What if your talent team was the key to unlocking tens of millions in revenue? At Lockheed Martin, that’s not a hypothetical. John Heyliger, VP of Talent Acquisition & Workforce Transformation, shares how his team recruits high-stakes technical talent at scale—while avoiding costly hiring mistakes and proving their value in terms business leaders appreciate. John also shares: The tactics John’s team used to track down and reach out to a small group of highly specialized satellite engineers T...
Jul 01, 2025•30 min•Ep. 38
How is IKEA keeping voluntary turnover under 23%—in an industry where 40-60% is the norm? In this episode, Neena Potenza, Chief People Officer at IKEA US, reveals the values-first approach that drives co-worker loyalty, leadership development, and cultural consistency across thousands of frontline and corporate team members. Neena shares: How IKEA turns its values into a felt experience from day one The everyday habits that define leadership at IKEA The moment Neena forgot to run payroll (and wh...
Jun 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 37
Southwest Airlines has a team of 200 people whose sole responsibility is to source the company’s “secret sauce”: its people. That team’s leader? Greg Muccio, who started his career as a struggling salesman—before pivoting to agency recruiting and eventually joining Southwest in 2001. It took him seven tries to land his first leadership role, but that journey shaped who he is today: humble, focused on team success, and deeply committed to delivering an exceptional candidate experience. In this co...
Jun 17, 2025•29 min•Ep. 36
Most HR leaders want a seat at the table. But what does it take to get there? As the Chief People Officer at Skillsoft—and a former consultant for brands like Comcast, Johnson & Johnson, and Coca-Cola—Ciara Harrington believes the best CPOs think like business executives first, and HR leaders second. In this episode, she explains what true transformation looks like, how to overcome resistance when making big changes, and why proving HR’s impact with data is no longer optional. Ciara also sha...
Jun 10, 2025•23 min•Ep. 35
What happens when your frontline workforce spans 20,000 locations—and your clients control the environment? Raúl Valentín, EVP & CHRO of ABM Industries – one of the world’s largest providers of facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions – explains how he keeps people-first leadership at the heart of a massive, distributed workforce. From leading HR with business fluency to fighting for tech that actually works on the frontlines, Raúl shares the mindset shifts every HR pro needs to m...
Jun 03, 2025•22 min•Ep. 34
Most CEOs say people are their most important asset. Marcus Lemonis lives it. The Camping World CEO, Beyond Executive Chairman, and host of “The Fixer” on Fox shares why HR and Talent Acquisition leaders play such critical decision-making roles at his companies – and what up-and-coming HR and TA pros must do to earn their CEO’s trust. He also opens up about the biggest blind spots leaders have when it comes to recruiting, retaining, and empowering talent—and why the best companies treat talent a...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Ep. 33
Have you ever seen a leader enthusiastically roll out a “best practice”–without asking whether those practices actually fit the organization? In this episode of Talent All-Stars , Beverly Propst, SVP - Human Resources at Fortune 500 electrical and tech distributor Graybar , shares why even the most widely accepted strategies can fail if they don’t align with your company’s culture. With 20+ years of leadership experience and a literal “seat at the table” (she joined Graybar’s board in 2009), Bev...
May 20, 2025•22 min•Ep. 32
What does it take to build a high-performing organization that lives its values—not just plasters them on a poster? Brian Riley, VP of Global Talent Acquisition and HR Shared Services at Riot Games, shares how the gaming company refreshes, embeds, and operationalizes its values across the entire hiring lifecycle. From behavioral interview kits to identifying internal “bar raisers”, this is how elite companies build cultural alignment at scale. Brian also shares: Why Riot’s current hiring focus i...
May 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 31
What does it look like to evolve your talent strategy while sitting at the center of the AI revolution? Just ask Sarah Tilley. As SVP of Global Talent Management and Acquisition at ServiceNow , Sarah oversees a large-scale but agile operation that processed 1.7 million applications last year alone. In this episode, she shares how her team uses AI not just to streamline recruiting—but to deeply enhance how they assess, hire, and develop talent. She also explains why brand alignment matters in B2B...
May 06, 2025•26 min•Ep. 30
What if the best way to lead isn’t by having all the answers—but by asking better questions? Brian Glaser, Google’s Vice President and Chief Talent and Learning Officer, shares a leadership philosophy grounded in humility, agility, and experimentation. From his early days at JetBlue Airways to shaping Google’s leadership school, Brian explains how the best talent leaders balance clarity with curiosity—and why the future belongs to those who embrace change. Brian also shares: How to turn 1-on-1s ...
Apr 29, 2025•24 min•Ep. 29
Jason Pistulka didn’t wait for permission—he just started solving the real problem. As AVP of Talent Acquisition at HCA Healthcare, Jason helped scale a recruiting organization that hired hundreds of people per day and turned a fragmented HR operation into a well-oiled, data-driven machine. In this episode, Jason talks about the bold moves he made to overhaul recruiting from the inside out—why he insisted on building his own team, how he used data to earn buy-in, and how he coached his teams to ...
Apr 22, 2025•25 min•Ep. 28
"Aggressive listening." "Favorite self." "Bionic leadership." Claire Macintyre, SVP & Chief People Officer at Sam’s Club, uses several memorable metaphors in this fascinating conversation about technology, culture, and leading people through rapid (and sometimes scary) change. She shares why the best HR leaders are equal parts manager and mentor—and how to build a people strategy that doesn’t just respond to the future, but helps shape it. Claire also shares: Why she doesn't use the term "...
Apr 15, 2025•22 min•Ep. 27
The best talent acquisition leaders don’t just get great people in the door—they motivate them to “think like owners”. That’s been the mantra for Claire Berkley during her time as Head of Talent Acquisition at Poshmark–a leading fashion resale marketplace that’s navigated an IPO, acquisition, and major market shifts. In this episode, Claire shares her journey from Division I soccer player to agency recruiter to people-first leader – and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Claire also shares...
Apr 08, 2025•22 min•Ep. 26
What if you could spot team members getting ready to leave—before they even say a word? At Amdocs, Employment Practice Lead Victoria Myers built exactly that: an early warning system that flags flight risks—driving a 45% internal mobility rate and making internal hiring faster and smarter. In this episode, Victoria shares how she made it happen, plus: The surprising perk Gen-Z is demanding from employers How she shifted from recruiter to servant leader How her team uses AI and her #1 tip for get...
Apr 01, 2025•20 min•Ep. 25
Great leaders don’t just walk in and start making changes—they listen, learn, and then lead. Jason Desentz, Chief Human Resources Officer at Toshiba America, has built a career on this principle. From consulting to leading HR at major corporations, he has mastered the balance between business impact and cultural legacy. In this episode, Jason shares how he navigates massive organizational shifts, why he believes influence is about trust just as much as strategy, and how being proactive in your c...
Mar 25, 2025•21 min•Ep. 24
What’s Vanguard’s secret talent acquisition superpower? Turning their mission into an irresistible recruiting pitch. Tiffany Haley , Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Vanguard, shares why the best recruiters are those who genuinely believe in what they're selling. In this episode, Tiffany explains how she coaches her team to leverage empathy, passion, and storytelling—transforming them into true brand ambassadors who attract top talent that drives company results. Tiffany also covers: How a c...
Mar 18, 2025•27 min•Ep. 23
When scaling a global tech giant like Intel, talent isn't just important—it's mission critical. Cindi Harper , VP of Human Resources, Talent Planning, and Acquisition at Intel, learned this firsthand when a plant manager gave her a career-defining wake-up call: Without the right people in place, he warned her… the entire operation grinds to a halt. In this episode, Cindi shares how she went from hesitant college grad to global talent leader in one of the world’s most competitive and rapidly chan...
Mar 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 22
Can you break traditional management structures and still drive exceptional results? Steve O'Brien, SVP of People Solutions at Syneos Health, proves it's possible with his innovative "decoder ring" approach to talent leadership—managing 25 direct reports without a single scheduled one-on-one meeting. In this episode, Steve explains how he balances efficiency with employee engagement, why decision-making should be pushed down to remove bottlenecks, and how psychological safety and autonomy drive ...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Ep. 21
Today’s Talent All-Star was recently on the other side of the talent acquisition table, and he came away from that experience with some shocking insights. Jay Olson, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic, had spent years perfecting the art of hiring. But recently, his time as a candidate gave him an entirely new perspective. Which led him to rethink his entire strategy as he settles into his new role. Jay also shares: How over-reliance on automation can damage candidate experience H...
Feb 25, 2025•26 min•Ep. 20
Ready for the remarkable story of a talent all-star who rose from cleaner to C-level leader… in the very same office? Bettina Deynes, Global CHRO at Carnival Corporation, leads a 160,000-person team in one of the world’s most dynamic industries. In this episode, she shares her incredible journey from janitor to HR executive, the importance of self-learning, and how she champions HR as a strategic function inside the C-suite. Bettina also discusses: Her immigrant roots and self-taught rise in HR ...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 19
Want to build a world-class team? Start by thinking like a business leader. Melanie Steinbach has led talent teams for several major brands—McDonald’s, Cameo, and now MasterClass—and she knows that talent strategy goes well beyond the common perception of HR. In this episode, Melanie shares how she aligns hiring decisions with business growth, the compensation mistake most companies make, and why holding managers accountable for talent development is the key to long-term success. Melanie also sh...
Feb 11, 2025•25 min•Ep. 18
How do you turn a retention crisis into a talent acquisition triumph? Scott Sell, Mercy’s Chief Talent Acquisition Officer, unpacks the strategies that helped this Midwest healthcare leader slash turnover and attract mission-aligned talent. Discover why Mercy prioritizes candidate experience as fiercely as patient care—and how their bold shift from “quantity to quality” created a pipeline of compassionate, purpose-driven hires. Scott also discusses: Leveraging team members’ strengths rather than...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 17
Recruiting in healthcare is extremely competitive – but with the right strategy, it’s possible to stand out from the crowd. In this episode, Yvette Hansen, Director of Talent Acquisition at Baylor Scott & White Health, shares how her team bought back 10,000 hours by automating key steps, allowing recruiters to focus on sourcing top talent. Yvette also shares: A simple way to capture employee stories (and go viral on TikTok!?) Tips for managing change when introducing automation How to partne...
Jan 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 16
What happens when your strategic plan meets an unpredictable reality? Rose Sheehan, Chief People Officer at Hartford HealthCare, knows all about pivoting under pressure. From leading her team through COVID-19 to addressing the Great Resignation, Rose has built a dynamic HR function focused on agility, innovation, and purpose. In this episode, Rose reveals the strategies behind her success, including how she’s transforming talent acquisition through technology, partnerships, and storytelling. Ros...
Jan 21, 2025•22 min•Ep. 15
When Jacquie Liddell stepped into her new role as VP of Talent Acquisition at Mass General Brigham, she had no idea her first day would coincide with the start of Massachusetts' COVID-19 lockdown. Instead of a typical onboarding experience, she was thrust into the heart of a healthcare crisis – and forced to quickly staff a field hospital, hire nurses at lightning speed, and streamline lengthy onboarding processes. Jacquie learned a lot about leading a talent team through an unprecedented crisis...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min•Ep. 14
COVID-19 completely rewrote the recruiting rules – especially in the restaurant and retail sectors. So how can hospitality companies adapt and thrive, post-pandemic? Today, you’ll learn the playbook used by Marci Sigmund, VP of Talent Acquisition at Cracker Barrel, whose team hires up to 100,000 team members per year. Marci shares: How she’s combating turnover across more than 650 stores How to use AI and assessments to match candidates with right-fit roles Why too little turnover can actually b...
Jan 07, 2025•22 min•Ep. 13
What are the keys to attracting and retaining top-notch talent in a highly competitive, demanding industry? We put that question to Lashonda Bighaus, VP of Talent Acquisition at AccentCare – a leading provider of hospice, personal, and home care with 30,000 employees nationwide. In this episode, Lashonda shares her journey from staffing agency recruiter to leading a 50-person talent acquisition team; the very personal reason she felt pulled to hospice; and the tailored tactics she uses to motiva...
Dec 31, 2024•19 min•Ep. 12
What key themes emerge when you talk to some of the best and brightest talent leaders working today? Join host Dave Travers as he highlights our guests’ most valuable insights in this special “Best Of” episode. Featuring clips from top talent leaders at companies like eBay, FedEx, and Nike, Dave distills four key lessons to elevate your talent strategy heading into 2025. You’ll learn: How business needs should drive your talent strategy The art of advocating for your team by understanding stakeh...
Dec 17, 2024•20 min•Ep. 11
How do you create a talent culture that scales with your business growth? Katie Czerepak, Head of Talent for Bain Capital’s Tech Opportunities Team, shares insights from her experience helping dozens of fast-growing teams source and develop talent. You’ll learn how she came to embrace a career in HR after initially resisting it, how she approaches conversations with CEOs, and why she’s such a big fan of highly adaptable generalists. Katie also shares: Effective strategies for advocating for reso...
Dec 03, 2024•21 min•Ep. 10
How do you build a meaningful career in talent acquisition? For Paula Radloff, former VP of Talent Acquisition at Nike and Starbucks, it’s all about picking your spots and making bold moves. In this episode, Paula reveals the career-defining lessons she’s learned while leading talent teams at some of the world’s most iconic brands. Paula also shares: Creating positive candidate experiences as company “branding” How executive search differs from high-volume recruiting Why timing and “daring to as...
Nov 19, 2024•22 min•Ep. 9
