On the heels of launching an invitation-only, private beta, KANNY, a pioneering platform for peer-driven character assessments in hiring, today announced the addition of several prominent industry leaders to its advisory board. These new advisors are renowned experts in HR, talent management, organizational culture, and the future of work, further strengthening KANNY’s mission to bring character to the forefront of the hiring process.

Traditional hiring and development processes often overlook the importance of character, focusing primarily on hard skills and qualifications. KANNY addresses this gap by emphasizing the traits that truly define a person’s ability to contribute positively to a team and organizational culture. KANNY helps employers see beyond the confines of the resume to uncover the character of the individual, which can be crucial in preventing costly mis-hires. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the cost of a bad hiring decision can equal 30% of the employee’s first-year potential earnings.

“The addition of these distinguished advisors marks a significant milestone for KANNY. Their collective expertise and insights will be invaluable as we continue to develop and refine our character-based hiring platform,” said Sean Vassilaros, CEO and co-founder. “KANNY was born out of my frustration with the lack of first-hand insights into the most important indicator of candidate success and team culture – character. In a recent LinkedIn poll, 82% of hiring managers and recruiters cited character as more important than prior experience and skills when making hiring decisions. At KANNY, we’re setting the stage for a transformative era in hiring that centers on character – in addition to skills – as a key attribute in making decisions that can lead to more cohesive and productive workplaces.”

How KANNY Works

KANNY utilizes advanced algorithms to collect, analyze, and present peer feedback, offering a unique perspective on candidates. This fresh approach to an age-old problem helps employers identify the rare and exceptional — “purple squirrels” — who possess the perfect blend of skills and character traits. Leveraging dynamic, first-hand data, KANNY creates comprehensive character insights built from peer reviews that focus on an individual’s honesty, integrity, work ethic, respect, humility, and harmony. With KANNY, candidates can showcase character as much as their qualifications, giving job seekers a unique opportunity to differentiate themselves and highlight their personal qualities, which are often missed in traditional hiring processes. Companies that incorporate KANNY into their recruitment strategy can build stronger, more productive teams and avoid financial losses and negative impacts on culture and productivity caused by bad hires.

Comments from new advisors about KANNY:

• Shannon Ardo, Talent Strategy Principal, Starbucks: ”A common derailer is a mindset that because you are educated and/or experienced with great technical skills, your self-awareness and character don’t hold as much weight. Organizations tend to hire for skills and fire for behavior. I am confident this is where KANNY can help companies strike a balance in recruiting for aptitude & attitude and assist candidates with being selected for their strong character and contribution.”

• Joel Lalgee, The Realest Recruiter and host of ‘Recruiting is No Joke’ podcast: “Character has always been a defining element of a great hire and employee, but it’s been almost impossible to anticipate and measure until now. KANNY finally gives employers the opportunity to assess character prior to making a hire. This will no doubt help both parties make better decisions.”

• Ralph Nader, SVP, Head of Talent, IPG Mediabrands: “Character forms the bedrock upon which hard skills thrive. It directly influences choices, behaviors, and interactions. This becomes especially crucial when decisions require judgment. Anyone responsible for talent strategy will benefit from KANNY’s character data.”

Rounding out the KANNY advisory board are:

• Paul T. Cottey, Product and Technology CIO, Founder and CEO, MRAnates LLC
• Fabio Gratton, Health Tech Entrepreneur, Startup Incubator
• Steve Matas, Talent Acquisition Executive, President, Advanced Clinical
• Chris Seib, Investor and Advisor, Venture Partner
• Paul Spector, PhD – Distinguished Professor, Muma College of Business, University of South Florida
• William Tincup, Talent Acquisition Expert and Influencer, WRKdefined
• Jennifer Terry, Labor and Employment Partner, Reed Smith LLP

As KANNY continues to expand its beta program, job candidates and recruiters interested in joining the waitlist for the private beta can visit https://www.kanny.com to sign up and learn more.