The Talent Economy Podcast

With past speakers such as the CEOs of Dell and Wikipedia, and the COO of Reddit, the Web Summit annual conference, founded in 2009, has become a critical meeting place for the tech community.

At this year’s event in Lisbon, Katie Bolger, Community Lead and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager for Web Summit, joined Toptal’s Chief People Officer Michelle Labbe to discuss the 2022 conference, Web Summit’s Women in Tech program, and ensuring equity in representation among attendees and speakers.

Some Questions Asked:

• What is Web Summit’s mission?
• How has your role in the event-planning field evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What are the most effective ways that leaders can advocate for more women to enter the tech workforce?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• What led to Web Summit’s involvement with Women in Tech.
• What accessibility features were available at this Web Summit.
• How Web Summit ensures that the conference adheres to organizers’ priorities and culture.

Links:

• Katie Bolger - LinkedIn
• Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
• Toptal - LinkedIn
• The Talent Economy podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toptal is a network of the world’s top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams on demand. Founded in 2010 and now the world’s largest fully remote company, Toptal has served more than 21,000 clients and has a global network of talent in 140+ countries.

Kimberly Hall, Toptal’s VP of Revenue Operations, sat down with Toptal’s CEO Taso Du Val at Toptal’s Women in Tech Lounge at Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon. Du Val shares insights into the future of work, Web3, the financial benefits of implementing a remote workforce, and more.

Some Questions Asked:

• Why was this a key year for Toptal to take part in the Web Summit conference?
• What was the inspiration behind the creation of Toptal’s Women in Tech Lounge?
• Will Toptal continue to lean into the Web3 space?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• What companies should be thinking about as the workplace evolves.
• What the future of the talent economy looks like.
• The financial benefits of implementing a remote workforce.

Links:

• Taso Du Val - LinkedIn
• Kimberly Hall - LinkedIn
• Toptal - LinkedIn
• The Talent Economy podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Fisher, founder and CEO of Standard AI, joined Michelle Labbe, Toptal’s Chief People Officer, at Collision in Toronto on The Talent Economy podcast. Fisher discussed the company’s groundbreaking “checkout-free” shopping solution and other achievements of Standard AI.

With a diverse background spanning computational fluid dynamics, securities regulations, video games, machine learning, and retail, Fisher has dedicated his career to product research and development. Standard AI has reached many significant milestones under his leadership as the field of artificial intelligence becomes increasingly competitive.

With Standard AI, customers no longer need to scan their items or pay at a kiosk. Instead, they simply scan their phones at the exit and a series of AI-powered cameras generate a receipt based on the items that customers picked up.

Utilizing its next-generation technology, Standard AI aims to continue augmenting human interactions within physical spaces while providing tailored product experiences. Its approach has the potential to revolutionize retail and expand to other industries.

Some Questions Asked:

• Why is it important for entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to attend tech conferences?
• How does Standard AI define its vision, and what are the company’s next goals?
• What does the future of retail look like from Standard AI’s perspective?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• How society has shifted from “humans adapting to technology” to “technology adapting to humans.”
• Why “data is dead.”
• How AI opens up possibilities for new experiences in brick-and-mortar stores.

Links:

• Jordan Fisher - LinkedIn
• Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
• Toptal - LinkedIn
• The Talent Economy podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life is Good is the original positive lifestyle brand, dedicated to spreading the power of optimism through art and messaging. Co-founders and brothers Bert and John Jacobs originally set out to design T-shirts that inspired people to celebrate simple pleasures, and focus on what’s right in the world and our lives instead of what’s wrong. In 1994, after five years of disappointing sales and with just $78 to their names, Bert and John designed their first Life is Good tee and discovered how those three simple words could help people to focus on the good.

For almost 30 years, Life is Good has been building a “culture of optimism” through its online shop and 4,500 retail stores. Life is Good’s mission “to spread the power of optimism” isn’t just a marketing angle—it influences every part of the brand, from company culture to philanthropy.

Tom Hassell, president of Life is Good, joined Toptal’s Chief People Officer Michelle Labbe on The Talent Economy podcast.

For the past three years, Hassell has overseen the Life is Good e-commerce business as it has grown from $30 million in annual revenue in 2017 to over $86 million in 2020. Outside of his role at Life is Good, Hassell has served in leadership roles at a diverse group of companies, including Lord & Taylor, Perry Ellis, Ann Taylor, and Eastern Mountain Sports. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the President of Life is Good, where spreading the power of optimism is both the company mission and his personal passion.

In this episode, Hassell discusses his journey in the apparel industry, his work at Life is Good, the power of optimism, Life is Good’s social work through the Life is Good Playmaker Project, and more.

Some Questions Asked:

• How does Life is Good maintain its optimistic culture throughout all levels of the company? (8:26)
• Who develops Life is Good’s creative designs? (17:57)
• Among the positive letters the company often receives from its customers, is there a particular story that moved you? (21:24)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Life is Good believes in rational optimism.
• About Life is Good’s social work, the Life is Good Playmaker Project.
• How founders Bert and John Jacobs continue to lead the company.

Links:

• Tom Hassell - LinkedIn
• Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
• Toptal - LinkedIn
• The Talent Economy podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Branch is a deep-linking and mobile-attribution platform that helps companies build and measure user journeys.

In 2014, Mada Seghete co-founded Branch on the fundamental principle that breaking down silos on the internet is critical to a brand’s ability to build engaging and relevant end-user experiences.

Branch initially focused on delivering a deep-linking solution to navigate the complex mobile ecosystem and get users to the right destination. Its platform now also powers mobile attribution for 50,000+ of the world’s most advanced apps, helping companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Slack, Ticketmaster, Tinder, Starbucks, and Yelp measure their users’ journeys.

While attending Web Summit in Lisbon, Seghete, Branch’s current Managing Director and VP of Marketing, joined Toptal’s Chief People Officer Michelle Labbe to discuss creating Branch, women in tech, the future of work, and her Web Summit experience.

Some Questions Asked:

• How does Branch differentiate itself from its competitors?
• Why do you think so many people who left their jobs during the Great Resignation are deciding to return?
• How do you see the future of work evolving in the next few years?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• What inspired the founding of Branch.
• What the culture is like at Branch and how the company upholds its mantra of “Build, Grow, Win.”
• Advice for women who want to launch their own tech startup.

Links:

• Mada Seghete - LinkedIn
• Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
• Toptal - LinkedIn
• The Talent Economy podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.