The 800th episode of the HRchat Show welcomes Chad Sowash, the dynamic co-host of “HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast” – the Chad and Cheese Show.
Chad has worked in the HR, Talent Acquisition, and HR Tech space for over 20 years consulting hundreds of Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, Lockheed Martin, and The Ford Motor Company. Chad is a former Army Infantry drill sergeant, who cut his teeth in online recruitment in the late 1990s. He went on to build Randstad’s first military veteran hiring program. Today, you can find him behind the mic at events, and/or working hard to challenge the norm.
This celebration episode delivers a masterclass in straight talk about what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s next in HR and talent acquisition.
Drawing from his career journey from Army infantry drill sergeant to HR tech innovator, Chad shares how military leadership training gave him a competitive edge in corporate environments. He pulls no punches discussing the need for HR to stop identifying as cost centers and start demonstrating real business impact. Chad emphasizes. “Nothing happens without human beings doing the jobs. We are the beating heart of every organization.”
The conversation tackles veteran hiring initiatives, where Chad distinguishes between companies seeking actual outcomes versus those merely checking diversity boxes. This extends to his candid assessment of recent DEI program rollbacks.
Looking toward the future, Chad warns about “vaporware” in HR tech – over-promised technologies that can’t deliver. He emphasizes the importance of bringing diverse voices into HR conversations, sharing how his podcast deliberately seeks experts from outside the industry to provide fresh perspectives on workforce challenges.
Chad and I also discuss the best HR and Recruitment events in the calendar, including RecFest, UNLEASH, HR Tech and Transform.