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Solving the People Puzzle

Solving the People Puzzle

Francois de Wet 82 Episodes Oct 7, 2026

Solving the People Puzzle is a podcast hosted by industrial psychologist and Wamly founder Francois de Wet. He talks with industry experts about hiring highly motivated and skilled people and building stronger teams. Episodes offer practical advice on improving recruitment and finding the right fit for an organisation. The show is aimed at listeners who want useful insights and techniques for creating a winning team.

Episodes

Good Intentions Alone Don't Scale
Good Intentions Alone Don't Scale Oct 7, 2026 2013 What happens to your company culture when the founder isn’t in the room?In Episode 81 of Solving the People Puzzle, we explore how Amazon Web Services (AWS) turns cultural intentions into everyday behaviours through practical, repeatable mechanisms.Think of culture as a garden: knowing what you want to grow is only the beginning. You also need an irrigation system that keeps it growing without dep
From Prompting to Executing: The Shift to Agentic AI in 2026
From Prompting to Executing: The Shift to Agentic AI in 2026 Aug 26, 2026 1610 AI is moving beyond chatbots and prompts — and 2026 could be the year it starts doing the work.In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, Johan sits down with CTO Ewan to explore the shift from traditional AI and prompting toward agentic AI: systems that can understand a goal, take action, execute tasks, and work alongside humans.The conversation explores the opportunities and risks this shift
The Power of a Chance: Why Corporate SA Needs to Hire Hungry Youth. Featuring Lesego Shelembe, Specialist recruiter, Nedbank.
The Power of a Chance: Why Corporate SA Needs to Hire Hungry Youth. Featuring Lesego Shelembe, Specialist recruiter, Nedbank. Jul 29, 2026 1478 What happens when you stop treating entry-level hiring as a tick-box compliance exercise and start using it to build South Africa's future executive pipeline?In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, host sits down with Lesego Shelembe, Specialist Recruiter at Nedbank, to unpack how corporate South Africa can solve the youth unemployment crisis by giving hungry talent their first real bre
If managers resist hiring tech, is it about change… or control?
If managers resist hiring tech, is it about change… or control? Jun 24, 2026 776 Why did you choose Candidate A over Candidate B? 🤔 Can you actually defend your last hiring choice if an upset applicant calls you out publicly on social media?Welcome to Chapter 3 of Wamly, broadcasting live from our brand-new, tranquil offices! 🚀 In Episode 78 of Solving the People Puzzle—the ultimate business leadership podcast and human resources podcast—Fran drops a truth bomb that challenges
Marko Stavrou on Solving the Gen Z Puzzle: How to Lead, Hire, and Connect with the Next Generation
Marko Stavrou on Solving the Gen Z Puzzle: How to Lead, Hire, and Connect with the Next Generation May 28, 2026 3186 Marko Stavrou, known across South Africa as the Gen Z Guy, is a dynamic young business leader. At 17, he became the youngest person accepted globally into Henley Business School. Today, aged 22, he is the founder of Genlink, an investor-backed consulting and insights firm focused on unlocking the potential of organisations' next-gen talent and customers. Over the past few years, Genlink has w
7 Ways Candidates Commit Fraud (And the 5-Layer Defense to Stop Them)
7 Ways Candidates Commit Fraud (And the 5-Layer Defense to Stop Them) Apr 30, 2026 1332 Are you sure your last remote hiring decision was legitimate? In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, we explore a terrifying shift in the global talent landscape: the rise of the fraudulent candidate. What was a fringe topic 12 months ago is now a central boardroom concern for HR leaders and executives worldwide.THE $5 MILLION ENGINEERING SCAMImagine hiring a "perfect" remote engi
The Falsifiable Framework: What Real Scientific Hiring Looks Like
The Falsifiable Framework: What Real Scientific Hiring Looks Like Apr 8, 2026 1196 Stop betting on "vibes" and start hiring with certainty. In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, we’re hosting a first-of-its-kind "Industrial Psych Panel." We’re stripping away the Metric Lie that speed is the only KPI that matters. If you can’t prove why you hired someone, you aren't using science—you're just following a workflow.We’re geeking out on how techn
The Myth that is killing your recruitment process.
The Myth that is killing your recruitment process. Mar 26, 2026 814 We've been led to believe that more tech means less human interaction in recruiting, but this episode challenges that notion. We explore how top recruitment teams optimize their time through technology, proving that the best hiring process uses automation to enhance, not replace, professional judgment. It’s about creating space for crucial "human moments" and allowing AI to be a cow
5 Talent Attraction Trends HR Leaders Need to Know
5 Talent Attraction Trends HR Leaders Need to Know Mar 11, 2026 1070 Attracting talent has become increasingly complex and fast-paced, with more changes in the last three years than in the previous decade. Join Fran from Wamly in this solo episode of Solving the People Puzzle as he deep dives into five essential recruitment trends. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the recruitment industry looking to optimize their talent acquisition strategies and workfo
Is Your Culture Accidental? The Cost of Passive Leadership in 2026
Is Your Culture Accidental? The Cost of Passive Leadership in 2026 Feb 25, 2026 2062 Get ready for a masterclass in the messy middle of leadership with the phenomenal Stephanie Usher, Head of Talent Acquisition for Heineken Beverages. In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, we’re ditching the corporate handbooks and HR fluff to talk about what company culture actually looks like when the cameras are off, and the pressure is on. Stephanie joins Francois to tackle the ultimate
Automation didn't remove the human touch, it revealed where it actually matters
Automation didn't remove the human touch, it revealed where it actually matters Feb 11, 2026 727 There is an overwhelming fear that AI will make human roles mundane or irrelevant. In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, we challenge the "anti-human" misconception of technology. Automation is not a substitute for the human; it is a filter that exposes where judgment, meaning, and purpose have been missing all along. We explore why top-tier JSE-listed corporates are demanding AI
The Future of Work 2026: 10 Trends Every CEO and HR Leader Must Know
The Future of Work 2026: 10 Trends Every CEO and HR Leader Must Know Jan 19, 2026 883 If you aren't aware of the top ten HR and hiring trends for 2026, you will not be hiring better people faster. In this episode of Solving the People Puzzle, we unpack the 10 definitive trends shaping HR and talent acquisition this year. We explore how HR is graduating from a support function to becoming an "AI Era Strategist".📅 JOIN OUR IN-PERSON EVENTDeep dive into these trends wit

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