Kristi Blass on the Power of PI - Lever Limelight on Ziosk

In this first edition of Lever Limelight, we spoke with Kristi Blass, Director of People and Culture at Ziosk. Ziosk is a restaurant technology company that pioneered the pay-at-the-table concept seen at restaurants such as Olive Garden, Chili's, Texas Roadhouse, and more. 

Ziosk was introduced to Lever Talent through The Predictive Index and has used it to empower their hiring and talent strategy. Kristi spoke with us to discuss what success looks like for her and for Ziosk as well as how the power of behavioral understanding has changed their recruitment and development process.

Ziosk and the Power of The Predictive Index

What does success look like for you and Ziosk?

Success at Ziosk is twofold. Internally, it’s about recruiting, developing, and retaining the right talent. Externally, it’s about creating value for our customers—both the dining guests and the restaurant clients we serve. Our job is to serve both audiences: the guests at the table and the staff behind the scenes.

Within Ziosk, our people are our internal customers. We aim to embody a people-first, results-focused culture. The Predictive Index (PI) helps us achieve this by enabling us to better understand one another and work more effectively together.

Comparing your work today to where you started, what has been the main thing that has allowed you to expand and grow?

Personally, I credit The Predictive Index and Lever Talent’s training for pushing me toward greater self-awareness. Curtis Creekmore of Lever Talent often says, “Once you know what you know, what will you do?” That mindset has had a profound impact on me.

Gaining insights about myself—and learning how to act on them—has shaped my own growth. From there, it became about how I could show up better for my teams. Growth has come from understanding who I am and learning how to meet the needs of others to help them succeed.

What inspired you to pursue leadership?

I was eager to return to my roots in recruitment and talent development—work I truly enjoyed during my time at New York Life. It allowed me to reconnect with my passion for helping people grow and thrive in their careers.

Comparing your work today to where you started, what has been the main thing that has allowed you to expand and grow? 

In our first year, the focus was on recruitment. The Predictive Index significantly improved how we hire—from tailoring job descriptions through PI’s algorithm, to selecting candidates, asking stronger interview questions, and providing tools for development once they’re hired.

In our second year, we’ve shifted focus to leadership development. PI and Lever Talent have helped our leaders become more self-aware, understanding their strengths and growth areas, and identifying what their teams need to thrive. It’s been a powerful “aha!” moment for many of our team members.

The training, curriculum, and hands-on support from Lever Talent have been incredible. They treat Ziosk—as small as we are—as if we’re their only customer. That level of care is helping us build the foundation we need to succeed.

I feel the training, the curriculum, the customer care, your process, the way Lever Talent treats Ziosk, a company of less than 150 employees, as their only customer, is what's giving us the tools we need to succeed. - Kristi Blass, Director of People and Culture at Ziosk

How has The Predictive Index changed your talent strategy approach?

It’s been transformative. While we’ve always used tools like technical coding assessments, we had never integrated a behavioral assessment like this before. What sets PI apart is how it pairs with the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) interview method.

We’ve always asked STAR-style questions, but adding the behavioral insights allows us to anticipate potential “watch-outs” and make higher-quality hires. It adds another layer of checks and balances to our process, and it helps set clear expectations early on.

PI has strengthened our hiring and kick-started our development strategy. We’re more prepared—not just to hire the right person, but to support them as they join the team.

Our mission at Lever Talent is to help people feel that they are closer to achieving more than they could have imagined. Do you feel that you are closer to achieving that goal?

Absolutely. The training, curriculum, customer care, and personalized approach Lever Talent provides make us feel like we’re their top priority.

Whether through onsite support, onboarding, or online sessions, everything has been beneficial. We look forward to continuing our partnership as Ziosk continues to grow.

Becoming More Than You Ever Imagined

Kristi's dedication to revamping Ziosk's HR into a "people-first results-focused culture" highlights her visionary leadership and commitment to fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment. Lever Talent's partnership with Ziosk shows the transformative power of The Predictive Index. From refining recruitment to fostering employee development and self-awareness among leaders, PI has been instrumental in Ziosk's journey.  This ongoing collaboration continues to empower Ziosk's team, exemplifying Lever Talent's mission to help individuals achieve more than they could have imagined.

To experience the power of The Predictive Index or explore working with Lever Talent book a call.