The Breakthrough Hiring Show: Hari Kolam talks AI’s impact on recruiting

Hari Kolam, co-founder and CEO of Findem, joined the Breakthrough Hiring Show last month to discuss the role of AI and data in reshaping recruitment. Hari and host James Mackey talked through Findem’s approach to talent acquisition, from the rise of hyper-automation to the importance of data-driven intelligence.

“The future of TA belongs to those who harness the power of data and automation,” Hari said.

Keep reading for key takeaways from the podcast, and a look at how Findem is helping teams move beyond traditional resumes to create a more efficient talent-sourcing process.

Data is hiring's biggest problem

Findem was founded in 2019 on the belief that resumes, as the core data set in recruitment, are a fractured, ineffective source of candidate information.

“Resumes are neither complete nor consistent,” Hari explained. “They don’t capture the true impact a professional has made. At Findem, we saw an opportunity to redefine the data set and provide talent teams with richer, verified information through 3D profiles.”

Findem’s enriched 3D profiles combine data points across person, company, and time to create a comprehensive view of a candidate’s career impact. This approach helps recruiters identify high-impact candidates without unnecessary research and validation.

Recruiters need one place to do their most important work

Findem’s platform consolidates two major talent acquisition functions in one platform: pipeline-building and workforce analysis.

“Recruiters typically spend time hunting, farming, and nurturing talent,” Hari said. “Each of these activities often involves different tools and workflows. Findem unifies all of that into a single pane of glass, giving recruiters a complete view of talent across all channels.”

This integration simplifies how talent teams source, rediscover, and engage candidates, saving recruiters time and improving their productivity.

AI and automations can elevate the role of the recruiter

Hari shared Findem’s vision for the future of AI in recruiting, focusing on automating repetitive tasks while empowering recruiters to focus on strategic, relationship-driven activities.

“There’s an IQ side and an EQ side to recruiting,” Hari explained. “The IQ side — building pipelines and generating candidate slates — can be largely automated with AI. The EQ side, like meaningful candidate conversations, is where recruiters will continue to shine with the right data at their fingertips.”

By automating key processes in the talent workflow, Findem aims to elevate the recruiter’s role and enhance hiring outcomes.

Ethical data practices are key to preventing AI bias

AI bias is an increasing concern across the industry, and Findem has taken steps to ensure responsible AI usage. Hari highlighted how the platform prioritizes AI-assisted decision-making, rather than allowing AI to make hiring decisions independently.

“We’re seeing growing demand for AI audits in enterprise contracts,” Hari noted. “Our approach is BI-first, where AI supports recruiters with data-driven insights but doesn’t make matching or hiring decisions. This helps alleviate concerns around compliance and automation risk.”

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🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Breakthrough Hiring Show with Hari today!