Podcast
scalr sagecast
Hosted by Matt Woodard, scalr · EN
Welcome to the scalr sagecast - bite-sized wisdom for ambitious business minds.
Every week, we bring you inspiring stories and hard-won wisdom from a different business leader so get ready to learn, grow and scale your success!
The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a talent advisory headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
scalr sagecast - #65 - Mark Palmer - From Fighter Jets to Scaling Teams
Apr 2700:30:15Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMark Palmer has had a career most people only dream about - working on aircraft across the globe, before landing at Shield AI as VP of Vision Systems, one of the most exciting defence tech companies operating today.In this episode, Matt and Mark explore what happens when two businesses with a genuine meeting of minds come together - and why the Shield acquisition of Sentient felt like a natural fit from day one.We cover a lot of ground in 30 minutes: what scaling businesses consistently get wrong, why culture becomes your most important asset the moment you start to grow, and how to hold onto and develop your best people through periods of rapid change.Mark also shares his take on autonomy as the future of work, what it actually takes to move into defence tech, and why Australia is rapidly becoming a serious global player in the space - without needing to rely on government funding to get there.If you're building a team, thinking about your next career move, or just fascinated by where defence tech is heading, this one's worth your time.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #64 - Sam Young - Support in the Moments That Matter, Not After.
Mar 3000:29:47Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis week on scalr sagecast, I sat down with Sam Young, founder of SIID Labs.Sam is a counsellor and psychotherapist with frontline experience in mental health and addiction - and he’s using both professional and lived experience to build something different.SIID is a personalised, AI-powered micro-guidance companion designed to support people in the moments that matter most - those brief spikes of anxiety, overwhelm, rumination or task paralysis that can derail focus and momentum.Many people either can’t access mental health systems, don’t engage with them, or don’t get support when they actually need it. SIID is designed to bridge that gap.In this episode, we explore: What “micro moments” are and why they’re so important Why traditional support models often fail in real-time situations How AI and wearable tech can enable proactive, pre-emptive support The role of personalisation in improving outcomes And how Sam’s lived experience has shaped the product and its intent A raw and honest conversation about mental health, technology, and building more human solutions.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #63 - Vanessa Raath - Sourcing, AI and What’s Next for Talent.
Feb 2300:36:21Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailJoining this week's scalr sagecast is Vanessa Raath - global sourcing expert, AI commentator and one of the most engaging speakers in the talent industry.V’s career journey spans South Africa, London and Thailand, with a decade in tech consulting before building her current business and becoming a recognised voice on sourcing, AI and innovation.In this episode, Matt and V explore:• V’s unconventional path into tech and sourcing.• Where TA and AI are truly converging.• Why sourcing capability is back in demand.• What stage we’re really at in the AI journey.It’s a high-energy, wide-ranging conversation packed with insight on the future of talent acquisition.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #62 - Craig Harman - Unlocking the Power of Employee Networks
Jan 2600:26:12Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailCraig Harman has spent years leading within agency recruitment - and along the way, he noticed a persistent, expensive problem: organisations underutilising the strongest networks they already have.In this episode, Craig shares why he built mployd, a platform focused on helping businesses create structured, effective referral programs that actually work.We explore:Why referral hiring is one of the most cost-effective channels availableHow poor or informal referral approaches end up wasting moneyWhat a strong referral culture looks like in practiceAnd simple ways leaders can get started without adding complexityA practical conversation for anyone responsible for hiring, cost control, or building stronger internal networks.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #61 - Gemma Toogood - Fixing the Tech Talent Pipeline, One Pathway at a Time
Jan 500:31:46Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailGemma Toogood’s career started in a place you’d never expect - as a broker for paparazzi photos - before a series of twists led her into entrepreneurship, then into tech, and now into building Neoma, a platform helping people and organisations navigate alternative pathways into the industry.In this episode, we unpack:Why Australia is on track to be 600,000 tech workers short by 2030Which roles are most exposed to AI disruptionThe huge upside of developing AI literacy at every levelWhy reskilling costs less than half of making someone redundantAnd what business leaders need to know about when (and how) to begin the skills transitionIt’s honest, sharp, and refreshingly human - an entertaining look at one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #60 - Aditya Rajagopalan - Why Reinvention Starts With Curiosity.
Dec 800:32:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailNew episode of scalr sagecast with career coach, Aditya Rajagopalan.Aditya’s career started the way many of ours did: fairly traditional, ticking the expected boxes, following the well-lit corporate path.But somewhere along the way, he realised that doing what you’re good at and doing what you’re built for aren’t always the same thing.So he tried things on.Different roles. Different environments. Different challenges.And in that process of exploration he found his real calling: coaching - helping people think clearer, lead better, and move forward with confidence.In this episode, we dig into:How a conventional corporate career can become a launch pad for reinventionWhy exposure to different roles can be the fastest route to clarityThe moments that pushed Aditya toward coaching as a true vocationAnd why good mentors have become critical in today’s market - where uncertainty, layoffs and shifting expectations have left a lot of people feeling stuckIt’s a grounded, honest conversation about choice, identity and growth - and why we all benefit from having someone in our corner who’s willing to challenge, support and push us.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #59 - Terry Condon - Personal Development for Personal Finance
Nov 2400:39:43Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis episode with Terry Condon gets to the heart of financial wellness: helping people feel good about money again - not in a prescribed way, but in a way that matches who they are, where they’re at, and what they value.We explore:What wealth, “rich” and success mean at different stages of lifeHow to optimise your money for your next chapter, not a lifetimeWhy freedom comes from systems and clarity, not disciplineAnd how financial confidence starts with identity, not numbersIt’s fascinating, honest, and surprisingly human.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #58 - Annie Johnson - HR’s Next Big Shift: Less Admin, More Impact
Oct 1300:30:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail“This is the next big industrial revolution, and leaders will have never experienced this before…”Annie Johnson has seen the evolution of People & Culture from every angle - in-house, consulting, product, leadership - and she’s now building humaneer, a next-gen AI platform reshaping how HR teams work.In this episode, we dive into:Why 73% of HR’s time is still spent on adminThe reality that 70% of tasks will be automated in the next 5 yearsHow Annie's approach to “practising for the big game” transformed her mindset and performanceWhat the future of work really looks like when leaders embrace AI, community, and strategic impactAnd how Mak by humaneer is freeing up HR pros to lead - not just manageWe also chat about how Annie’s rich background (from GE Capital to Virgin Australia to founding The Honest Human) shaped her views on culture, tech, and change.If you're in HR, TA or leadership - and wondering which bucket you're in when it comes to tech adoption - this one's for you.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #57 - Jo Vohland - AI, In-Person Impact & the TA Leadership Shift
Sep 2900:31:26Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis week I’m joined by Jo Vohland, the brains and heart behind ATC Events & Media - the team that’s been curating conversations, conferences and communities for TA pros long before it was trendy.We get into:How the role and toolkit of TA leaders is shifting.What AI might mean for the function - both now and over the next few years.Why in-person events still matter (and probably more than ever).And how ATC continues to evolve with the industry - not just talk at it.Jo’s been in this space for over a decade, and her insights are bang on - not just for TA leaders, but for anyone thinking about where the people part of business is heading.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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scalr sagecast - #56 - Alan Crabbe - The Importance of Community
Sep 2200:30:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailFrom pioneering one of the world’s first crowdfunding platforms to supporting the next wave of Aussie startups, Alan Crabbe has always had one foot in community and the other in innovation.In this episode, we explore Alan’s journey – from building Pozible and Birchal into household names in the startup scene, to his latest venture, Frontcover, which aims to redefine how we support early-stage founders.We chat through: Why Australia’s startup ecosystem needs more community, not less. What types of AI startups are actually getting traction (and funding). Why in-person events are more vital than ever in a post-pandemic world. What it really takes to build (and maintain) a thriving founder community.Alan brings a calm, considered perspective on what’s working, what’s broken, and what we can all do better to support the innovation economy.If you're a founder, investor, community builder, or just startup-curious - this one's for you.The scalr sagecast is proudly brought to you by scalr, a recruitment and talent advisory business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Want to identify potential gaps in your current TA process? Take the free TA Readiness Scorecard or reach out to the team for a free 30-minute discussion.
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