Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast - Recruiting, Staffing, Human Resources

Ryan Dull
Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast - Recruiting, Staffing, Human Resources

On the Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast, your host Ryan Dull of SageMark HR interviews today’s industry leaders in talent acquisition to discuss challenges, best practices, and what the future holds. If you are working in talent acquisition and have always wanted to sit down with your peers at other companies and pick their brain, this show is the next best thing. Topics for the show will include: recruiting, talent acquisition, recruiting technology, HR tech, and recruiting innovation.. Join us each week as we bring you a new talent acquisition interview and extract their expertise.

  1. Metrics, Pipelines and Process Standardization with Ashley Phillips of Beacon Building Products

    5 DAYS AGO

    Metrics, Pipelines and Process Standardization with Ashley Phillips of Beacon Building Products

    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 fill and source of hire in refining recruitment strategies, especially in the competitive building materials industry.  Key Takeaways: (02:32) Communications studies opened doors to sales and recruiting. (05:07) Recruitment spans operations, sales, corporate and internship roles. (06:23) Communication improvements target TA teams, business partners and candidates. (08:07) Metrics like time to fill and source of hire drive TA decisions. (10:02) Forecasting provides direction for marketing and recruitment strategies. (12:06) Building rapport with candidates creates a lasting impression. Resources Mentioned: Ashley Phillips - https://www.linkedin.com/in/agonzalesphil/ Beacon Building Products | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-building-products/ Beacon Building Products | Website - https://www.becn.com/ This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    14 min
  2. Strategic TA at the Helm of a Global F&B Giant with Blair Bennett of PepsiCo

    11 DEC

    Strategic TA at the Helm of a Global F&B Giant with Blair Bennett of PepsiCo

    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 professionals aiming to navigate the complexities of modern recruitment. Key takeaways: (02:39) From politics to PepsiCo, Blair Bennett shares her journey into TA leadership. (07:10) PepsiCo’s TA team ensures business success at every level. (10:24) Standardizing processes set the stage for rapid and positive change.  (13:21) Continuous improvement drives PepsiCo’s approach to future-ready and effective talent acquisition. (16:01) Social listening tools help measure employer brand performance and engagement trends. (17:50) Piloting interview intelligence tools refines talent strategies and business outcomes. (20:59) Leveraging talent intelligence tools to support high-value recruiter contributions. (24:31) Talent communities and tagging systems become more efficient with new tools. (26:34) Learning and curiosity fuel long-term success in the dynamic TA field. (29:31) Lifting your focus beyond daily tasks fosters impactful contributions. Resources mentioned: Blair Bennett - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairabennett/ PepsiCo | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pepsico/ PepsiCo | Website - https://www.pepsico.com/ This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    31 min
  3. AI’s Role in TA Processes with Anne Arnold of Farmers Insurance®

    22 NOV

    AI’s Role in TA Processes with Anne Arnold of Farmers Insurance®

    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) Focusing on data literacy and AI adoption to add business value. (18:03) Prioritizing talent branding and enhancing candidate experience. (21:35) Leading with trust, empowering teams and showing TA’s value. Resources mentioned: Anne Arnold - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annearnoldprofile/ Farmers Insurance® | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-insurance/ Farmers Insurance® | Website - https://www.farmers.com Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    25 min
  4. Building Early Career Programs with Dustin Leszcynski of Burlington Stores Inc.

    18 OCT

    Building Early Career Programs with Dustin Leszcynski of Burlington Stores Inc.

    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 interview led to TA. (03:36)  Early career work at Wayfair and TJX. (07:15)  Burlington recruits full-time and interns. (08:48)  Data drives improvements in the recruitment funnel. (10:47)  Measuring performance reveals improvement areas. (14:45)  Predicting trends in the early career market. (17:01)  Personalization is vital to TA success. Resources Mentioned: Dustin Leszcynski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinleszcynski/ Burlington Stores, Inc. - https://www.linkedin.com/company/burlington-stores/ Wayfair Careers - https://www.wayfair.com/careers/jobs HP’s HR Leadership Development Program - https://hp-leaders.com/programs This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I’ve seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices but also deliver tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    19 min
  5. Enhancing TA Processes With Strategic Metrics with Beth Barney of Cintas

    29 AUG

    Enhancing TA Processes With Strategic Metrics with Beth Barney of Cintas

    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) Centralizing relationships with RPO providers. (16:39) Building trust with business leaders. (17:00) Data-driven decision-making in TA. (17:54) The importance of resilience in TA. Resources Mentioned: Beth Barney - https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-barney-9057b313/ Cintas | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cintas/ Cintas | Website - https://www.cintas.com/ This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    19 min
  6. Building a Strong Talent Pipeline with Dora Rodriguez of The Friedkin Group

    13 AUG

    Building a Strong Talent Pipeline with Dora Rodriguez of The Friedkin Group

    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 performance metrics with the company's vision and culture. (09:00) Measuring TA performance through various survey journeys and KPIs. (11:00) The role of digital transformation in enhancing TA strategies. (12:00) Focusing on data-driven talent and aligning TA with overall business goals. (13:36) Advice for those entering the TA field and the diverse skill sets beneficial for success. Resources Mentioned: Dora Rodriguez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorarodriguez/ The Friedkin Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/friedkin-companies-inc-/ This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    16 min
  7. Fostering Leadership and Trust in TA Teams with Mark Smith of Medtronic

    30 JUL

    Fostering Leadership and Trust in TA Teams with Mark Smith of Medtronic

    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 focusing on TA technology and employer brand. (11:00) Challenges and opportunities in enhancing Medtronic's employer brand recognition. (15:19) Importance of measuring TA performance through classical metrics and sentiment analysis. (18:24) A vision for future TA leadership at Medtronic, emphasizing a growth mindset and adaptability. (20:53) Advice for TA professionals on empowerment, trust and authenticity in leadership. Resources Mentioned: Mark Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/markedwardsmithta/ Medtronic https://www.linkedin.com/company/medtronic/ Authentic Leadership by Bill George https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Leadership-Rediscovering-Secrets-Creating/dp/0787975281/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I94P9ytLxCwaeoqB5yA6lUoDdzJ-Xp2K363e76GQ6kiETZdKg7Vpu0xc5csVEgmn7UabW7SNAQv648gRc8UVDbDX3B-Ya_WGq44Eimdf6VrZpAlLxQea6MndEPRx7fWpBd3UXgquC9voVR-uUOdMUnFVlS_t8WBi1SlT3dsFXX-StoCns3ltBfiq812JcMcZ8-IbvMWI_K_K9n6C85NLTxxD3JLEfAI7SbGm1xfUNZY.cU4JgBjOu09JrHxG-Z8nKAuHicBGedg7ipg_p3KolHw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Authentic+Leadership+by+Bill+George&qid=1719928930&sr=8-1 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. -Dweck https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322 How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh https://www.amazon.com/Score-Takes-Care-Itself-Philosophy/dp/1591843472 This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    24 min
  8. The Future of TA in Public Service with Tara Eckberg of The City and County of Denver

    16 JUL

    The Future of TA in Public Service with Tara Eckberg of The City and County of Denver

    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 humanitarian crisis and the urgent recruitment needs that followed.  (08:29) Reducing the city’s vacancy rate from 20% to 11% during Tara’s tenure.  (11:37) Addressing workforce development and the importance of local talent investment.  (12:43) The unique advantages of working in city government.  (14:46) The importance of understanding and investing in the success of the team.  (16:55) Transitioning to an advisory role with the integration of AI in recruitment. Resources Mentioned: Tara Eckberg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-eckberg-58b03522/ City and County of Denver - https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-and-county-of-denver/ TNTP Website - https://tntp.org This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR. Sagemark HR can help you: ✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions. After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization. ✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results. We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution. ✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve. We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you. If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at: www.sagemarkhr.com ✉ ryan.dull@sagemarkhr.com #Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

    18 min

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3.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

On the Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast, your host Ryan Dull of SageMark HR interviews today’s industry leaders in talent acquisition to discuss challenges, best practices, and what the future holds. If you are working in talent acquisition and have always wanted to sit down with your peers at other companies and pick their brain, this show is the next best thing. Topics for the show will include: recruiting, talent acquisition, recruiting technology, HR tech, and recruiting innovation.. Join us each week as we bring you a new talent acquisition interview and extract their expertise.

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