Talk Talent To Me · 2026-05-27 · 40 min
Rob welcomes back Joe Bast, now SVP of People Operations at Crisp, for a wide-ranging conversation that covers what it really takes to operate at the executive level, why AI is not the equalizer most people think it is, and how the definition of retention needs a complete overhaul. Joe brings 25 years of hard-won perspective on building high-performing people functions at growth-stage companies, and he does not hold back. From managing up to a CEO, to the slow erasure of entry-level talent pipelines, to why your critical talent should want for nothing, this episode is a masterclass for any HR or TA leader trying to do the job at the highest level. Key Takeaways If the CEO keeps checking in, you do not have their trust: Joe's framework for earning executive confidence is simple: demonstrate competence, state your outcome, get quick wins, and let your results do the talking. Frequent check-ins are a warning sign, not a perk. AI is not making mediocre talent better: B or C players with AI produce more output faster, but the quality problem does not go away. Joe makes the case that tolerating AI slop is on leaders as much as the people generating it.
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