Skills and technical experience might get a candidate through the door, but the real secret to building a powerhouse team lies in the “soft side” of hiring.

For growing businesses and established teams alike, a strong resume simply isn’t enough. When resources are tight and pace is fast, you need team members who not only execute, but also adapt, communicate, and elevate the people around them. Workforce data consistently shows that reliability, coachability, and emotional intelligence are the truest predictors of retention and growth.

Join our October Learn at Launch for a fireside chat featuring Michelle Smith, Chief Learning Officer of trueU, and Chef James “Mackie” Jones, Founder and Executive Chef of the acclaimed His Place Eatery.

In an industry notoriously challenged by turnover, Chef James has built a standout culinary destination celebrated as much for its culture as its cuisine. His hiring philosophy prioritizes character, attitude, and service mindset over credentials alone: “You can teach someone how to do the job, but you can’t teach them how to care about people overnight.” What starts as trust and mutual respect behind the scenes directly shapes an exceptional customer experience.

Together, Michelle and Chef James will bridge real-world entrepreneurial insights with strategic workforce data. They will explore why hiring the “whole person” drives high-performing teams, protects your bottom line, and builds an environment where people genuinely want to stay and grow.

Key Takeaways:

• Hiring for Character: How to identify, screen, and interview for soft skills, coachability, and a “pitch-in” mindset alongside technical capability.
• Culture Drives Retention: Practical strategies to build a people-first culture rooted in trust, accountability, and belonging to reduce costly turnover.
• The Employee-to-Customer Link: Why the internal employee experience directly mirrors and elevates your customer experience and brand reputation.
• Navigating Growth & Ambiguity: How to apply a “whole person” hiring framework to build agile, cross-functional teams in fast-paced startup and small business environments.

About the Speakers:

Chef James “Mackie” Jones | Founder & Executive Chef, His Place Eatery

Chef James Jones successfully transitioned from a corporate media sales career to graduate with honors from Ivy Tech’s culinary program in 2009. Alongside his wife Shawn, he built His Place Eatery into a premier soul food and barbecue brand in Indianapolis, earning national acclaim and a feature on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Defying restaurant industry turnover trends, Chef James credits his success to a people-first hiring philosophy centered on human connection, collaboration, and character. His focus on team culture has created an internal community that directly translates into a warm, unforgettable guest experience.

Michelle Smith | Chief Learning Officer, trueU

With over 25 years of experience as an HR practitioner, strategic talent partner, and transformation leader, Michelle Smith brings deep expertise in diagnosing critical people and business challenges. Having led talent initiatives in global professional services firms, she pairs strategic vision with tactical execution to help organizations build lasting, scalable teams. Michelle is passionate about leadership coaching, workforce development, and empowering professionals to reach their full potential through high-trust, high-accountability cultures.