In this episode of the Open Talent Report, host Connor Heaney sits down with Michael Blakely, co-founder and CEO of Equitas, to explore how technology can make interviews fairer, more objective, and free from bias — without losing the human touch. Michael shares his journey from professional interviewer to tech founder, explaining how his company is transforming the way organizations assess talent. They discuss the challenges of subjective hiring, why structured interviews outperform gut feeling, and how to build fairness and transparency into every stage of recruitment.
You’ll also hear Michael’s candid take on:
✅ The dangers of bias in AI hiring tools
✅ How to build structure and consistency into interviews
✅ The future of fair hiring and DEI in recruitment
✅ What it’s really like to be a startup founder in today’s market
Whether you’re an HR leader, founder, or anyone interested in the future of work, this conversation will change how you think about hiring in the AI era.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – Michael’s journey to founding Equitas
07:00 – From subjective to structured interviewing
13:00 – Fairness, legislation, and DEI in hiring
19:30 – The impact of AI and bias
29:00 – Keeping humans in the loop
35:00 – The founder journey: growth, stress & resilience
44:00 – Lessons from jiu-jitsu, running & chess
49:00 – Predictions for the future of work
