Honestly, We're Learning

About Honestly, We're Learning

Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned. As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen. The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.

Publisher

ClearEdge

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Dec 2025

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Launching Careers, Building Community, and Redefining Success Beyond Retention

   On this episode of Honestly, We’re Learning, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec celebrate Lesly's nomination as a finalist for a Women of Work Award for mentorship while talking openly about why women minimize their own achievements. From Leslie attempting to talk her alma mater out of giving her a distinguished alumni award to the reflex of blurting out "It was on sale!” when complimented, they explore why we downplay our wins and make a pact to start simply saying "thank you." Then, they are joined by Milissa Ales-Barnicoat, CEO of AlliedUP Cooperative Inc. (https://alliedup.com/), a pioneering healthcare staffing model that combines a talent incubator with a co-op structure. With decades of workforce solutions experience spanning light industrial, creative, tech, and healthcare, Milissa is on a mission to drive economic autonomy and ensure a job builds a person, not just fills a role. Leslie, Lesly, and Milissa dive into the pivotal turning points and moral dilemmas that shaped her human-first leadership style. Milissa shares how a trip to Mexico early in her career forced her to confront the human impact behind staffing margin spreads, why AlliedUP focuses on helping healthcare professionals launch rather than just land careers, and how supporting the "whole person" prevents workplace rustout. She also breaks down why employers need to pause and ask "why" before writing off a worker who misses a shift, how mission-driven healthcare providers navigate real-world community crises, and why true leadership is measured by who your people become during their tenure. Episode Chapters 00:34 - Celebrating Your Wins and Letting Others Do the Same 05:05 - Launch, Don’t Land: Introducing Milissa-Ales Barnicoat and AlliedUP 09:35 - Rethinking Staffing Margins & Worker Equity 13:26 - Preventing Workplace Rustout: Supporting the Whole Person, Not Just the Role 18:48 - Before You Replace a No-Show, Ask "Why?" 21:43 - Navigating Crisis with Mission-Driven Leadership 26:12 - Family, community, and creating lasting connection 31:44 - Host Recap: The “Take Three” Key Takeaways About Honestly, We’re Learning Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned. As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen. The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning. Learn more about ClearEdge: https://meetclearedge.com/ (https://meetclearedge.com/)

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The AI Optimist’s Playbook: Reality Checks, Business Pivots, and Failure as a Strategy

   On this episode of Honestly, We’re Learning, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec open with a reflection on takeaways from recent conversations—sharing how Rodrigo inspired Leslie to swap hotel room laptop time for gym workouts during business trips, and how Michelle’s "10 and 2" framework forced them to pause, sit in the recipient's shoes, and communicate with greater intentionality. Then, they are joined by Lauren Jones, CEO and founder of Leap Advisory Partners—one of the staffing and recruiting industry’s leading AI advisory firms. With 30 years in staffing, Lauren is a three-time author, keynote speaker, and founder of The Real AI Agency, dedicated to helping leaders and women navigate technology transformation with practical, no-fluff strategies. Leslie, Lesly, and Lauren dive into the personal turning points and pragmatic strategies required to navigate rapid change. Lauren shares how major life shifts gave her radical clarity, why she proudly wears the title of "Chief Failure Officer," and how she completely turned her own business model upside down to stay ahead of market demands. She also breaks down why leaders need to stop overcomplicating AI, why fear is holding firms back, and why treating AI like a new team member—rather than looking for an "easy button"—unlocks real-time savings and ROI. Episode Chapters 00:00 - Guest Takeaways in Action: Workout Accountability and The "10 and 2" Rule 04:54 - Meet Lauren Jones, Founder and CEO of Leap Advisory Partners 07:39 - Daily Rituals That Keep a CEO Grounded 09:55 - Reaching “Zero Fs to Give”: Unlearning and Radical Clarity 14:34 - What Younger Us Needed 17:52 - Turning Business Upside Down and Rebuilding an Entire Service Model 23:30 - An AI Optimist’s Take 33:55 - Why There Is No “Easy Button” with AI 41:17 - Host Recap: The “Take Three” Key Takeaways About Honestly, We’re Learning Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned. As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen. The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning. Learn more about ClearEdge: https://meetclearedge.com/ (https://meetclearedge.com/)

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Shaping the Future of Staffing with Optimism, Innovation, and Human Connection

   On this episode of Honestly, We’re Learning, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec open with a candid check-in on their own hosting habits. They reflect on a recent recording clip where they repeatedly interrupted a guest out of pure excitement—prompting a real-time lesson on the power of pausing, active listening, and sitting through uncomfortable silences. Then, they are joined by Stephen Dwyer, President and CEO of the American Staffing Association (ASA). With more than two decades at the intersection of law, public policy, and workforce solutions, Stephen is one of the staffing industry's premier legal and policy authorities, guiding the association into its next chapter while representing North America on the World Employment Confederation board. Leslie, Lesly, and Stephen dive into the defining mindsets and turning points that shape long-term executive impact. Stephen reveals how his father’s advice taught him to stay open to rare opportunities, how a life-altering hospital stay reshaped how he sees his job title, and why he defines the role of a CEO as simply "helping others succeed." He also breaks down how staffing firms can avoid commoditization by selling value over price, and why he approaches AI, automation, and robotics with genuine excitement rather than fear. Connect with Stephen Dwyer on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-dwyer-aa1116/)Learn more about Staffing World 2026 at staffingworld.net (http://staffingworld.net). Join ASA Thrive Live in Denver. Register at https://americanstaffing.net/thrive-live-sw2026/ (https://americanstaffing.net/thrive-live-sw2026/). Episode Chapters 00:00 – Calling Ourselves Out: Confessions of Over-Excited Hosts 04:10 – Meet Stephen Dwyer, President and CEO of the American Staffing Association 06:07 – Unlearning the Urge to Talk: Why Active Listening Wins 10:20 – How Stephen Dwyer Defines His Role 13:16 – Craft vs. Connection: Fatherly Wisdom on Recognizing Opportunity 17:07 – Value vs. Price: Reframing AI and Commoditization 23:34 – Dad Jokes, A Secret Waze Trick, and Breaking the “Serious Exterior” 29:13 – Leading Through Transformation: Why the Industry’s Best Days Are Ahead 33:06 – Host Recap: The “Take Three” Key Takeaways About Honestly, We’re Learning Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned. As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen. The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning. Learn more about ClearEdge: https://meetclearedge.com/ (https://meetclearedge.com/)

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