Applying for a job shouldn’t feel like shouting into a void. Yet for many candidates today, the recruitment process is defined by silence, redundancy, rigid requirements, and being ghosted after investing real time and effort. Organizations claim they can’t find talent, while candidates quietly opt out of systems that feel dismissive and disconnected from human reality.

In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson takes a hard look at what’s broken in modern recruitment -- and why this is not a candidate problem, but a systems problem. From bloated job descriptions and preferred qualifications treated as requirements to algorithmic screening and months-long interview cycles with no closure, the hiring process has drifted away from the people it’s meant to serve.

This episode challenges Organizational Development Professionals and I/O Psychologists to step into their responsibility as systems thinkers and designers.

It's important to note that not all recruitment processes are broken -- some organizations still balance efficiency with human interaction -- but those examples are becoming the exception rather than the rule.

The question is simple and uncomfortable: if your organization says it can’t find talent, but your recruitment system is quietly repelling it, what exactly needs to change?

This is not an episode about blame. It’s an invitation to rethink what we’ve normalized -- and to decide what kind of systems we’re willing to keep defending.

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Eller College of Management, and co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives.

Together, they explore the deeper meaning of workplace wellness - beyond programs, perks, and initiatives - and uncover how true well-being is built through leadership behavior, team culture, and daily interactions. Dr. Sawyer shares the research and real-world insights that inspired her book, discussing why so many wellness efforts fail to take root, how leadership directly shapes the health of an organization, and what OD professionals can do to align evidence-based practice with human-centered care.

From redefining what it means to thrive at work, to rethinking the role of leadership in shaping wellness, this episode offers a refreshing, research-informed perspective on how organizations can move from performative gestures to authentic, sustainable cultures of care.

If you’re an OD professional, leader, or HR practitioner ready to rethink what well-being truly looks like inside organizations, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire your practice.

Connect with Dr. Katina Sawyer:
🔹 LinkedIn: Katina Sawyer, Ph.D. | LinkedIn

🔹 Website: https://workrbeeing.com/

🔹 Book: Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives - https://workrbeeing.com/book ... and available wherever books are sold.

Ask us a question!

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor of Psychology at Farmingdale State College - to explore the art and science of leadership development.

Dr. Islam shares his insights on how organizations can better support middle managers, why data-driven decisions need a human lens, and how integrity in action separates good leaders from great ones. Together, they discuss the quiet challenges of leadership transitions, the psychology behind motivation and self-efficacy, and the importance of building leadership programs that actually sustain impact over time.

You’ll also hear how pop culture - from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Avatar: The Last Airbender - can serve as a creative bridge for teaching timeless lessons about courage, ethics, and the complexity of leading others.

Whether you’re an OD practitioner, L&D professional, or simply a leader navigating organizational change, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights you can apply immediately.

ABOUT DR. SY ISLAM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sislam/
Website: www.talentmetrics.io

Links to Books:
Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU
Elements of Leadership: Lessons from Avatar the Last Airbender

Ask us a question!

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session