What happens when a community-builder refuses to wait for permission, takes fast, messy action, and turns solidarity into a strategy for work and well-being. On this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Anna Morgan - founder of Career BFF, talent leader, events creator, and the catalyst behind EVOLVE, a grassroots conference lifting up TA and HR. From getting quiet on a Costa Rica retreat to shipping a two-day event in 89 days, Anna brings a rare mix of compassion, candor, and get-it-done energy. She’s the person you want in your corner when the rug gets pulled - equal parts coach, connector, and accountability partner with receipts. They unpack: The last five years in TA/HR — layoffs, decision fatigue, “pandemic burn,” and why visibility + credibility (hello, LinkedIn) are armor for the next disruption Imposter syndrome vs. evidence — borrowing belief from your community until your own voice gets loud again Fast, messy action as a leadership skill — how Anna scopes, sequences, and ships community events (and why urgency + service beats perfection) Personal brand for practitioners — building relevance and inbound opportunities without becoming “a content person” Collaboration over competition — pulling back the curtain in recruiting to accelerate trust, reduce gatekeeping, and actually help people land The job search with dignity — why to say it out loud, ask for help, and surround yourself with safe, winning people “Failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the beginning of clarity.” Anna’s story, lessons, and how to analyze the pre-steps so you don’t repeat the miss If you’ve felt alone in a long search, or you’re leading teams through churn and change, this conversation puts language to what you’re carrying - and a blueprint for moving anyway. Because staying human is not a soft skill. It’s the operating system that makes every other skill work. Chapters: 00:02:46 - How the last five years reshaped TA 00:06:39 - How to choose your next move after a layoff 00:10:26 - Why building a conference in 89 days took empathy, community, and a little crazy 00:16:18 - Three pieces of advice for anyone in a long, public job search 00:19:31 - Who struggles more to self-promote - and how to use LinkedIn as service 00:22:56 - Why fake job postings erode trust and harm candidates 00:26:06 - Failure as the beginning of clarity - share a defining miss 00:33:08 - Finding your voice with the CHRO and protecting your integrity | Connect with Us | Follow Anna Morgan: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/ Check Out Anna’s Podcast – Your Career BFF: Coming Soon - https://yourcareerbff.com/podcast (Anna Morgan is the founder of Career BFF, a people-first recruiting and consulting partner that helps growth companies hire faster, smarter, and with heart. She blends direct hire, embedded TA, and manager training with community leadership (EVOLVE, Your CareerBFF Podcast) - backed by results like $1.2M in fees saved and 49% faster time-to-fill.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
