A Better HR Business

In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben and his guest, Val Esway, founder of Work with Val, talk about the challenges of hiring, compliance, and employee management for small and growing businesses across the US and Canada. Val Esway partners with founders and leadership teams to build the recruiting and HR foundations necessary for sustainable growth. With a background spanning early-stage startups, e-commerce brands, and agencies, she has served as a People & Talent Manager, Director of Operations, and Chief of Staff. This unique trajectory allows her to bridge the gap between human-centric HR and the gritty operational realities founders face daily. Val has completed over 150 projects focused on hiring strategy, HR infrastructure, and people operations. She specializes in helping scaling businesses move away from "firefighting" toward practical, hands-on systems that support first hires and beyond. Val brings a grounded, collaborative approach to every engagement, ensuring leaders can make confident people decisions as their teams evolve. Val loves sharing her expertise via talks and training sessions. Popular topics include compliance basics, choosing the right HR tools, and navigating the complexities of pay structures (e.g., W-2 vs. 1099). She’s happy to tailor discussions to what founders and business owners need most. You’ll hear practical strategies for client acquisition, running a workplace consulting business, and packaging consulting offers. Whether you identify as HR, workplace, L&D, OD, recruitment, or people & culture, you’ll discover real stories and actionable advice to attract clients, win contracts, and grow sustainably. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to get more clients as a consultant through referrals and personalized service Insights into running a workplace consulting business for smaller and younger companies, including compliance, recruitment, and team development Val Esway’s journey, including lessons from cleaning up compliance issues, helping founders make their first hires, and developing high-touch HR solutions Episode highlights: Val Esway’s background and the types of clients Work with Val serves (00:47) Common HR challenges faced by small and young businesses, especially those without dedicated HR staff (01:12) Navigating performance management and terminations thoughtfully and compliantly (02:42) The impact of terminations on the wider team and why respect matters (03:25) Recruitment support: Helping founders clarify what role they truly need and managing the hiring process end-to-end (05:11) Special considerations for e-commerce founders transitioning from agency relationships to hiring in-house staff (08:01) Popular training topics for business owners, including compliance basics and choosing HR systems (10:01) Common mistakes in hiring, pay structure, and contractor versus employee classification (12:09) Why many growing businesses rely on referrals and the value of a personalized, high-touch consultancy (16:03) Resources & Links Mentioned: Work with Val website: www.valesway.com Val's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/valesway Check out this B2B podcast launch service. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients websit

When companies use realistic job simulations, they can finally see beyond CVs and surface true talent, regardless of background. Removing bias from recruitment isn’t theoretical; it’s achievable. Grounding hiring decisions in real-world, data-driven simulations gives every candidate a fair shot and helps teams identify who will actually succeed in the role. Smart hiring isn’t about who interviews best. It’s about who performs best. Stephane Rivard, CEO and co-founder of HiringBranch, a Montreal-based company using AI and job simulations to transform high-volume recruitment, shares the evolution of Hiring Branch, why traditional interviews fall short, and how data-driven, skill-based hiring can result in fairer, and more consistent outcomes. Other topics we covered in our conversation: Evolution from language and soft-skills training to data-driven, skills-based assessments. Why success in customer-facing roles goes beyond empathy to skills like rapport, grit, and critical thinking. The difficulty of replacing traditional interviews and reducing bias in hiring. How HiringBranch adapts its platform across industries using deep, role-specific data. Go-to-market insights: experimentation, conferences, networking, and customer outcomes. Advice for HR tech firms on partnerships, focus, and differentiation. And much more! If you’re interested in fair and effective hiring practices, data-driven HR, or the future of skills assessment, this conversation offers a grounded, experience-based look at what works and what’s changing in the world of recruitment. Website: www.hiringbranch.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephane-rivard-entrepreneur Check out this B2B podcast launch service. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more at www.getmorehrclients.com.

Hiring for remote roles sounds easy in theory. In reality? It’s noisy, rushed, and increasingly flooded with AI-generated applications. That’s why I enjoyed learning about Isidora Mayer, CEO of FlatWorld and her very human take on global hiring. FlatWorld isn’t just about skills matching. It’s about fit: company culture, personal happiness, and long-term success on both sides. Isidora’s own leadership journey says a lot. She went from candidate to CEO by believing deeply in the mission and keeping people at the heart of every decision. Proof that rejection isn’t the end, it can be the beginning. So what does Flatworld actually do? They help companies overwhelmed by AI noise find real human candidates fast. What makes it different: 12-minute pre-employment assessments that filter for real skills Asynchronous video responses (less stress, more authenticity) Personality fit tailored to each company—not cookie-cutter profiles The process is sharp but thoughtful: ~70% of applicants filtered via technical tests Short video answers for the rest A final, company-specific personality fit layer Most growth comes from long-term partners and word of mouth, because trust still wins. And the business model? FlatWorld only gets paid if you hire No upfront fees No subscriptions No risk FlatWorld is especially well-suited for: Growing tech companies hiring remote dev or product talent US & EU companies making cross-border hires Teams who care about real happiness—not just filling seats What’s next? Cutting through the AI noise. Helping companies spot real humans and helping real humans find companies who’ll truly value them. If you’re building a remote tech team or trying to make sense of AI-driven hiring, Isidora’s story (and FlatWorld’s model) is a good reminder that putting people first still works and still wins. Website: www.flatworld.co LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/izimayer Check out this B2B podcast launch service. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more at www.getmorehrclients.com.

Employee benefits aren’t about money.They’re about how people feel. When leaders offer personalized perks, employees feel seen, valued, and more connected to the company. Genuine care in culture beats bigger paychecks. A strong workplace isn’t built on swag. It’s built on choice, recognition, and everyday experiences employees actually enjoy. On my latest episode of A Better HR Business, I sat down with Jordan Peace, CEO & Co-Founder of Fringe, to explore why personalized perks are reshaping recruitment, retention, and engagement. Fringe is built on a marketplace of lifestyle benefits - everything from massage memberships and clothing subscriptions to larger, meaningful purchases. The goal? Immediate value and real excitement. As Jordan shared: “We wanted to put the power in the hands of employees to choose what benefits were most relevant to them and their families.” In this episode, we cover: Why traditional benefits often miss the mark How personalized perks fit into daily life Closing the gap between employer spend and employee value Using tailored benefits to boost loyalty and engagement Building trust through authenticity and transparency We also had an interesting conversation about the value of Fringe's B2B podcast. Jordan discussed: Podcasting makes it easier to start conversations with the exact people you want as customers, partners, or investors. Podcast conversations often open doors that cold emails never will. A podcast gives you a reason to reach out that feels generous, not salesy.  Long-form conversations build trust faster than ads, posts, or cold outreach. Podcasts reward honesty and stories more than polished messaging. You don’t need a complex content plan if you can show up and talk like a real human. Podcasting works best when it reflects how you actually think and speak. A show can double as relationship-building, learning, and brand visibility. Being a podcast guest or host positions you as a peer, not a vendor. Marketing works better when it feels like a conversation, not a campaign. Check out this B2B podcast launch service. If you’re building or marketing an HR business, this episode breaks down how personalized perks can drive retention, loyalty, and real engagement, without increasing payroll. Website: www.fringe.us LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-peace-fringe About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Get More HR Clients Business Growth Kit - Get More HR Clients Kit Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more at www.getmorehrclients.com.

After a long break, Disrupt Dublin is returning on Thursday, 26 February 2026, bringing fast talks, sharp thinking, and real conversations about the future of work in Ireland. In this episode, I’m joined by my event co-host Bill Banham, Editor of HR Gazette, host of the HRchat Podcast, and one of the long-standing forces behind Disrupt events across the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada. We talk about why now is the right time to relaunch Disrupt Dublin, what makes the format different from traditional HR conferences, and what attendees can expect on the night. Discrupt Dublin: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/disrupt-dublin-returns-tickets-1976595846385?aff=bg  What Is Disrupt? Disrupt was founded in 2013 in Cincinnati and has since run events in more than 170 cities worldwide. Its format is simple and demanding: Five-minute talks Twenty slides Slides auto-advance every 15 seconds Speakers have no room to waffle. They must be clear, direct, and honest. The result is high-energy talks that get straight to the point and often say the things people are already thinking but rarely hear on stage. Bill explains how this format changes the dynamic for both speakers and audiences, creating a sense of shared risk, focus, and connection. The aim is not polished perfection, but useful ideas that spark new thinking. Why Disrupt Dublin Matters This will be the first Disrupt event in Dublin since before the pandemic, and the relaunch is designed to feel social, open, and practical. Rather than a full-day conference, Disrupt Dublin is an evening event with time built in for proper conversations. Talks are recorded and added to the global Disrupt library, which now hosts thousands of short presentations from around the world. Topics on the night will span leadership, culture, talent, technology, learning, wellbeing, and how work is really changing in 2026 and beyond. Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/disrupt-dublin-returns-tickets-1976595846385?aff=bg. Event Details DateThursday, 26 February 2026 Time5:00 pm to 8:30 pm GMT LocationPersonio DublinGeorges Quay House, 43 Townsend Street, Dublin 2 Agenda 5:00 – 6:00 Registration and networkingDrinks, canapés, and first conversations 6:00 – 6:15 Welcome and opening remarks 6:15 – 7:00 Lightning Talks – Round One 7:00 – 7:15 Break 7:15 – 8:00 Lightning Talks – Round Two 8:00 – 8:30 Wrap-up and final networking Speakers Include Kelsey Cates, Global Head of Learning Experiences, Google Elizabeth Buckley, HR Director, Forvis Mazars John Kennedy FCIPD, Head of HR Organisational Development, Iarnród Éireann and Vice Chair, CIPD Ireland National Committee Dr. Mary Collins, Chartered Psychologist, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Simon Peter Haigh, Founder and CEO, GCM Growth Group Ivan Stojanovic, Co-founder, Taladria Bill Banham, Editor, HR Gazette More speakers and partners will be announced closer to the event. Who It’s For Disrupt Dublin is designed for in-house HR and Talent professionals, people leaders, founders, researchers, and workplace innovators. Capacity is limited, and priority will be given to practitioners and guests of partners and speakers. How to Attend Places are limited. Registration does not guarantee entry, and tickets may be refunded if the event is full or attendee criteria are not met. Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/disrupt-dublin-returns-tickets-1976595846385?aff=bg. If you are looking for a short, high-energy event that challenges standard thinking and brings together people who are actively shaping work in Ireland, this is one to put in the diary. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out