Aspire Hire Conversations

Aspire Hire Convos: Ep. 10 - Do NOT Hire a "2"

A candidate can seem great and still be the WRONG hire. That’s why I wanted to record this episode. I’m certified in Lou Adler’s Performance-based Hiring™ methodology, and one of the best rules from that framework is incredibly simple: On a scale of 1-5: No 2s. Not in motivation. Not in fit. Not in comparable results. Not in the areas your team absolutely needs to win. In this episode, I walk through how this rule works, why leaders ignore it, and how it can make your hiring process a lot less stressful. Want the scorecard I reference in the episode? Comment scorecard.

Ep. 09: Networking (Reconnecting)

Take the Ick Out of Networking: How to Reconnect Without Making It Weird Have you ever wanted to reach out to a former mentor, manager, or colleague but stopped yourself because it felt… awkward? In this episode of Aspire Hire Conversations, we unpack why reconnecting often feels uncomfortable and how to do it in a way that’s authentic, respectful, and not transactional. You’ll learn: • Why we think reconnection needs a “reason” (and why that belief holds us back) • How to reconnect without asking for anything • What to say when “it’s been too long” • How gratitude can reopen doors more powerfully than any pitch This episode is for: ✔️ Professionals who value relationships ✔️ Anyone who hates traditional “networking” ✔️ People who want to lead with humanity, not hustle If networking has ever given you the ick, this one’s for you. 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about careers, hiring, and building meaningful professional relationships

Ep. 07: Hiring for Potential - How Startups Win With Smart Bets

In Episode 7 of Aspire Hire Conversations, “Hiring for Potential: How Startups Win With Smart Bets,” I break down the hiring mistake I see early-stage CPG brands make constantly: They hire “big-brand resumes” for a startup environment… and then wonder why the hire struggles in the chaos. In this episode, we talk about: * 🌀 Why “hiring for potential” is not hiring for hope (or vibes) * 📈 The achievement patterns that predict who can stretch, adapt, and build fast * 🌪️ How to assess environment fit (storm vs sunshine) in interviews * 🎯 The Performance-Based Interview questions that expose real capability * ✅ Why defining 6–12 month performance objectives changes everything If you’re building in ambiguity, limited resources, and fast pivots… You don’t need the most polished candidate. You need the storm-survivor. The builder. The one who’s done it without a machine behind them. If you’re a founder, operator, or hiring leader in early-stage consumer brand this one’s for you.

Ep. 08: Inside the Interview - The Questions That Separate Good from Great

Episode 8 | Inside the Interview: The Questions That Separate Good from Great | Aspire Hire Conversations If you’ve ever walked out of an interview thinking “…did I actually learn anything?” …this episode is your new playbook. In today’s conversation, we’re going inside the interview to break down the questions, strategies, and mindset that separate good candidates from great ones. Whether you’re a hiring manager at a scrappy founder-led CPG brand or a candidate preparing for your next big move in beauty, personal care, food & bev, or apparel - this episode gives you the tools to win. ✨ What you’ll learn: * Why most interviews rely on surface-level questions that don’t predict performance * The biggest pitfalls hiring managers don’t realize they’re making * How Performance-Based Hiring (Lou Adler’s method) transforms your ability to evaluate talent * The “Achievement Gap” framework that instantly reveals a candidate’s true impact * The single most important interview question I ask every time * How candidates can tell powerful, results-driven stories using STAR * Why great interviewing builds great culture, not just great teams 🧠 For hiring managers: Learn how to structure an interview that uncovers real results, reduces gut-feel bias, and attracts A-players who thrive in fast-paced CPG environments. 💡 For candidates: Discover how to communicate your accomplishments clearly, confidently, and impactfully. Even if you don’t have the “perfect” background on paper. ---------------------------------------- About Aspire Hire Conversations Hosted by Chelsea Leon, CPG recruiter and founder of Aspire Hire, this podcast breaks down what it really takes to hire, grow, and retain high-performing teams across beauty & personal care, food & beverage, apparel, and lifestyle brands. If you’re building a team or building your career, these conversations will help you get there. Visit: AspireHire.net [https://aspirehire.net]

Ep. 06: How to Attract A-Players (Without Competing on Salary Alone)

How to Attract A-Players (Without Competing on Salary Alone) If your job post sounds like every other job post… you’re fishing in the same pond as everyone else and wondering why you keep catching the same fish. In this episode of Aspire Hire Conversations, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually catches the attention of high-performing, passive CPG talent: the ones who are not scrolling job boards, not chasing the highest salary, and definitely not responding to bland job descriptions that read like tax forms. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: * ✅ What A-players really care about (hint: it’s not salary) * ✅ How to make your role irresistible through storytelling, clarity, and purpose * ✅ Why employer brand is your most underused recruiting tool * ✅ How Performance-Based Hiring turns job descriptions into magnets for top talent * ✅ The small shifts that make CPG founders and hiring managers stand out instantly If you’re a Beauty, Personal Care, Food & Bev, Apparel, or Wellness brand competing in a saturated talent market, this episode will give you the playbook that your competitors aren’t using. ✨ Ready to hire A-players the right way? Let’s talk. If you’re tired of candidate ghosting… tired of generic resumes… tired of interviewing the wrong fits… You don’t have a hiring problem. You have a positioning problem. I can fix that. 👉 Book a call with me here: aspirehire.net [https://aspirehire.net] About Aspire Hire Aspire Hire helps founder-led and scaling CPG brands recruit top-tier talent through a high-touch, performance-based, relationship-driven approach. Zero spray-and-pray. Zero spammy outreach. Just strategic, targeted recruiting for brands that want the top 10%.