Stepping outside your comfort zone can shape your career in unexpected and rewarding ways. That’s exactly what Jenny Hofler , Director, Early Career Recruiting, Global Talent Acquisition at Labcorp has done — and now she’s building opportunities for early career talent at a global scale. On this episode, she joins host Ryan Dull, and they discuss how Jenny’s journey from a communications graduate to a TA leader has informed her passion for early talent and inclusive hiring. Key Takeaways: (02:33...
Jun 24, 2025•22 min
Navigating global hiring challenges takes more than process — it takes strategy, relationships and relentless curiosity. In this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Ryan Alexander , VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Flowserve . They discuss Ryan’s experiences at Flowserve, a global leader in flow control solutions with over 18,000 employees across 52 countries. Ryan also breaks down the company’s hiring model, explains the challenges of operating in diverse geographies and outlines his strateg...
Jun 12, 2025•24 min
Knowing your career path early can be a game-changer, but aligning internships to long-term hiring goals is where most companies fall short. Jacquilynne Ellison-Wickson , Director of Talent Acquisition for Canada of HUB International , joins Ryan Dull to explore how HUB builds career pipelines, rethinks intern hiring and redefines what success looks like in TA. Key Takeaways: (02:38) Jacquilynne’s journey into recruitment and how a serious life event reshaped her career focus and passion. (08:07...
May 27, 2025•31 min
In today’s tight labor market, delivering the right talent at speed isn’t just an advantage, it’s a necessity. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Tara Darnell , Vice President of Talent Acquisition Strategy and Workforce Planning at Sutter Health . Tara discusses how she led the transformation of a decentralized TA model into a highly efficient, centralized function serving one of the largest healthcare systems in the US. She also offers advice on prioritization and the power of small,...
May 16, 2025•18 min
Transforming talent acquisition at a global scale starts with one thing: a mindset ready for change. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Mike Aronson , Senior Director of Talent Acquisition Global Operations at Johnson Controls . Mike shares his career journey from agency recruiting to leading global TA operations, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in systems, data-informed decision-making and a readiness for continuous change. Key Takeaways: (02:22) Mike Aronson’s unconventional...
Apr 15, 2025•38 min
Host Ryan Dull is joined by Mark Rogers , Global Executive Talent Acquisition Director of Mondelēz International . Mark shares his career journey from the military to leading TA teams across major global organizations. He discusses the evolution of TA, the impact of proactive talent pipelining and how technology is transforming recruitment strategies. Mark highlights the importance of building an integrated talent function, the role of executive TA in cost efficiency and the key metrics Mondelēz...
Mar 27, 2025•28 min
On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Candi Thomas , Director of Talent Acquisition: Field, Corporate and Supply Chain at Mattress Firm . With 22 years of experience, Candi shares her journey from retail management to leading TA teams, unifying processes and building a strong talent acquisition brand. Candi discusses key metrics like time to fill and offer turnaround, as well as initiatives like AI-enabled assessments and active sourcing. She emphasizes the value of honesty in recruiting and f...
Jan 14, 2025•18 min
Host Ryan Dull is joined by Assil Omar , Chief Equity Officer and Vice President, Talent Acquisition of AbbVie . They discuss her unique career journey, the transformation of TA at AbbVie and how the balance between human capital and technology is driving their success. Key Takeaways: (02:40) Assil Omar’s background and entry into TA at AbbVie. (08:21) AbbVie’s organizational structure and TA function. (12:45) The impact of AbbVie’s acquisition of Allergan during COVID. (14:09) Establishing a tr...
Jan 07, 2025•29 min
On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Ashley Phillips , Director of Talent Acquisition, Sales and Corporate at Beacon Building Products . They discuss Ashley’s career journey from sales to TA, including her current role overseeing a team that hires 2,500 employees annually. Ashley shares insights into building a strong TA foundation, emphasizing the importance of communication, process standardization and forecasting headcount through 2028. She highlights the impact of metrics like time to fil...
Dec 17, 2024•14 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Blair Bennett , Senior Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo . Blair shares insights into managing over 30,000 requisitions annually, standardizing interview processes, leveraging data and technology, and enhancing PepsiCo’s employer brand. She discusses tackling frontline hiring challenges, upskilling recruiters and aligning talent strategies with business goals. This conversation provides valuable takeaways for senior-level TA profe...
Dec 11, 2024•31 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Anne Arnold , Director of Enterprise Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Marketing at Farmers Insurance® . They discuss her journey into TA, the role of AI in recruitment and her team’s efforts to align TA with business objectives. Key Takeaways: (02:30) Anne’s career journey into TA. (04:54) Establishing structured career paths in TA. (10:23) Implementing AI to streamline hiring. (12:10) AI brings efficiency and value to recruitment processes. (15:15)...
Nov 22, 2024•25 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Dustin Leszcynski , Director of Talent Acquisition - Early Career at Burlington Stores, Inc. They discuss Dustin’s journey into the TA space, his experience working for various brands and the evolution of Burlington’s early career programs. Dustin shares how data has played a critical role in optimizing the recruitment process and highlights the importance of balancing efficiency with personalization in TA. Key Takeaways: (00:54) An unsuccessful sales...
Oct 18, 2024•19 min
Beth Barney , VP of Talent Acquisition at Cintas , joins Ryan Dull on this episode. They dive into Beth's extensive experience within the company and her approach to building a culture-focused TA strategy. (02:15) Beth’s career journey at Cintas. (06:42) The importance of culture in driving success. (08:42) Recognition program for top recruiters. (09:21) Key metrics for measuring TA success. (12:00) Customer-first and partner-obsessed culture. (15:00) Innovations in ATS and CRM systems. (15:30) ...
Aug 29, 2024•19 min
In this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Dora Rodriguez , Director of Talent Acquisition at The Friedkin Group , to explore how cutting-edge technologies and strategic initiatives are revolutionizing TA. Key Takeaways: (02:10) Dora’s journey into TA, starting in retail and hospitality. (03:40) Overview of Dora’s role at The Friedkin Group, a privately held company in diverse industries. (05:00) Building the EVP and various TA programs at The Friedkin Group. (07:17) The importance of aligning perf...
Aug 13, 2024•16 min
On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Mark Smith , Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic . They discuss Mark’s journey in talent acquisition, Medtronic's transformation and the importance of growth mindset in leadership. Key Takeaways: (02:12) Mark’s career journey from the UK to leading global talent acquisition at Medtronic. (07:20) Overview of Medtronic’s global operations, with 100,000 employees and 12-15,000 hires annually. (09:42) Medtronic's ongoing transformation fo...
Jul 30, 2024•24 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Tara Eckberg , Director of Talent Acquisition for the City and County of Denver . They discuss the challenges and strategies involved in public sector recruitment, particularly in response to the unique demands and crises faced by the city. Key Takeaways: (02:12) Tara Eckberg’s unexpected career path from international education to TA. (04:35) The variety of roles in Denver’s recruitment process, covering over 1,000 job titles. (06:01) Handling a huma...
Jul 16, 2024•18 min
On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Justin Fronberg , Executive Director of Talent Acquisition at MGM Resorts International . They discuss Justin’s unique journey into talent acquisition, the strategic transformations at MGM and the future of talent acquisition in a rapidly evolving market. Key Takeaways: (03:00) Justin’s background in hospitality and his transition to talent acquisition. (05:14) The importance of aligning recruitment strategies with brand and culture. (06:11) Challenges and...
Jul 02, 2024•32 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Jessica Aguilar , Global Head of Talent Acquisition for Zurich Insurance Group . They discuss Jessica's journey from IT to her current role and the strategic initiatives she has led at Zurich. Key Takeaways: (00:00) The importance of internal talent growth for organizational value. (00:06) The development of a forecasting model to align recruitment needs with business plans. (00:09) Workforce planning is challenging but crucial; building a cross-funct...
Jun 25, 2024•26 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull welcomes Sara Nathanson , Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Aritzia . Sara talks about her journey through the ranks of Aritzia, her talent strategies and the hurdles and triumphs that have marked her career. Key Takeaways: (02:33) Sara’s transition from part-time work to leading TA at Aritzia. (05:18) The deliberate and methodical expansion strategy of Aritzia. (06:58) Initiatives to enhance operational efficiency within the TA process. (10:18) The approach...
May 23, 2024•26 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Kelly Jimenez , Director Talent Acquisition of BNSF Railway . Kelly shares insights into the transformative journey of talent acquisition at BNSF, emphasizing the integration of technology and strategic data analysis to enhance recruitment outcomes. Key Takeaways: (02:21) Kelly's unexpected entry into the TA field. (03:10) The significance of adapting recruitment strategies to technological advancements. (05:38) The role of BNSF Railway as a major emp...
Mar 19, 2024•28 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull sits down with Tony Lioi , Director of TA Technology at BAYADA Home Health Care , to discuss the intricacies of aligning talent acquisition technology with business strategy and the importance of strong IT partnerships. Tony shares insights from his extensive experience in the field, offering valuable advice for those navigating the world of talent acquisition technology. Key Takeaways: (02:25) Tony’s background and journey to TA.(09:43) Building a consultative pa...
Mar 05, 2024•24 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull sits down with Jessica Manucy , Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at TruGreen . They delve into Jessica's extensive experience in talent acquisition, highlighting her journey from staffing light industrial roles to leading national recruitment efforts. Key Takeaways: (02:34) Jessica’s transition from staffing to a strategic role in talent acquisition. (03:26) The impact of Jessica's experience at a previous company on her career direction. (04:19) How TruGreen...
Feb 13, 2024•26 min
On this episode, Ryan Dull sits down with Susan Burke , Vice President of Talent Acquisition at PeaceHealth , to discuss the intricacies and challenges of TA in the healthcare sector. Key Takeaways: (02:16) Susan’s journey into talent acquisition, from a receptionist to a recruiter. (04:56) An overview of PeaceHealth: its size, scope and the responsibilities of the TA team. (06:58) Addressing challenges in reducing expenses and reorganizing the team to break down silos. (08:09) Strategies employ...
Jan 23, 2024•25 min
In this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Terri Lawless , Head of Talent Acquisition at Stop & Shop . They discuss Terri’s journey in the talent acquisition space, highlighting her experiences from various sectors and her passion for recruiting. Key Takeaways: (02:14) Terri’s initial foray into talent acquisition and her evolution in the field. (03:07) Terri explains her innovative approach to recruitment process management. (04:23) The shift to Stop & Shop and focusing on community-b...
Jan 09, 2024•23 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull talks to Aliyah Torrance , Director of Talent Acquisition at Akamai Technologies , about her journey in the TA space and the initiatives she's leading at Akamai. Key Takeaways: (05:47) Creating an in-house executive search function at Akamai as a key initiative. (06:23) Launching career certificate programs with Coursera to expand talent pipelines. (07:19) Transitioning technical training to online platforms for global accessibility. (08:45) Addressing diversity c...
Dec 12, 2023•13 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Aaron Turner , Talent Acquisition Senior Director of Peraton . Aaron shares his unique insights into the dynamic world of TA, drawing on his extensive experience in the field. Key Takeaways: (02:15) Aaron's transition from college football to a career in TA. (04:17) The scope and scale of Paraton's TA team and the company’s diverse hiring needs. (05:53) Challenges of adapting to post-pandemic salary and talent market dynamics. (06:50) Strategies for h...
Dec 06, 2023•19 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull sits down with Susan Graye , Global Director of Talent Acquisition at Vontier . Susan delves into the strategies and methodologies she employs at Vontier to facilitate effective talent acquisition and foster an inclusive company culture. Key Takeaways: (02:34) Susan’s journey from employment agency beginnings to global talent leadership at Vontier.(10:40) Emphasizing the importance of streamlined processes and centralized education resources.(13:06) Prioritize and...
Nov 08, 2023•26 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull welcomes Danielle McCaffrey , Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Alorica . She details her personal connection to the talent acquisition industry and her perspective on the future trajectory of recruiting. Ryan and Danielle discuss the following in their conversation: - Passion for the human element of recruiting is essential for industry success. - Leaders who rely on technology as a primary asset instead of as a supplemental aid will be limited in their ab...
Oct 17, 2023•18 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Lavonne Monroe , Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Onboarding at Hewlett Packard Enterprise , who shares her commitment to reducing candidates’ time in the hiring funnel using the latest technology innovations. Lavonne and Ryan discuss: - Common recruiting obstacles that prolong the time a candidate spends in the hiring process. - Why talent leaders should work to develop comprehensive knowledge of the industry they’re hiring for. - How automat...
Oct 03, 2023•19 min
On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Holly Haynes , Assistant Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Unum . They discuss how talent leaders can stay on the leading edge of industry innovation. During their conversation, Ryan and Holly cover: - The importance of taking a proactive approach to developing new talent acquisition strategies and techniques. - Approaches to forming leadership structures that almost any organization can implement. - How investment in recruiting and retaining ta...
Sep 19, 2023•24 min
