Rise and Real – The Recruiter Who Rewrote the Workforce Playbook

October 8, 2025

Normal is just a setting on a washing machine.

That’s Daniel Kalman’s philosophy — and it explains how he went from cold-calling candidates as a recruiter in 2006 to managing workforce programs worth $350M+ across two dozen countries.

In the 2nd episode of Rise and Real, Anamika Jain sits down with the 2024 SIA Game Changer who’s proving that the best workforce leaders tear up the playbook and write a better one.

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About The Event

Daniel’s story isn’t a typical executive trajectory. No MBA from a top-tier school. Just relentless curiosity, a willingness to be uncomfortable, and an obsession with building programs that work. Today, as Head of External Workforce Programs at Philip Morris International, he designs infrastructure that keeps global operations running across 25 countries.

This conversation delivers the messy middle. Daniel talks about supplier relationships that almost fell apart during hypergrowth at ZT Systems, stepping into roles with zero experience, and brutal feedback that changed everything. In an era obsessed with AI and automation, he reveals why the most irreplaceable skill in workforce management remains deeply human.

This is a masterclass in combining operational excellence with genuine empathy — the combination that separates workforce programs that survive from those that scale.

Key Leadership Takeaways You Can Expect:

  • 1
    The uncomfortable truth about career growth – Why Daniel’s rise from recruiter to executive came from embracing roles that terrified him.
  • 2
    Scaling without breaking – The strategies Daniel used to build contract labor operations across 25 countries while maintaining quality and compliance.
  • 3
    Supplier relationships that matter – Real talk about strengthening vendor partnerships when budgets explode and expectations skyrocket.
  • 4
    The AI paradox in staffing – How technology transforms workforce management while making human judgment more valuable.
  • 5
    Feedback that works – Daniel’s approach to mentorship and why pushing people beyond comfort zones is respect, not cruelty.
  • 6
    The Game Changer mindset – What earning SIA’s 2024 recognition means and the innovations that caught industry attention.

About Our Speakers

Daniel Kalman

Head, External Workforce Programs | Philip Morris International

Daniel Kalman brings nearly 20 years of transformational workforce leadership experience from Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America, Allergan, and ZT Systems. As Philip Morris International's Head of External Workforce Programs, he designs and manages global contingent labor operations spanning 25 countries while overseeing portfolios exceeding $350M in annual spend.

Anamika Jain

Director of Strategic Partnerships, BuzzClan

Anamika Jain (Anna) is a strategic partnerships expert and accomplished podcast host who brings a unique perspective to leadership conversations. As Director of Strategic Partnerships at BuzzClan, she specializes in building transformational business relationships and driving growth through strategic alliances.