The Talent Tango Elevano

This episode features Lubna Khaleeli, Director of Talent Acquisition at Coupa, discussing the intricate aspects of partnerships and stakeholder management within the realm of talent acquisition. She emphasizes the importance of establishing trusted relationships, harnessing data and authenticity to provide strategic hiring solutions, and prioritizing business outcomes. Lubna shares insights into the challenges of aligning with hiring managers and navigating the complexities of different stakeholder expectations. Through examples from her career, she highlights the impact of advocating for candidates and the necessity of a solution-oriented approach to problem-solving in talent acquisition. The discussion encapsulates the vital role of talent acquisition specialists in benefiting the businesses they serve and fostering a transformative environment through strategic and thoughtful engagement with candidates and hiring managers.
Highlights
01:59 The Art of Building Trusted Partnerships in Talent Acquisition
05:16 Defining Success in Talent Acquisition Beyond Hires
07:22 Navigating Challenges and Advocating for Candidates
18:04 Empowering Talent Teams and Stakeholder Management
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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 welcomes Amie Ernst, Director of Talent Acquisition at Pinecone, to discuss the crucial role of talent acquisition in understanding and influencing the rhythm of a business. Amie shares her insights on how talent acquisition is more than just monitoring and managing processes; it's about being an integral part of the business growth by knowing when and how to inject talent effectively. She highlights Pinecone's approach to building generative AI applications and the importance of strategic talent placement in startup environments. The conversation also explores the concept of influencing without authority, the significance of building trust with leadership, and the impact of talent acquisition on business goals. Amie stresses the importance of collaboration between recruiters and department leaders to ensure talent meets the immediate and future needs of the business. Furthermore, she discusses the challenges of influencing business leaders and the importance of strategic thinking and flexibility in talent acquisition to drive company success.
Highlights
01:29 The Art of Talent Acquisition and Business Influence
02:16 Understanding the Rhythm of Business
04:43 Influencing Without Authority: A Talent Acquisition Strategy
08:13 Operational Challenges and Strategic Solutions in Talent Acquisition
10:37 Building Trust and Influence in Talent Acquisition
12:57 Navigating the Tech Bubble: A Reset for Talent Acquisition
21:01 Stakeholder Engagement and Setting Expectations
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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, Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first Chief HR Officer and expert on the future of work, discusses the evolving landscape of human resources and talent strategy. Topics covered include the importance of accountability, defining success, stakeholder engagement, and the dynamics between hiring managers and talent HR. Steve delves into the challenges the HR industry faces, particularly the complexities around hiring, onboarding, and aligning talent strategies with company values. He emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to rapid changes in job requirements, skills, and workplace culture. The conversation also touches on the potential impacts of AI on HR practices, advocating for AI to complement talent strategies by enhancing personal job satisfaction and organizational fit rather than focusing on cost savings. Steve shares insights from his extensive experience and suggests ways to improve recruitment processes and talent management for a more engaged and productive workforce.
Highlights
00:31 Defining Accountability and Success in HR
02:08 The Complex Role of HR in Balancing Growth and Compliance
05:35 Challenges in Talent Acquisition and the Evolving Job Market
26:24 The Future of Work: AI, Automation, and the Talent Landscape
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Guest:
Steve Cadigan is a true luminary in the world of talent. His expertise is regularly sought after by some of the most prestigious organizations on the planet, including dynamic organizations like Google, Manchester United, The Royal Bank of Scotland, the City of Lisbon Portugal, and the BBC. Not only that, but he's also a trusted advisor to top-tier venture capital and consulting firms like Sequoia, and McKinsey & Co..
Steve may be best known for being LinkedIn’s first Chief HR Officer helping design what many consider to be the gold standard of company culture. Throughout his illustrious career, Steve has consistently demonstrated his ability to build teams, shape cultures, and transform organizations into nothing less than "world-class" performers. His remarkable achievements have garnered accolades from esteemed publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Fortune magazine, solidifying his reputation as a true industry visionary. 
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Steve Cadigan was rightfully named one of the top 200 Global Thought Leaders in the realm of People and Talent in 2021 and again in 2023. In 2021 Steve published his first book on the future of work titled “Workquake” which immediately was recognized as a “Hot New Release” on Amazon.com.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cadigan/
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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 Joe Ortiz, the Global Talent Acquisition Manager at Datadog. They discuss the talent team's growth, promotion criteria, and keeping teams motivated during tough economic times. Joe shares insights on servant leadership within talent acquisition, emphasizing the importance of empathy, providing team members with stretch opportunities, and shielding them from unnecessary tasks to foster their best work. He also delves into managing workloads effectively when resources are limited and the importance of maintaining job security and psychological safety during economic uncertainty. The dialogue further explores the significance of upward feedback, trust, and assuming good intent for continuous improvement in leadership roles. The episode concludes with ways to contact Joe and encourages sharing the episode with those interested in leadership and talent growth strategies.
Highlights
01:31 Exploring Talent Growth and Leadership in Tough Times
01:45 The Essence of Servant Leadership in Talent Management
03:23 Unsticking Stuck Stuff: Leadership in Action
06:03 Learning from Failure: A Leadership Perspective
06:58 Fostering Independent Problem-Solving in Teams
10:23 Adapting to Economic Challenges in Talent Acquisition
13:24 Maintaining Team Morale in Uncertain Times
17:07 Seeking and Giving Feedback for Leadership Growth
Guest:
Joe Ortiz is a Talent Acquisition Partner with strong consulting, relationship-building, and analytical skills. He has demonstrated experience in the tech, music, and media industries. Joe is adept at defining and driving best-in-class recruiting strategies, exceeding hiring plan deliverables, and providing influential leadership to recruitment teams. With proven success in scaling companies globally, he has a demonstrated history of recruiting across North America, Europe, Nordics, and APAC, and across various lines of business including Data Science, Analytics, Product, Tech, Finance, Accounting, and Legal. Committed to enhancing the candidate experience, Joe is focused on continuously evolving the talent strategy and improving the selection process.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeortiz54/
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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 is joined by Chris Ahsing, a Talent Partner at Dragonfly, a crypto web three investment firm focusing on early-stage investments. They delve into the intricacies of talent acquisition metrics, discussing the challenges of over-engineered metrics, optimizing metrics for different marketing channels, and the distraction caused by unnecessary metrics. Ahsing shares his insights on the common pitfalls in talent process management, including the 'and then' evaluation process and optimizing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for user flow rather than reporting. The conversation also covers tactical advice on managing unreasonable hiring expectations, the importance of empathy and stakeholder communication, and strategies for talent leaders to manage scope creep and unrealistic hiring requirements assertively. The dialogue emphasizes the need for a clear, consistent approach to metrics and effective communication between talent teams and their stakeholders to navigate the complexities of talent acquisition.
Highlights
01:07 The Art and Science of Metrics in Talent Acquisition
02:17 Overcoming the 'And Then' Syndrome in Hiring
03:26 Tactical Approaches to Talent Metrics and Hiring Challenges
04:34 Navigating Scope Creep and Unrealistic Hiring Expectations
07:15 Strategies for Effective Talent Acquisition and Management
09:31 The Importance of Data and Metrics in Talent Processes
10:04 Challenging Unrealistic Hiring Expectations with Data
24:39 The Role of Empathy and Flexibility in Talent Acquisition
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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 hosts Gabrielle Garon, the VP of Talent, DEIB, and People Insights at 1Password. They delve into the intricate world of people metrics and how 1Password is navigating the challenges and opportunities within people analytics. Gabrielle shares her journey, from starting with minimal data collection, due to the company's focus on security and privacy, to implementing a comprehensive data metrics system using tools like Looker and maintaining a balance between qualitative expertise and quantitative data. They discuss the importance of opting in for data sharing, the process of deciding which metrics to measure, and the continuous reassessment of those metrics. Gabrielle emphasizes the role of people analytics in challenging biases, making informed decisions, and fostering a collaborative environment. She also offers advice on starting with people analytics, including building a business case, educating oneself about the possibilities, and connecting with others in the field.
Highlights
01:27 Diving Deep into People Metrics and Analytics
04:22 Starting the Journey of Building Comprehensive People Metrics
14:37 Adopting and Utilizing People Metrics in Business Decisions
17:41 Technical Aspects and Challenges of Implementing People Metrics
20:34 Advice for Starting Your Own People Metrics Journey
Guest:
Gabrielle Caron is  VP of Talent Acquisition, DEIB & People Insights at 1Password, a leader in identity security best known for its password manager product and now transitioned to a multi-product offering and into the world of passwordless, through passkeys. 
She is passionate about people. strategy, constantly thriving to improve people practices, often by starting with the data-driven perspective.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-caron-5607ab13/
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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)