Torchinsky Executive Insights

THE OTHER SIDE Episode 1: The Idea

Half of my conversations with corporate executives end the same way: "I've been thinking about going private." Most of them aren't ready. This is The Other Side — an 8-episode series covering every stage of the transition from corporate to private business.
Episode 1 is about the very beginning: figuring out if the idea is real, what's actually driving it, and what you're putting on the line before you take a single step.

87% Don't Care (And They Have the Best Jobs on Earth)

Europe has the best working conditions in the world — and the least engaged workforce on earth. Gallup puts it at thirteen percent. Eighty-seven percent of European workers feel nothing about their jobs. They're not miserable. They're not lazy. They just don't care. This episode looks at why the system that was built to protect workers might be the very thing that killed their motivation.

Stop Saving for a Degree That Won't Matter

Entry-level jobs are disappearing. Degrees are losing their value. And the safest career move in 2026 might be the one no parent wants to hear. A former programmer quit tech to become an electrician — and now earns more than he ever did in IT. This episode is about what's actually working, and what parents need to rethink before it's too late.

Hospitality in Hiring: Why Candidates Aren't Petitioners

Candidates aren't petitioners—they’re guests. In this episode, Mike Torchinsky challenges the outdated power dynamic of the "employer’s market." If you treat a job offer like a gift you’re "granting" to a candidate, you’ve already lost. Learn how to reframe your final-stage negotiations to treat high-level talent with the respect they deserve and close the deals that matter.

LinkedIn Growth Hacks That Are Killing Your Career

Bots, pods, engagement bait, AI-generated posts — there's a whole industry selling LinkedIn tactics that make senior professionals look desperate.
I break down the worst offenders and explain why the people you're trying to impress see right through it.

The Person Who Pushed Back Got the Job

There are three types of candidates for every senior role. Two of them are useful. Only one actually changes anything. This episode breaks down the difference — and explains why some people walk away from nine-figure offers to stay where the work feels like theirs.

The Human Relationship Manager: A Role That Doesn't Exist Yet

In 1960, a cargo ship needed 45 crew. Today, the same job takes 13 engineers — and you can't just pick up a replacement at the next port. What happened to shipping over 60 years is happening to companies right now, in about 5 years. As AI automates more, teams shrink and everyone who remains becomes irreplaceable.
So who's actually responsible for keeping those people? Mike Torchinsky on a role that most companies don't have yet — but will need.

Muskophobia: What Davos Is Really Afraid Of

In January 2026, Elon Musk made his first appearance at Davos. The applause was so weak that Larry Fink had to ask the audience to try again. Why does Musk trigger such a visceral reaction from educated elites? It's not the tweets. It's not the politics. It's something more uncomfortable — and it has to do with redundancy, mirrors, and the future most people would rather not think about.

The Question No One Can Answer

There is a question that has been asked billions of times in hiring interviews around the world. And every single time it is asked, neither side can answer it honestly. In this episode, we look at what decades of research actually tell us about how people get hired, why the tools HR relies on fail to predict what they promise to predict, and what the only genuinely reliable alternative looks like. Based on the research of Schmidt and Hunter, Kahneman and Tversky, and others.

Non-Compete Agreements: What Every Executive Must Know

One in three senior executives hit a wall when changing jobs — a non-compete clause they never saw coming. In this episode, we break down how these agreements work, which jurisdictions favor employees, and how to protect your career before you sign.