Fail Forward, Learn Fast: Embracing AI with Brendan Robinson CEO and Founder Broad & Madison Advisory Episode 279

This jobTopia episode explores how AI and automation transform staffing, from clean data strategies to agentic AI screening and AI-powered sales training, with practical insights for learning and development.

Meet  Brendan Robinson, CEO and Founder, Broad & Madison Advisory

• AI and Automation Are Not Your Mom’s Synonyms: The episode hammered home that AI and automation are like cousins who don’t get along at family reunions. Automation is the trusty sidekick for repetitive tasks—think sending “Happy Birthday” emails or fishing for candidates in your CRM. AI, on the other hand, is the chaotic genius demanding a full business makeover. L&D takeaway: Train your teams to stop lumping these together. Understanding their distinct roles is step one to not screwing up your tech adoption.

• Data Hoarding Is a Staffing Sin: Staffing firms are apparently digital packrats, clinging to decades-old resumes like they’re rare Pokémon cards. The guest’s “bulldoze the house” mantra for data cleanup is a wake-up call. For L&D, this means teaching folks to let go of useless data and embrace clean, actionable datasets. Pro tip: If it hasn’t been touched in two years, it’s not your holy grail—it’s just clutter.

• Agentic AI Is the New HR Intern (But Better): Agentic AI can screen hundreds of candidates faster than a recruiter on their third espresso, and it doesn’t get cranky. It’s not about replacing humans but about handling the grunt work so recruiters can focus on the high-value stuff, like actual interviews. L&D lesson: Upskill your team on how to leverage AI agents for efficiency, not fear them like they’re auditioning for Terminator.

• AI Supercharges Sales Training and Strategy: From mock sales calls to instant account plans, AI is like a personal coach that doesn’t charge by the hour. The guest’s team uses it to train newbies and craft hyper-targeted outreach, cutting prep time from weeks to seconds. L&D takeaway: Integrate AI into sales training programs to simulate real-world scenarios and analyze outreach data. It’s like giving your team a cheat code without the guilt.

• Creativity Isn’t Dead, It’s Amplified: The fear that AI kills creative mojo? Total myth. The guest sees AI as a thought partner that clears mundane tasks, freeing up brain space for big ideas. When it spits out a dud, just tell it to “do better” (genius move). L&D nugget: Teach people to use AI as a brainstorming buddy, not a replacement for their inner spark. It’s about collaboration, not capitulation.

• Fail Forward with AI—It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: The guest’s “just do something” vibe is gold. AI adoption is messy, and you’ll screw up, but the learning curve is steep and fast. L&D insight: Build a culture where experimenting with AI is encouraged, even if it means a few faceplants. Failure is just data for the next win.

• Personalization Is King, and AI’s the Royal Scribe: From tailored drip campaigns to knowing a client’s niche market challenges, AI makes you look like you care (even if it’s doing the heavy lifting). L&D angle: Train teams to use AI for hyper-personalized outreach that feels human, not robotic. It’s about making clients feel special, not spammed.

In short, this episode taught me that AI in staffing isn’t just about shiny tech—it’s about smarter processes, cleaner data, and empowering humans to do what they do best. For L&D, it’s a call to action: train folks to embrace AI as a tool, no