Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast - Recruiting, Staffing, Human Resources

Ryan Dull
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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. Turning Candidate Care Into a Competitive Edge: The TA Shift with Stef Nikitas of Ace Hardware Corporation

    JAN 6

    Turning Candidate Care Into a Competitive Edge: The TA Shift with Stef Nikitas of Ace Hardware Corporation

    The journey into talent acquisition is rarely linear, and this episode brings that to life as host Ryan Dull sits down with Stef Nikitas, Director of TA at Ace Hardware Corporation, to explore her global career path and the transformation of TA at one of the most recognized brands in retail. They discuss the unique recruiting challenges created by Ace Hardware’s cooperative store model, the evolution of TA operations over the past decade and how Stef has driven major initiatives in process design, technology, data and candidate experience. She also reflects on how COVID accelerated change, why quality must replace quantity in hiring and how AI and automation continue to reshape the TA landscape. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:34 Stef fell into TA after a three-year HR apprenticeship in Germany. 07:01 Ace Hardware stores are independently owned and operated. 09:53 Hiring was siloed, driving the need to centralize TA. 11:56 Peak season becomes “speed dating” to hit staffing levels fast. 15:16 Grace, their chatbot, automates candidate care and keeps applicants engaged. 18:17 TA shifted from volume metrics to a deeper focus on quality of hire. 22:07 The career site was relaunched, and AI helped realign recruiter levels. 25:43 Be a sponge, say yes often and own your development. Resources Mentioned: Stef Nikitas https://www.linkedin.com/in/snikitas/ Ace Hardware Corporation | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/acehardwarecorp/ Ace Hardware Corporation | Website http://www.acehardware.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 #Recruiting #HRTech

    27 min
  2. What Adaptable TA Leadership Looks Like in Today’s Fast-Changing Hiring Landscape with Daja Davis of Avis Budget Group

    12/16/2025

    What Adaptable TA Leadership Looks Like in Today’s Fast-Changing Hiring Landscape with Daja Davis of Avis Budget Group

    The future of TA is changing quickly, and leaders who embrace adaptability, data and technology are setting the pace. Host Ryan Dull sits down with Daja Davis, Director of Talent Acquisition at Avis Budget Group, to explore her career journey, the transformation of Avis Budget Group’s hiring strategy, and the mindset required for long-term success in TA. They discuss Daja’s non-linear path from retail to admissions to automotive recruiting, how she leads high-volume hiring across the Northeast and Central regions, and the innovations shaping their TA function today. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:30 Daja describes her path from retail to TA and her passion for recruiting. 04:25 Avis Budget Group is a global mobility provider with a large regional TA structure. 05:54 TA transformation centered on process, people and technology. 08:06 This year’s TA priorities focus on consistency, fulfillment, experience and retention. 10:10 Technician hiring surged after strengthening organization and pipeline management. 12:06 A focus on urgency led to structured outreach and faster interview scheduling. 13:11 Growth isn’t always vertical — lateral moves can unlock bigger opportunities. 14:25 The future of recruiting focuses on adaptability and embracing change. Resources Mentioned: Daja Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/dajadavis Avis Budget Group | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/avis-budget-group Avis Budget Group | Website https://www.avisbudgetgroup.com/ "Miles" - Avis Budget's AI chat tool https://www.avisbudgetgroup.jobs/ 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

    15 min
  3. How Transparent Leadership Accelerates Change Across Modern TA Organizations with Meg Struble of ServiceNow

    11/25/2025

    How Transparent Leadership Accelerates Change Across Modern TA Organizations with Meg Struble of ServiceNow

    The pace of change in talent acquisition has never been faster, and leaders are being challenged to rethink how teams, tools and processes evolve.  On this episode, Meg Struble, Senior Director of TA Transformation, Optimization, and Excellence at ServiceNow, joins host Ryan Dull to discuss Meg’s career path, her approach to leading transformation in TA and how her team is preparing for the future of recruiting in an AI-driven landscape. She also explains how ServiceNow’s rapid growth is reshaping TA priorities, why transparency and authenticity matter more than ever and how her team uses data and new models to guide smarter decisions.  Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:38 Early work in university admissions sparks Meg’s path into TA. 04:35 ServiceNow streamlines work by unifying AI, data and workflows on one platform. 06:28 A role complexity model improves how recruiter capacity is measured. 08:44 Effective change hinges on clear communication and alignment. 10:40 Authentic, transparent leadership keeps teams aligned through complex change. 12:14 Admitting gaps in knowledge fosters stronger collaboration. 14:11 TA metrics guide performance today while AI enables more predictive insights. 18:10 TA leaders benefit from staying close to where real work and value are created. Resources mentioned: Meg Struble https://www.linkedin.com/in/megstruble ServiceNow | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/servicenow ServiceNow | Website https://www.servicenow.com/ Gemba (Six Sigma concept) https://www.sixsigmadaily.com/what-is-a-gemba-walk/ 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

    20 min
  4. The TA Shift That Cuts Hiring Time by 40% with Cortney Grant of Johnson Controls

    10/21/2025

    The TA Shift That Cuts Hiring Time by 40% with Cortney Grant of Johnson Controls

    Building a world-class recruiting function takes more than filling roles — it’s about strategy, technology and getting close to the work. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Cortney Grant, Director of Global Talent Acquisition of Johnson Controls. They discuss Cortney’s journey from agency recruiting to leading global TA functions, how specialization and automation transform hiring outcomes and why understanding operations on the ground drives better recruiting strategies. Cortney shares how strategic changes reduced time-to-fill by 40%, how AI is reshaping high-volume recruiting and why measuring quality of hire is just as critical as speed. Key Takeaways:  00:00 Introduction. 02:35 Cortney shares how agency recruiting built her tenacity. 04:46 Leading high-volume recruiting at Amazon during the peak of COVID demand. 08:31 An opportunity to scale TA through RPO improved time-to-fill. 10:09 Two recruiter tracks built deeper subject expertise. 12:05 The two-track model isn’t one-size-fits-all and must align strategically. 14:00 AI dominates conversations, driving a shift in recruiter training. 18:14 Happy teams drive business success, and tenacity is key in today’s job market. Resources Mentioned: Cortney Grant https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygrant/ Johnson Controls | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/johnson-controls Johnson Controls | Website https://www.johnsoncontrols.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

    20 min
  5. Blending AI and Human Insight To Define TA Success with Carin House of Grainger

    09/23/2025

    Blending AI and Human Insight To Define TA Success with Carin House of Grainger

    Navigating talent acquisition at scale requires a balance of technology, candidate experience and recruiter-driven success metrics. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Carin House, Director and Talent Acquisition Partner at Grainger. They discuss her career journey, the scale of Grainger’s hiring operations, and how her team measures success in TA. Carin also shares initiatives that shape the candidate experience and her advice for those building careers in recruitment. Key Takeaways:  00:00 Introduction. 02:31 Carin graduated from law school in 2008 and joined Grainger through a temp job. 03:57 Grainger is a global MRO distributor with a mission to keep the world working. 06:08 Carin’s team measures TA success with recruiter-driven metrics. 08:24 The future of TA lies in blending AI innovation with human connection. 10:05 Always ask the question in your mind — it can spark valuable insights. 10:39 Mistakes are opportunities to learn and move forward. Resources Mentioned: Carin House https://www.linkedin.com/in/carin-house-7a7936b8 Grainger | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/w.w.-grainger/ Grainger | Website https://www.grainger.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

    12 min
  6. Structuring Early Careers Teams To Support Large-Scale Campus Hiring with Jeff Ollinger of Sun Life

    09/09/2025

    Structuring Early Careers Teams To Support Large-Scale Campus Hiring with Jeff Ollinger of Sun Life

    Balancing innovation with the human side of hiring is shaping the future of talent acquisition. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Jeff Ollinger, Director, Talent Acquisition – Corporate and Campus, of Sun Life. They discuss Jeff’s career journey, the evolution of his role and the strategies Sun Life is deploying to strengthen both campus and experienced hiring. Jeff shares how his background in athletics and early career experiences led him into HR and TA, eventually shaping his leadership approach. He highlights the scope of Sun Life’s hiring operations, the company’s student conversion strategy and its focus on inclusion through specialized programs. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:36 Jeff shares how he became an accidental HR professional. 05:07 Jeff’s journey from RBC to the tech sector to broaden his campus recruitment work. 10:07 Sun Life hires 500–700 students annually, with a focus on full-time conversion. 13:45 Student recruitment is balanced all-year-round, not just in the summer. 18:03 Sun Life prioritizes manager and new hire satisfaction with a seamless experience. 20:12 Internal hiring is a priority for developing talent and filling senior roles. 22:14 AI is used to boost efficiency and insights, while decisions remain human-led. 25:10 Be open to unexpected career paths and new ways of doing business. Resources Mentioned: Jeff Ollinger https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffollinger Sun Life | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial Sun Life | Website https://www.sunlife.com/en/ Dean Connor Inclusion Scholarship https://www.sunlife.ca/en/careers/student-and-new-graduate-programs/scholarship-guidelines/ 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

    27 min
  7. Developing TA Functions That Match the Complexity of Global Growth with Michael Peterson of Edwards Lifesciences

    08/12/2025

    Developing TA Functions That Match the Complexity of Global Growth with Michael Peterson of Edwards Lifesciences

    Predictable hiring isn’t just possible —it’s essential. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Michael Peterson, Sr. Director of Global Talent Acquisition – Talent Sourcing, Intelligence and Innovation at Edwards Lifesciences, to explore how strategic planning, data-driven practices and a consumer-minded approach are shaping modern TA functions in highly regulated industries. Michael walks through his path from aspiring pilot to TA leadership, sharing lessons from roles across healthcare, tech and international organizations. From building teams from scratch to redefining success metrics, Michael also offers practical insights into the evolving TA landscape. Key Takeaways: (00.00) Introduction. (02:35) Michael pivoted from aviation to a career in TA leadership. (04:48) Edwards Lifesciences leads in heart valves, with 17 on Michael’s TA team. (05:59) Intelligence and innovation functions are early, with one analytics role in place. (07:58) The Valencia plant proves the strategy works and uncovers key process gaps. (10:11) TA taught the business the market’s tough — now it’s about how to act on it. (12:52) Quality of hire is the top priority, even if measurement still needs work. (15:12) TA priorities include field roles, tech optimization and guiding AI innovation. (17:01) Focus on doing the right thing, not on being liked. Resources Mentioned: Michael Peterson https://www.linkedin.com/in/taleadermichaelkpeterson/ Edwards Lifesciences | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/edwards-lifesciences/ Edwards Lifesciences | Website https://www.edwards.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
  8. Reconstructing TA To Meet Evolving Business Demands with Chris Ross, Head of TA of North American Packaging at International Paper

    07/29/2025

    Reconstructing TA To Meet Evolving Business Demands with Chris Ross, Head of TA of North American Packaging at International Paper

    A career shaped by competition and strategy is now fueling transformation in talent acquisition. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Chris Ross, Head of TA of North American Packaging at International Paper. Chris shares insights from nearly 25 years in TA, including agency work, leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, and now guiding strategic transformation at International Paper. They discuss his unique path from Division I college hockey player to recruiter, and how his hands-on agency experience shaped his leadership approach.  Key Takeaways: (02:32) Transitioning from hockey to headhunting in medical sales. (05:10) Early corporate TA experience begins at Monster during its startup heyday. (10:00) Strategic TA work unfolds, backed by strong leadership and a 19-person team. (13:18) DS Smith deal grows IP to 60,000 and expands EMEA reach. (14:55) A focus on listening and observation reveals early opportunities in team structure. (18:12) Recruiting efficiency becomes priority, with Gem and Beamery aiding speed to fill. (20:21) TA metrics shaped by J&J experience guide internal and executive priorities. (24:09) Growth comes from stretching beyond your comfort zone and taking the leap. Resources Mentioned: Chris Ross https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrossrecruiter/ International Paper | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-paper/ International Paper | Website https://www.internationalpaper.com/ Monster.com https://monster.com MathWorks https://www.mathworks.com/ Johnson & Johnson https://www.jnj.com/ DS Smith https://www.dssmith.com/ Beamery https://beamery.com/ Gem https://www.gem.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

    25 min
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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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