Harry Lakin is a Phoenix-based talent strategist and keynote speaker, and the founder of Hire Capacity. For nearly 15 years he’s worked at the intersection of behavioral science and organizational leadership, helping companies make senior and executive hires with validated behavioral assessments (OMS), EQ training (EQi-2.0 / EQ360), and decision frameworks rather than gut feel alone. He’s a graduate of Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, a certified OMS partner, and speaks on emotional intelligence and multi-generational communication. Clients have included Fortune 500 divisions, PE-backed growth companies, and regional firms.
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Appearances (1)
2026-11-04
Beyond the Resume: Harry Lakin on Behavioral Science, EQ, and the Traps of AI HiringIn the Phoenix Business Brief podcast episode titled "Beyond the Resume," Harry Lakin, founder of Hire Capacity, discusses the importance of behavioral assessments in hiring. Lakin emphasizes that understanding a candidate's behavioral traits, rather than just their resume, can lead to better job fits and employee engagement. He also addresses the limitations of AI in hiring processes and the significance of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Notable quotes
“This isn't— doesn't really have anything to do with their intelligence, you know, where they went to school, none of that.”
“I can't tell you how many times people end up in the wrong seat and they fire themselves.”
“No matter what AI does, an AI is never human, period, full stop.”
“Learning emotional intelligence is not— I'm going to say it's not hard, but it's the hardest thing you'll ever do.”
“If somebody has mental health challenges, for instance, they might be a great behavioral fit on paper, but if they can't bring themselves to be who they should be in the office, it's just not going to work.”
“I want to make sure you're behaviorally not what I had previously.”