The Recruitment Show with Lewis Maleh

Only 24% of people globally feel confident they have the skills needed for career advancement.

In this episode I explore how AI is changing hiring, why many candidates are being filtered out before reaching a human, and what people need to do differently to stay visible and competitive in the modern job market.

I break down the new reality of career growth, networking, LinkedIn visibility, AI-driven recruitment, and why simply being qualified is no longer enough.

This episode covers:
• Why AI is changing how people get discovered for jobs
• The hidden reason many qualified candidates never get interviews
• How recruiters and hiring managers actually search for talent today
• Why networking and visibility matter more than ever
• The biggest mistakes people make when trying to change careers
• How to position yourself for leadership opportunities
• Why staying informed is now a career advantage
• The difference between authentic networking and transactional networking

The workplace is changing faster than most people realise.
The people who adapt early will have a major advantage.

🎙️ Espresso with Lewis — practical leadership insights, no fluff.
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Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: https://bentleylewis.com

Gallup’s latest workplace report found that only 20% of employees globally feel engaged at work.

In this episode I explore what’s really driving workplace disengagement, why so many professionals feel disconnected from their jobs, and how AI, uncertainty, burnout, and career stagnation are reshaping the modern workforce.

This isn’t just about productivity. It’s about meaning, motivation, leadership, and what happens when people quietly stop believing in the work they do.

I also shares what he’s hearing directly from senior professionals across the market, why disengagement is becoming one of the biggest hidden risks in business, and what both employees and leaders need to think about moving forward.

Topics covered:
• Employee disengagement
• Burnout and career stagnation
• AI and the future of work
• Leadership and workplace culture
• Career growth and motivation
• Hiring and talent trends
• The hidden cost of people checking out at work

🎙️ Espresso with Lewis — practical leadership insights, no fluff.
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Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: https://bentleylewis.com

Are you rejecting your best hire without realising it?

In this episode, I break down one of the most common hiring mistakes: using the CV as a decision, instead of a filter.

Most candidates don’t tick every box on paper. But the best hires rarely do.

I share how top hiring managers think differently — looking beyond keywords, brand names, and job descriptions to find real potential.

In this episode:
Why CVs are often used as a rejection tool
The “missing keyword” problem
Why ex-Google doesn’t mean what you think
The human traits that actually predict performance
Why your hiring issue might be a thinking problem, not a talent problem
If you’re hiring right now, or planning to, this will change how you evaluate candidates.

🎙️ Espresso with Lewis — practical leadership insights, no fluff.
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Connect with Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: https://bentleylewis.com

Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI avatar of himself — voice synced, visually cloned, and designed to attend one-on-one meetings on his behalf.

But should leaders ever outsource their presence?

In this episode, Lewis Maleh shares his perspective on the rise of AI leadership avatars, the risks of using AI to replace difficult conversations, and why human connection still matters more than ever in leadership.

Lewis explores where AI genuinely helps CEOs become better leaders — from agents, analysis, and decision support — and where it becomes a dangerous leadership shortcut.

Topics covered:
• Why AI avatars could become a leadership trap
• The real danger of outsourcing difficult conversations
• Why the best leaders still show up in person
• How AI agents can act like a “co-CEO”
• Where Lewis uses Claude and AI tools inside Bentley Lewis
• Why human trust still wins in executive leadership

If you're leading teams, building a company, or navigating AI transformation, this episode is worth your time.

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Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: bentleylewis.com

Sixteen years ago, Lewis Maleh started Bentley Lewis alone—winning clients himself, doing his own admin, and building the business one decision at a time.
Today, Bentley Lewis operates globally across three regions with a fully remote team spanning multiple continents.
In this episode, Lewis reflects on what it actually takes to build and lead a business over the long term: resilience, mindset, leadership, reinvention, and learning how to move from “I” to “we.”
From the Roger Federer 54% statistic to AI transformation, remote leadership, boutique firm strategy, and staying emotionally steady through uncertainty—this is a candid conversation about what survives after 16 years.
We cover:
• From sole trader to global executive search firm
• Why mindset matters more than strategy
• Leadership lessons from sport, failure, and long-term resilience
• Why Bentley Lewis went fully remote
• How AI is changing executive search
• Why boutique firms are beating bigger competitors
• Advice for leaders feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind
This episode is for founders, leaders, and anyone trying to build something that lasts.
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Connect with Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
Learn more: bentleylewis.com