Recruiting Across Borders, Building Trust & The Future of Hiring

Talks at the Water Cooler

In this episode of Talks at the Water Cooler, Richard and Aaron are joined by Mark Mahana, Managing Director of Dynamic Minds Recruitment, for an honest conversation about the realities of modern recruitment.

Mark shares his journey into the recruiting industry, the key differences between UK and US recruitment markets, and why recruiting is one of the most challenging industries—because the product is people. The discussion explores candidate engagement, relationship-based recruiting, diversity and neurodiversity in the workplace, and the early role AI is beginning to play in hiring.

This episode offers practical insight for recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates navigating today’s competitive and evolving job market.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Mark Mahana’s path into recruitment
• Key differences between UK and US hiring markets
• Why every role is considered a critical hire
• The gap between job descriptions and real job expectations
• How candidates can better prepare and show up in interviews
• Diversity, inclusion, and neurodiversity in recruitment
• Relationship-building as the foundation of recruiting success
• The current state of the job market—and why it will shift
• Where AI fits (and doesn’t fit) in recruitment today

Key Takeaways:

• Recruitment is challenging because it centers on people, not products
• Job descriptions rarely reflect the full reality of a role
• Candidates must advocate for themselves and prepare intentionally
• Diversity in recruitment is about access and opportunity
• Strong relationships drive long-term success in hiring
• AI is a tool, not a replacement for human judgment
• Proactive engagement separates average recruiters from great ones

Connect With Us:

Have thoughts or want to share your recruiting journey?

📧 Email: talksatthewatercooler@gmail.com 💼 Connect with us on LinkedIn 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review Talks at the Water Cooler on your favorite podcast platform

A Recruiter’s Path: Lessons, Leaps and Leadership with Mark Mahana

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Richard and Aaron sit down with Mark Mahana, Managing Director at Dynamic Minds Recruitment, to explore the personal journey, growth, and mindset behind a truly global recruiter.

Mark takes us through his early path into recruitment, the pivotal lessons he learned along the way, and how his experiences working across the UK and US shaped his leadership style. From cultural differences in hiring to unexpected career turning points, this episode uncovers the human story that sits behind the job title.

You’ll hear us dive into:

• How Mark found his path in recruitment — and the moments that changed everything
• The differences between UK and US recruiting culture
• Why leadership in hiring starts with empathy, humility, and consistency
• The importance of staying grounded and purpose-driven in a fast-paced industry
• Why showing up as your authentic self is the real competitive advantage
• The early signs of Mark’s passion for people — and how that drives his work today

This episode sets the stage for Part 2, where we go deeper into inclusive hiring, neurodiversity, AI’s impact on recruiting, and what it truly means to help candidates build better futures.

If you’re someone navigating your career, looking to grow in the recruitment world, or working to align your purpose with your profession, this conversation will speak to you.

In the follow up to their Lock-In Season series, Richard and Aaron ask a simple but effective question: Are you who you say you are—especially when no one’s watching? Richard and Aaron break down practical lock-in moves for Q4: investing in yourself (time and money), stacking small daily wins, building durable habits, and resisting the “quick elevator” in favor of the stairs. We talk discipline vs. dopamine, radical acceptance, accountability, fitness as a life multiplier, and how one “big gift” often unlocks many others. There’s even a live brainstorm for a community 3K walk + fitness apparel concept. If you’re mapping goals for the rest of the year—or restarting after a stall—this one’s your nudge to recommit and move.

Timestamps

• 0:00 — The question: Are you who you say you are?
• 1:50 — What “Lock-In Season” means for the final quarter
• 2:53 — Planning by months → weeks → days (small wins > big wins)
• 3:21 — Investing in yourself: tools, training, and smart spending
• 4:11 — Skill targets & measurable goals (e.g., day-trading reps)
• 7:09 — Health stack: lifting more, eating better, energy management
• 8:19 — “Investment” isn’t just money—it’s time, attention, and habits
• 9:30 — Consistency for the pod: share what you know, build the reps
• 10:58 — Delayed gratification & keeping the recording date
• 12:18 — Done > perfect: avoiding analysis paralysis
• 13:32 — Richard’s Big 3: invest in self, build creative work, grow community
• 14:25 — “Live at five”: community 3K walk + apparel concept brainstorm
• 16:36 — Fitness beyond the gym: financial, relational, spiritual , emotion
• 17:29 — Lock-in = self-development + radical acceptance
• 18:20 — Stop negotiating with yourself; keep promises you’ve made
• 20:25 — The “future you” is counting on today’s choices
• 21:26 — One bright gift that multiplies into many (communication, leadership)
• 27:53 — Take the stairs, not the elevator; zoom out for the long game
• 29:26 — Call to build community: share your goals and progress

Key Takeaways

• Lock-in is discipline in disguise. Zoom in to daily actions; zoom out on timelines.
• Invest in yourself with not just money but your time, courses, development tools, find and build community.
• Keep promises to yourself. Don’t over-negotiate with your comfort.
• Take the stairs. Quick wins rarely stick; durable gains come from steady reps.
• Your “brightest gift” unlocks others. Build the core and let it multiply.
• Community matters. Share what you’re learning so others can move, too.

Light Homework / Listener Challenge

1. Write your Q4 Big 3 (self-investment, one craft goal, one community action).
2. Break each goal into daily and weekly tasks..
3. Pick one promise to keep to yourself for the next 7 days, no negotiations.

Links & Contact

• Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn: Richard Goode & Aaron Jones
• Email: talksatthewatercooler@gmail.com
• Share your Lock-In Big 3 with us, we may go over a couple on the next episode.