The Talent Tango Elevano

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand interviews Carla Foster, the VP of Global Talent Acquisition at DataStax, to explore how talent acquisition leaders can add more value and better align with the needs of their organizations. Carla shares her insights on moving beyond mere process management to truly understanding the business functions they support, ensuring candidate quality, and building trusted relationships with hiring managers. She emphasizes the importance of communication, adapting to the team's cadence, and the strategic use of 'uncomfortable nos' in decision-making. The conversation also touches on the challenges of aligning talent acquisition practices with engineering and other departmental processes, the significance of visibility into recruitment activities, and the impact of showcasing value through metrics and direct involvement of hiring managers in the recruitment process. Carla advocates for openness and collaboration and for leveraging her extensive experience to navigate the complexities of talent acquisition and contribute significantly to organizational success.
Highlights
01:37 The Core of Talent Acquisition: Adding Value and Alignment
02:13 Deep Dive into Talent Acquisition Strategies
03:30 Challenges and Solutions in Talent Acquisition
05:08 Building Relationships and Trust in Talent Acquisition
08:57 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions
12:12 Adapting Talent Acquisition to Engineering Teams
13:50 The Power of Communication and Feedback
Guest connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-croghan-foster-82a126/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this podcast episode, Lauren Newton, VP of People at Sanity, discusses adopting an agile approach to human resources and talent management. By treating aspects of people operations as experiments, Lauren's team at Sanity seeks to innovate within the traditional HR space, focusing on flexibility and risk-taking to improve outcomes. The conversation covers the importance of defining clear goals for these experiments, the balance between innovation and compliance, and methods for implementing and evaluating new HR initiatives. Lauren emphasizes the significance of stakeholder input and collaboration in driving change and improving employee experiences through targeted projects like automating the onboarding process. Additionally, she highlights strategies for prioritizing work, managing stakeholder relationships, and ensuring team adoption of new processes. The episode offers insights into modern HR practices and the value of a collaborative, experimental approach to enhancing people operations.
Highlights
01:53 The Philosophy of Agile and Experimentation in HR
03:56 Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in HR Innovation
07:11 Detailed Process of Implementing Changes in HR
25:04 Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management
Guest connect - Lauren Netwon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanewton22/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)
 

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Meg Pittman, VP of People at dbt Labs, about transforming the people and talent function into a role of enablement rather than gatekeeping. They discuss the importance of authentic leadership, the shift from being risk-averse to becoming enablers, and how leaders can empower their teams to make impactful decisions. Meg shares her insights on breaking away from traditional HR strategies focused on mitigation and compliance toward fostering a culture of problem-solving and risk-taking. She illustrates these concepts with personal stories from her career and the innovative steps dbt Labs has taken to redefine its performance management system. The conversation also covers the critical role of vulnerability and creating safe spaces for employees to be authentic, which Meg argues is vital for personal and organizational growth. The episode emphasizes that effective talent and people leadership begin with authenticity and the courage to embrace change and take calculated risks.
Highlights
00:22 Exploring the Role of Authentic Leadership
00:54 The Journey to Empowerment and Transformation
05:17 Creating Safe Spaces and Fostering Vulnerability
13:33 Embracing Risk and Innovation in HR
Guest - Meg Pittman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-pittman-13ba14144/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this episode, we dive into the nuances of how founders can effectively hire go-to-market leaders with Atli Thorkelsson, VP of Talent Network at Redpoint Ventures. The conversation covers the challenges founders face in these roles, the timing and dynamics of such hires, and the importance of founder-led sales in the early stages. Atli emphasizes the need for candidates who can execute immediately while having the potential to grow with the company. The discussion also explores the intricacies of hiring outside a founder's skill set, the significance of setting up for holistic success, and the critical aspect of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable people. Atli provides insights into what to look for in candidates, highlighting the importance of long-term thinking, cultural fit, and the ability to scale with the company. The episode is rich in advice for founders on navigating the hiring process, from the initial job definition to engaging with potential candidates for long-term roles.
Highlights
00:50 The Challenge of Hiring Go-to-Market Leaders
01:23 When to Hire Go-to-Market Leaders: Insights from Atli
02:32 The Importance of Hiring for Now and Future Growth
03:07 Navigating the Hiring Process: Strategies and Challenges
08:35 Identifying the Right Sales Leadership Qualities
16:57 Advice for Founders on Hiring and Onboarding
Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atlit/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)
 

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand interviews Blake Williams, the Head of Talent at Nuro, a startup focused on enhancing daily life through robotics, notably with their self-driving delivery vehicles. They delve into the challenges and strategies of managing talent transition, particularly in a high-skill environment like Nuro, which specializes in computer vision technologies and robotics. Williams emphasizes the importance of preparing for inevitable departures by ensuring individuals leave as better ambassadors and how Nuro engages in proactive succession planning, involving internships and new graduate programs to maintain a pipeline of talent. Additionally, the conversation touches on Williams' transition from the Marine Corps to the talent acquisition field, reflecting on the valuable, transferable skills veterans bring to the corporate world. The episode concludes with insights into creating a talent-friendly culture and the benefits of intentional hiring and development strategies.
Highlights
00:16 The Inevitability of Employee Departures
00:55 Introducing Nuro and Its Mission
01:36 Challenges in Replacing Specialized Talent
02:34 Embracing the Reality of Employee Turnover
04:50 Proactive Succession Planning and Talent Development
06:14 Internships and New Graduates: A Strategy for Talent Acquisition
07:53 Creating Talent Ambassadors for the Future
10:08 The Process of Onboarding and Knowledge Transfer
11:57 Rethinking Replacement and Hiring Strategies
14:05 The Importance of Internships and Cognitive Diversity
18:09 The Role of the Talent Team in Shaping Company Culture
20:15 Transitioning from the Marine Corps to Corporate America
Guest:
Blake Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwillia/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

 

This podcast episode features a discussion with Ashley Core, Head of TA at SoFi, focusing on engagement strategies for high performing teams within talent acquisition (TA). They delve into maintaining team engagement during busy periods and downtimes, addressing the impact of layoffs on mental health, and strategies for personal and team productivity. Ashley shares insights from her experience, emphasizing the importance of rest, wellness, and meaningful projects to maintain performance levels. The conversation also covers the challenges of the current hiring landscape and the value of vulnerability and empathy in leadership. Additionally, Ashley and the host discuss the transient nature of the talent industry and strategies for long-term career fulfillment.
Highlights
00:45 Defining High Performing Teams and Engagement Strategies
01:39 The Importance of Balance: Performance, Mental Health, and Well-being
02:27 Leadership Lessons: Navigating Highs and Lows in Talent Acquisition
04:51 Maintaining Engagement During Slow Hiring Periods
10:48 Addressing Mental Health and Leading with Vulnerability
18:13 Career Longevity in Talent Acquisition: Passion and Resilience
Ashley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleycore/
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Talent Tango, and we would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com
Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?
Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)