUT SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP (SDL):

This podcast is brought to you by Shockingly Different Leadership, the go-to firm companies trust when needing to supplement their in-house HR teams with contract or interim HR, Learning, and Culture experts to assist with business-critical People initiatives during peak periods of work. Visit https://shockinglydifferent.com to learn more.

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· How did Laura's diverse career path lead her to founding Applied Potential Solutions?

· What technology strategies can HR teams use to become more strategic and efficient?

· How is AI changing the landscape of HR processes and talent management?

· What challenges do organizations face when integrating external talent or consultants?

· Why is "courageous agility" important in navigating technological and workplace changes?

· How can companies better support their HR leaders in adopting new technologies?

· What are the limitations of AI in HR, and how should professionals approach its implementation?

· How can external consultants more effectively integrate into an organization's...