Episode 94: Scaling Talent Experience with AI, Reinventing Onboarding, and Mastering Interview Training with Sarika Lamont
About This Episode
What does it really take to build a remote-first culture that actually works — not just one that’s an afterthought? How can AI become your secret weapon without losing the human touch in HR and recruiting? And what does “real candidate experience” even mean today?This week, Joel Lalgee sits down with Sarika Lamont, VP of People and Culture at Vidyard, for an absolute masterclass in recruiting, people leadership, and AI integration. Sarika doesn’t just talk theory — she’s actively leading the AI transformation at Vidyard and shares what companies should be thinking about now to stay competitive and human-centered. From how Vidyard builds intentional remote-first systems, to why documenting everything is critical, and how recruiters are using AI avatars to create a mind-blowing candidate journey, this conversation is pure gold.You’ll walk away with fresh ideas about AI enablement, building strong hiring processes, creating real culture (not just kombucha parties), and why understanding your business deeply is non-negotiable. If you’re a recruiter, talent leader, or job seeker who cares about what’s next, you won’t want to miss this episode with Sarika Lamont.This episode is brought to you by Interactive EQ, the immersive talent assessment platform that goes beyond the resume. Experience first-person, real-life scenarios that reveal how candidates actually respond—not just what they say. See it in action at interactiveEQ.com and let them know Joel sent you. In this episode:00:02 – Introduction and Setting the Stage00:39 – Meet Sarika Lamont and Her Role at Vidyard02:00 – Remote-First vs. Forced Work-From-Home Companies03:31 – Redefining Company Culture Beyond Perks05:00 – Communication and Documentation in a Remote-First Setup07:15 – The Energy Shift for Extroverts in Remote Work08:15 – In-Person Company Events and Growth Strategy10:11 – The Power of Values in Vidyard’s Community11:00 – How to Hire for Culture and ValuesAbout Sarika LamontSarika Lamont is the Vice President of People and Culture at Vidyard, a Canadian-based video platform for business communication. With over two decades of HR and leadership experience, she specialises in talent acquisition, organisational development, and driving strong company culture. Sarika currently leads Vidyard’s transition into a fully remote-first company while focusing on building scalable, people-first strategies.Resource LinksSarika Lamont | LinkedInVidyard | Official WebsiteAbout Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships.Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices