Cappuccino with HR

This week, Rudi Bauer spoke with Karin Krobath, Founding Partner of Identifire, and Axel Ebert, Founding Partner of wortwelt, about a term that hasn´t been here before. “ANGSTFREUDE” - this ambiguous term describes the current situation, which is caused by AI rushing into our lives. We constantly switch between fear and excitement.

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Florian Dyballa, Co-Founder and CEO of Aivy, about the intersection of business psychology, artificial intelligence, and the future of recruitment. They discuss the common pitfalls of "gut feeling" in hiring and how a structured, evidence-based approach can eliminate bias and uncover hidden potential. Florian explains why the traditional CV is becom...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Barbara Wilk, Head of Global Talent Acquisition and People Analytics at Appfire, to explore the strategic "build vs. buy" dilemma in talent acquisition. They delve into the intentionality required to scale leadership in high-growth environments, moving beyond reactive hiring to build teams that "don't happen by accident." Barbara...

“What do I actually need to thrive?” That question from my conversation with Bo Wullings stayed with me long after the recording ended. Bo’s story is fascinating: He started as a swimmer, realized he wouldn’t make the national team, accepted that reality, and then completely reinvented himself through rowing, eventually making the Dutch national team there instead. But the real lesson wasn’t about...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Stefan Ganß, Business Trainer and professional Storyteller with over 20 years of experience in radio and TV, to explore why storytelling is the most powerful tool for making messages stick in a data-driven world. They delve into the "three-act structure" and the methodology of "story listening," discussing how even the most boring indu...

Hiring is broken if we still believe CVs predict performance. In my conversation with Nick Leslie from Canditech, we talked about one of the biggest shifts in recruiting right now: Moving from pedigree to proof. Because in a world where AI can help candidates tailor hundreds of CVs, resumes are becoming harder and harder to trust as the main signal. The real question is no longer: “Where did this...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Leandro Gomes da Silva, Founder of The AI Laundry and Head of AI Operations at Noble Recruitment, to explore whether the HR world is truly prepared for the dawn of AI agents. They delve into the practicalities of building custom AI tools for recruitment, including Leandro’s own outreach generator, "Martha", and discuss the shift from traditional...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Joe Atkinson, Co-Founder of PromptMates and Director of AI & Automation at Seed, to explore the burgeoning world of "vibe coding" and the rise of the AI-native recruiter. They dive deep into why talent acquisition professionals should stop waiting for perfect SaaS solutions and start building their own custom tools. Joe shares his journey fr...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with René Knapp, Member of the Management Board at UNIQA Insurance Group, about navigating corporate leadership in times of uncertainty and rapid technological change. They explore how the insurance industry is transforming through AI and digitization, why long-term thinking remains a competitive advantage, and how companies can build cultures that truly drive cha...

This week, I sat down with Glauco Leal, Founding Recruiter at Lovable, to talk about the intersection of AI-native culture and modern HR practices. We discussed the shift toward "vibe coding" and the democratization of development, exploring how AI tools allow non-technical staff to build their own custom solutions. Glauco also shared insights on maintaining a human-centric balance in an...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Uta Schulz, Head of Human Capability Future at BASF, to explore why curiosity is the ultimate competitive advantage for modern organizations. They delve into the mechanics of lifelong learning, discussing how the innate curiosity of childhood often gets stifled by traditional structures and what leaders must do to reignite that "learning urge."...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer sits down with Siadhal Magos, Co-founder and CEO of Metaview, to explore how AI agents are transforming the most critical process in any company: deciding who joins the team. They delve into the "Practical Future of Hiring," discussing how the shift from unstructured conversation to data-driven insights is unlocking a new level of hiring accuracy. Siadhal shar...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Felix Steffens, Co-founder and CEO of WorkMotion, about the evolution of the borderless workforce and how companies can overcome the talent shortage through global hiring. They discuss the shift from physical presence to output-oriented leadership, the importance of asynchronous communication, and the legal complexities of hiring across borders. Felix also sh...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Jennifer Christie, Chief People Officer at Docusign, about the evolution of HR into a more strategic, product-driven function. They discuss the importance of employee experience and personalization, how AI is transforming HR, and why new success metrics are needed. Jennifer also shares how HR can better collaborate with product and tech teams, the key skills...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Anastasia Pshegodskaya, Global Director of Talent Acquisition at Remote, about how companies approach global hiring in a remote-first world. They discuss key hiring strategies, employer branding, candidate experience, and common pitfalls, as well as the role of AI, onboarding, and salary transparency. Anastasia also shares her perspective on the future of glo...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Kerstin Wagner, Executive VP Talent Acquisition at Deutsche Bahn, about building future-ready talent strategies in a large, complex organization. They explore how to balance strategic vision with daily operations, keep retention high, and rethink jobs in light of technological change. Kerstin shares insights on using AI to scale recruiting, identifying hidden...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Anastasija Remović, Senior Manager Talent Acquisition at Liberty Global, about what it takes to attract and retain A-players. They discuss how to define top talent, the importance of team dynamics, and the role of employer branding in retention. Anastasija also shares insights on navigating change, building trust, and balancing performance with a strong compa...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Roger Morawski, Global Head of Workplace Experience Brand Strategy at Sanofi, and Fernando Faria, Global Head of Workplace Transformation at Sanofi, about how global companies are redefining the workplace in the hybrid era. They discuss Sanofi’s approach to workplace transformation, the four pillars behind its strategy, and the idea of “invisible workplace ex...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Jess Von Bank, Global Leader of Digital HR & Workforce Transformation at Mercer, about how the talent landscape is evolving and what HR needs to do next. They discuss the shift toward more strategic, organization-wide transformation, how AI is impacting talent acquisition, and the importance of focusing on the right problems before applying technology. Je...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Joe Farrell, Strategic Partner at TrustModel. AI (Ex-KPMG, IBM Partner; Advisor to Fortune 100), about how AI is reshaping organizations beyond just technology. They discuss why the current AI wave requires new operating models, governance, and leadership approaches, how AI agents could challenge traditional hierarchies, and what this shift means for HR, tale...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Alla Pavlova, AI Enabling Trainer and Interim Recruitment at Riot Games, about how AI is transforming the work of recruiters and talent acquisition teams. They discuss the current state of AI in HR, why it’s important to start with real needs before adopting new tools, and which parts of recruiting should stay human while others can be automated. Alla also sh...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Frank Spillers, Design Leader, about how human-centered design can improve both digital products and employee experience. They discuss what makes an experience truly work, the differences between UI, UX, and service design, and how user expectations have evolved in the digital age. Frank also shares insights on the role of AI in design, the rise of hyper-pers...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Ali Mahlodji, CEO of futureOne, about empowering the next generation and redefining leadership in times of rapid technological and societal change. They discuss how our relationship with failure evolves over time, the biggest challenges young people face today, and how leaders can better manage diverse talent by breaking silos and embracing neuroinclusion. Al...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Manjuri Sinha, VP HR and Global Head of GTM Org Success at Miro, about leading organizations through the age of AI and reimagining work in an increasingly automated world. They discuss how AI is becoming a new kind of team member, why the biggest barriers are often cultural rather than technical, and what organizations must unlearn to truly integrate AI into...

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Diana Westrich, Vice President Corporate HR Leadership & Development at BASF, about empowering people and leading transformation in a digital world. They discuss why transformation is never just about technology, but also about culture, mindset, and leadership responsibility. Diana shares insights on fostering curiosity, balancing innovation with safety,...