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The Employer Brief Academy

The Employer Brief Academy

Di: Don Hicks
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A proposito di questo titolo
 The Employer Brief Academy is the podcast built for the busy professional who didn't sign up to become an HR expert — but suddenly finds themselves responsible for one of the most complex, high-stakes parts of running a business or organization: having employees. Whether you're a small business owner, a first-time manager, operating a non-profit, or a seasoned leader stretched thin by the demands of the business, this show meets you where you are. Each episode is designed to be detailed without being dense, engaging without being superficial, and — yes — enjoyable to listen to. Because learning about HR and business compliance doesn't have to feel like a trip to the DMV. The reality is that managing people comes with a mountain of complexity that nobody fully prepares you for. Employment law, HR policies, hiring and firing, workplace compliance, benefits, performance management — the list is long, the stakes are high, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be serious. For most professionals, that complexity quietly drains time, drains energy, and confidence, that could be spent on the work that excites them. And, all of this drains the resources from the organization and increases costs. The Employer Brief Academy exists to change that. This show is made for a wide range of professionals who share one thing in common: people are part of the equation. That includes business owners and entrepreneurs across for-profit and nonprofit organizations, HR professionals and anyone who has found themselves wearing the HR hat without the title, C-suite executives and senior leaders, and investors who need to understand the operational and people risks inside their portfolio companies — including venture capital and private equity firms. It's also an invaluable resource for the trusted advisors who sit across the table from employers every day — benefits brokers, employment attorneys, bankers, and CPAs — who want to better understand the challenges their clients are navigating and speak their language with confidence. This show is your trusted resource for cutting through the noise — giving you the knowledge, context, and practical tools to handle people-management and operational challenges with clarity and confidence. The goal isn't to turn you into an HR professional. The goal is to make sure HR never blindsides you again, so you can stop reacting to problems and start focusing on the strategic, rewarding, and growth-oriented parts of your career that made you want to lead in the first place. Think of it as the briefing you always needed but never had time to find. This show is released weekly every Wednesday. Find it on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your preferred podcast app. You can also visit the website at www.theemployerbriefacademy.com.Copyright 2026 Don Hicks Economia Gestione e leadership Management
Episodi
  • Alert: Top Talent Is Not On Job Boards. Where Are They?

    Alert: Top Talent Is Not On Job Boards. Where Are They?
    Nov 11 2026

    Episode 7: Alert: Top Talent Isn’t on Job Boards. Where Are They?

    The best candidates usually aren’t looking for a job. So how do you find them?

    Don Hicks talks with Walter Sabrin, Chief Talent Officer at Vensure Employer Solutions. Walter was a competitive tennis player before he got into sales leadership and recruiting, and he’s spent more than 20 years in talent acquisition. He explains why posting a job and waiting doesn’t work anymore, why hiring out of desperation costs more, and why a real recruiting strategy uses several approaches together. The episode is for owners, HR managers and leaders at businesses of any size.

    In this episode:

    • Why A-players are already employed, and how headhunting (yes, picking up the phone) still works
    • The difference between a full recruiting strategy and job-board “point solutions”
    • Simple wins for small businesses: an applicant tracking system, a better careers page, an easier application and an employee referral program
    • The “martini glass” model of recruiting
    • Hiring beyond the resume
    • How turnover and poor onboarding can be the real problem, not a lack of candidates
    • Where AI helps in hiring and where it can’t replace the human side, like judging culture fit
    • Finding talent outside the U.S.
    • The “lifeguard effect”: why an outside view shows you what you can’t see from inside your business

    Timestamps:

    • 00:00 Welcome and introducing Walter Sabrin
    • 01:24 From tennis player to recruiter
    • 03:16 What the tennis court teaches about business
    • 06:32 A day in the life of a Chief Talent Officer
    • 09:20 A full recruiting strategy vs. point solutions
    • 13:04 Top talent isn’t on job boards
    • 15:24 A cost-effective recruiting plan for small businesses
    • 17:44 The martini glass model
    • 19:08 The one thing every employer should understand about hiring
    • 21:28 The diagnostic approach: do you really need to hire?
    • 24:44 Recruiting has gone from “or” to “and”
    • 25:40 AI’s role in recruiting
    • 28:28 Hiring remote and international talent
    • 31:16 The lifeguard effect and a free consultation
    • 33:08 How to reach Walter

    Connect with Walter Sabrin:

    • LinkedIn: Walter Sabrin https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltersabrin/
    • Email: walter.sabrin@vensure.com

    Connect with Don Hicks:

    • Book a consultation: https://calendly.com/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting
    • Website: https://theemployerbriefacademy.com
    • Email: don.hicks@vensure.com
    • Phone: (216) 407-3749

    The Employer Brief: Think a little differently about your business.
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    37 min
  • The Good, The Bad, The PEO: What Every Business Should Know

    The Good, The Bad, The PEO: What Every Business Should Know
    Nov 4 2026
    The Good, the Bad, and the PEO: What Every Business Owner Should KnowHow can a 20-person company offer benefits like Amazon’s? For thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, the answer is a professional employer organization, or PEO.In this episode, Don Hicks explains what a PEO is and how co-employment works. He covers who does what, why the employees still belong to the business, and why a PEO is not staffing or a temp agency. He also walks through how the industry started, from the “fire, hire and lease back” employee leasing days to IRS certification in 2014. That history explains why the model has a reputation, and why the industry is a legitimate option today.Don then covers who a PEO is a good fit for, the trade-offs to know before you sign, and the myths he hears most often, including “It costs too much,” “I’ll lose my company culture” and “If I join, I’m stuck.”In this episode:What a PEO is, and what it isn’tThe client service agreement and who handles whatThe history: employee leasing, the 1986 Tax Reform Act, NAPEO, ESAC and the IRS Certified PEO programWhy the PEO model has held up through 2001, 2008 and COVIDWho should consider a PEOTrade-offs: cost, benefit plan choices, liability, auto-renewals, one-size-fits-all service, and alternatives like ASOs9 common myths and misconceptions, answeredThe PEO industry today (source: NAPEO, 2026):502 PEOs in the U.S.About 233,000 businesses in a PEO relationship5.4 million worksite employeesAbout $446 billion in industry revenueRoughly 100,000 worksite employees and 6,000 net new clients added each yearFree resource: Download the Is a PEO Right for Your Business? checklist at theemployerbriefacademy.com (Contact the Show → Free Resources).Connect with Don: For a free, no-obligation conversation, or to book Don to speak at your corporate event, conference or workshop, visit theemployerbriefacademy.com.Next episode: Recruiting strategies with a chief talent officer, on competing for and finding top talent.Subscribe to The Employer Brief Academy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and sign up for the free weekly newsletter at theemployerbriefacademy.com.This episode is for educational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice.Now you know. Now you grow.IMPORTANT SHOW INFO: Website: https://theemployerbriefacademy.comEpisodes Release Dates: Weekly, Every WednesdayNewsletter Sign Up, Book Speaking Engagements or Consultations, and Contact Me: https://theemployerbriefacademy.comBook a Consultation: https://calendly.com/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting/don-hicks-hr-business-consultingContact Me Directly: https://calendly.com/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting/don-hicks-hr-business-consultingBook a Speaking Engagement Consultation: https://calendly.com/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting/consultation-w-don-hicks-the-employer-brief-ac-cloneRESEARCH NOTES:Industry data & backgroundNAPEO, About the PEO Industry: https://napeo.org/what-is-a-peo/about-the-peo-industryNAPEO, PEO Clients 2025 report: https://napeo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/PEOClients2025_WhitePaper_Web.pdfNAPEO, Industry White Papers: https://napeo.org/what-is-a-peo/about-the-peo-industry/napeo-white-papersHistory of the industryJournal of Accountancy, “From Employee Leasing to PEO”: https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/1999/jul/katz.htmlNAIC, PEO Guidelines (origins and early regulation): https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/GL1950.pdfWikipedia, Professional Employer Organization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_employer_organizationIRS certification (CPEO) and the 2014 lawIRS, Certified PEO program (includes the public list of certified PEOs): https://www.irs.gov/cpeoNAPEO, Background on the Small Business Efficiency Act: https://napeo.org/advocacy/what-we-advocate/federal-government-affairs/irscertification/background-on-sbeaJournal of Accountancy, “Certified PEOs: The First Four Years”: https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2021/jul/certified-professional-employer-organizations.htmlAccreditation & state registrationESAC (Employer Services Assurance Corporation): https://www.esac.org/about-esac/Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, PEO guidelines: https://bwc.ohio.gov/employer/services/peo/policies.aspOhio Revised Code, Chapter 4125 (PEOs): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4125Due diligence: why certification mattersThe Tax Adviser, “Liability for Employment Taxes When Using a PEO”: https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2017/nov/liability-payment-employment-taxes-peo.htmlThe CPA Journal, “Delegating Payroll Duties to a PEO”: https://www.cpajournal.com/2021/03/30/how-to-delegate-payroll-employee-related-tax-filings-and-associated-employer-duties-to-a-professional-employer-organization/Comparing modelsU.S. Chamber of Commerce (CO), PEO vs. ASO: https://uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/peo-vs-asoU.S. Chamber of Commerce (CO), PEO vs. EOR: https://uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/peo-vs-eor
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    37 min
  • Start Slow. Think Fast: AI For The Overwhelmed

    Start Slow. Think Fast: AI For The Overwhelmed
    Oct 28 2026

    Start Slow. Think Fast: AI for the Overwhelmed

    Episode 5 | with Annabelen Hemelgarn

    Are you running your business, or is your business running you? Don Hicks talks with Annabelen Hemelgarn, an engineer, author, and owner of Ignite Design Online in Cincinnati, about using AI to build business systems without losing the human edge.

    After a kidney transplant in 2017 left her working from a hospital bed, Annabelen rebuilt her businesses around systems so they could run without her. Now she helps business owners do the same with a mix of people and AI agents. Her rule is simple: garbage in, garbage out. AI is only as good as the thinking you bring to it.

    In this episode:

    • Why AI needs a human in the loop, and what “garbage in, garbage out” really means
    • The two camps of AI adoption, and why both are at risk
    • The THINK framework from her book The Thinking Edge
    • Why small businesses may have the advantage over large companies with AI
    • Advice for the hesitant HR pro: start slow with one small automation
    • Whether AI has judgment, and why it also has bias
    • Real-world examples of fixing duplicate data entry and siloed systems
    • One thing you can do this week that you’ll thank yourself for a year from now

    Timestamps:

    • 00:02 Welcome and guest introduction
    • 02:39 Annabelen’s origin story
    • 06:02 Why AI still needs humans
    • 08:04 What inspired The Thinking Edge
    • 12:43 The two camps of AI adoption
    • 18:28 The THINK framework
    • 24:37 Advice for HR pros who are nervous about AI
    • 30:25 How people actually think at work
    • 36:17 Can AI handle judgment?
    • 37:37 Building custom business systems
    • 42:14 Annabelen’s takeaway for listeners

    Connect with Annabelen Hemelgarn:

    • Ignite Design Online: ignitedesignonline.com
    • The Ignite Toolbox, her digital tool for building and implementing content, is available at ignitedesignonline.com
    • Her book, The Thinking Edge, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and her website, in print, ebook, and audiobook
    • Thinking Edge companion site with practices: thinkingedgeonline.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelen/

    Connect with Don Hicks:

    • Website, free resources, and newsletter: https://theemployerbriefacademy.com
    • YouTube: search The Employer Brief Academy
    • Book a consultation: https://calendly.com/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting/don-hicks-hr-business-consulting
    • Speaking inquiries: contact Don through the website

    Next episode: Episode 6 covers professional employer organizations (PEOs): what they are, how they work, and how one could transform your business.

    Now you know. Now you grow.
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    46 min
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