The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly

Aaron Terrazas is an economist who has worked for the U.S. Treasury, Zillow and was most recently, the chief economist at Glassdoor. He spent his career providing research, analysis and commentary on today’s evolving workplace and fast-changing labor market. 
Aaron discusses how there are two different job markets concurrently happening, and delves into the undercurrent beneath the headline numbers we are seeing in the economy and job market, primarily the erosion of the quality of work for white-collar workers.
Aaron talks about the cloud of uncertainty heading into 2025 and the importance of nuance when talking about issues such as illegal immigration and labor supply. We speak about the shift of demographics in the workforce, with the exodus of Baby Boomers and the implications that has on the job market and upward mobility, as well as intergenerational wealth transfers. Lastly, we talk about the impact of inflation in the near and long term, and how high interest rates alter the calculus of capital and startup investments.

Phil Willburn leads the People Analytics division at Workday, a platform serving human resources and finance needs with over 70 million users and handling 800 billion transactions annually. 
The current job market for white-collar workers is highly competitive, with job applications being submitted at a rate four times higher than the number of job openings. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by job seekers, who also perceive limited opportunities for advancement within their current organizations.
For those feeling stagnant in their careers, Phil emphasizes the importance of “crushing your job” and making efforts to be noticed. Despite the competitive environment, there are still opportunities for growth as companies set higher standards for hiring. Phil underscores the distinction between human capital and social capital, advocating for a focus on both to enhance networking and build a professional reputation. He notes that professional connections are a key factor in securing new positions, as referrals have become increasingly influential in the hiring process.

Robert Israch is the President of Tipalti, a global finance automation platform, who has over 20 years of leadership experience. During Rob’s tenure, Tipalti has experienced 50x growth, while helping the company receive a valuation of over $8.3 billion. The company has appeared on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 lists for the last five years running. In this episode, Rob talks about the importance of the 3 P’s when balancing your career: Place, People and Profession and how he went against the advice of his mentors by following his gut and taking a less-senior role in a position he knew he could grow in. Rob walks us through the framework of when is the right time to switch companies, as well as assessing a potential employer. He gives insight into what makes a company successful, such as its commitment to hard work, grit, problem-solving and conflict resolution. Rob also breaks down the concept of customer centricity.

Kiranbir Sodhia is a Senior Engineering Manager, leading teams developing machine learning frameworks for Google and the open-source community. He has over 15 years of experience working in AI, AR, gaming, mobile app and semiconductor industries at companies like Microsoft, Apple and Garmin International. Notably, at Microsoft he led development teams in Azure, Xbox and HoloLens. Kiranbir has always known exactly what he wanted to do, since the age of 12, and used that vision to build the stepping stones and skill sets to achieve his goals. He walks us through his trajectory to becoming a manager and how he has maintained the same enthusiasm all these years later. Kiranbir talks about why you shouldn’t fear failure and how it can be a key motivator for greatness. He gives us insight into the interviewing process at the prestigious Big Tech companies, from the perspective of both a job candidate and as a leader who has built his own teams. Lastly, Kiranbir shares how he turned down pre-IPO Facebook to work at his then-dream employer Apple, a decision he calls “comical” and humbling.