Best Rob Stevenson Recruiting Podcasts (2025)

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Box CPO Jessica Swank's 3-Pillar AI Framework 31:15

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2h ago31:15

31:15

✍️ Episode Description Jessica Swank didn’t set out to be a Chief People Officer—but when the opportunity found her, she said yes. Now CPO at Box, Jessica joins Rob to share her unconventional career journey and how she’s helping lead the company into its next era as an AI-first organization. She explains why AI is more about change management than…

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Bumpers in the Bowling Alley: How Talent Partners Guide Founders 30:55

2d ago30:55

30:55

Jim Conti, Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, joins Rob to unpack what it really means to support startups from the VC side. He shares how his role has evolved from operator to advisor, why he often tells founders not to hire, and what makes a great first head of marketing hire. Jim also explains how talent leaders can earn influence wit…

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Rethinking Performance Management with Delivery Hero CPO Ana Mitrasevic 34:50

6d ago34:50

34:50

Delivery Hero’s Chief People and Sustainability Officer, Ana Mitrasevic, joins Rob to challenge the status quo of performance management. Drawing on her experience in both HR and product, Ana makes the case for replacing rigid review cycles with tech-enabled, real-time performance enablement. She shares her vision of a two-sided internal talent mar…

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From ‘Thanks, But No Thanks’ to SVP of TA with Tina Bright 27:09

29d ago27:09

27:09

Tina Bright wasn’t looking—but Inter-Con Security found her anyway. In this episode, Tina shares how a well-timed drink with the CPO turned a polite decline into a fast-tracked offer. She unpacks her playbook for entering a new org, from low-hanging fruit wins to tech stack audits, and explains why TA leaders should stay curious about the latest to…

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VP Talent Strategy Ken Bouchard Reorgs HR Without Breaking It 36:43

1M ago36:43

36:43

Ken Bouchard, VP of Talent Strategy at BJ’s Wholesale Club, joins Rob to break down how he led a full-scale HR transformation—without losing sight of the business. From splitting strategic and ER functions, to killing off “HR vanity projects,” Ken explains how he restructured his team to be faster, sharper, and more aligned to outcomes. Plus, he sh…

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Talent, Tomatoes, and The Next Thousand Hires with Head of Global TA Trisha Degg 36:07

1M ago36:07

36:07

Trisha Degg joins Rob to unpack her zigzagging path through sales, HR, venture capital, and back to the hiring trenches as Head of Global TA at Rush Street Interactive. She shares how “Googling her way through HR” (pre-AI!) made her a sharper TA leader, why she hired a former recruiter to wrangle ATS chaos, and how her team is using AI to reverse-e…

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Groq Head of Business Recruiting & DotConnect CEO Dom Farnan 26:52

2M ago26:52

26:52

TTTM welcomes back Dom Farnan, who shares her journey from being the CEO of DotConnect to her current role as Head of Business Recruiting at Groq. Dom discusses the challenges and learnings from her transition, the importance of communication in leadership, and the need for a tailored recruiting process that aligns with the company's values. She em…

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How HR Can Lead AI Implementation with CHRO Einav Lavi 45:02

3M ago45:02

45:02

Show Notes & Key Takeaways Show Notes EnterpriseDB CHRO Einav Lavi shares how she transformed from finance instructor to business-focused HR leader by speaking the language of executives—revenue, costs, and ROI. She details challenging a COVID-era 20% layoff mandate with data-driven alternatives that saved nearly $1M, leading company-wide AI implem…

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Career Control with Virta Health CPO Dr. Lucia Guillory 37:29

3M ago37:29

37:29

Show Notes Lucia shares her unconventional career philosophy: choose companies over jobs. With experience at Yahoo, Patreon, and six years at Virta, she argues that job titles, managers, and compensation frequently change, but company mission remains stable. The conversation explores Virta's unique hiring challenge of needing 20-50 healthcare coach…

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Evaluating the C-Suite with CHRO & Advisor Gianna Driver 35:06

3M ago35:06

35:06

Gianna Driver, a seasoned Chief People Officer shares her stance on eliminating cover letters and resumes, the mutual evaluation process during job searches, and the critical questions candidates should ask to assess company culture. Gianna emphasizes the importance of in-person interactions and offers valuable advice for job seekers navigating a c…

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Owkin Global Talent Director Helen Burns 30:02

3M ago30:02

30:02

Helen Burns, the Global Talent Director at Owkin, about her unique journey in talent acquisition. Helen shares her transition from freelance consulting to an in-house role, the importance of long-term talent strategies, and the challenges of building a talent team in a rapidly changing industry. They discuss the significance of employer value propo…

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Open Role Triage with Gynger Head of Talent Jonathan Graber 20:55

4M ago20:55

20:55

Summary In this episode, Rob interviews Jonathan Graber, the head of talent at Gynger, discussing his journey from agency recruiting to in-house talent acquisition. They explore the challenges and rewards of transitioning roles, the importance of setting deadlines in hiring, and the diverse responsibilities that come with working in a startup envir…

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Betting On Yourself with Metropolis CPO John-Paul Sukkar 40:36

4M ago40:36

40:36

JP, Chief People Officer at Metropolis, emphasizes the need to reframe the return to office narrative, highlighting the irreplaceable value of human connection and collaboration that cannot be replicated through remote work alone. He shares insights on fostering a culture of access and the responsibilities that come with managing a large workforce …

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Endless Insight via Succession Planning with Elizabeth Egan 36:07

4M ago36:07

36:07

Elizabeth explains how succession planning reveals far-reaching insights about the state of talent in an organization. As Director of Talent Management and Organizational Development at Cerence AI, Elizabeth has prioritized generating individual development plans (IDPs) for all employees. Elizabeth emphasizes that employees should take ownership of…

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Detecting Interview Cheaters with Mike Mroczka 43:29

4M ago43:29

43:29

Mike Mroczka is an interview coach, author, software engineer, and consultant specializing in helping hiring organizations eliminate cheating in their interview processes. Mike shares the challenges posed by AI tools in coding interviews, the distinction between using resources and cheating, and the necessity of evaluating candidates' foundational …

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AI-Proof Your Interviews with Replicate's Lia Economos 36:26

5M ago36:26

36:26

Lia Economos discusses the evolution of interview processes, particularly in the context of integrating AI tools and adapting to the changing landscape of technical interviews. She emphasizes the importance of structured interviews as companies grow and the need to design interview questions that challenge candidates beyond the capabilities of AI. …

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Leadership & Career Growth with Pernod Ricard Chief People Officer Lani Montoya 39:13

5M ago39:13

39:13

In today’s fast-paced world where candidates are always looking for the next opportunity, it’s rare to find someone dedicated to growing within one organization. As today’s guest Lani Montoya demonstrates, internal growth may be the best way to develop exceptional people leaders. Lani is the Chief People Officer at Pernod Ricard, the world leader i…

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Runway Head of People Anna Chalon 39:19

5M ago39:19

39:19

What does it take to build a people-first hiring culture from the ground up, without sacrificing speed or scale? In this episode of Talk Talent to Me, returning guest Anna Chalon, Head of People at Runway, shares how she intentionally navigated her career from startup to acquisition and back again, fueled by a love for building and a clear sense of…

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Director of TA & Employer Brand for Manscaped Molly Minczeski 28:19

5M ago28:19

28:19

What do the Sunday scaries have to do with how happy you are at work? Today we sit down with Molly Minczeski, the Director of Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand at MANSCAPED, the global men’s lifestyle consumer brand and male grooming category creator trusted by over 12 million men worldwide. Molly unpacks what the Sunday scaries really mean and w…

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AssemblyAI's Senior Talent Pro Kenzie Hoelscher 32:34

6M ago32:34

32:34

Kenzie discusses her tansition from big tech to an AI startup, and how positive hiring manager relationships are more important than specific AI upskilling. Key Points From This Episode: Welcoming Kenzie (Keller) Hoelscher to the show. Kenzie tells us about herself and how she got into recruitment. A little bit about Kenzie’s fascinating career. Th…

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GM Financial VP of Global TA Neeti Upreti 30:35

6M ago30:35

30:35

Referrals are an active, internal marketing campaign that recruitment leaders need to leverage alongside their external marketing campaigns. Today, global talent leader Neeti Upreti joins the show to discuss the power and importance of referrals in the recruitment industry. Hear all about Neeti’s incredible career, why recruiting isn’t only a push …

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An Entire Company of Recruiters with Anyscale Head of Talent Rich Adao 39:03

6M ago39:03

39:03

Rich shares invaluable insights from his time at Google and Facebook, explaining why he transitioned into the startup world and how Anyscale is tackling the challenges of machine learning talent acquisition. We also discuss the importance of sourcing differentiation, the role of AI in recruiting, and why every employee should think like a recruiter…

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Developing Sustainable Talent Pipelines with GA's Lupe Colangelo 36:40

6M ago36:40

36:40

In the age of AI and rapid technological evolution, skills planning has become a greater challenge than ever before. But how else can businesses ensure clear succession paths across their organizations? As we dive down this rabbit hole, we are joined today by Lupe Colangelo, the Director of Alumni Engagement and Employer Partnerships at General Ass…

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How AI Disrupts TA Workflows with Director Johannes Sundlo 44:08

7M ago44:08

44:08

How is AI shaping the candidate experience, from the application to the interview to signing on the dotted line? Here to brief us on the current state of AI in human resources is People AI Evangelist, Global HR Futurist, and HR Director at Avalanche Gaming Studios, Johannes Sundlo. Johannes is passionate about driving HR strategies such as workforc…

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Vertex Pharmaceutical VP Global TA Grace Niwa 40:56

7M ago40:56

40:56

Grace reveals her unique perspective on elite talent shaped by her career as a Juilliard-trained pianist. From mastering the nuances of excellence in music to identifying top-tier talent in the corporate world, Grace shares how her deep understanding of what sets people apart fuels her approach to hiring and leadership. She dives into the strategic…

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Skillsoft Chief People Officer Ciara Harrington 37:05

7M ago37:05

37:05

Ciara shares her journey from dreaming of being a CPO as a kid (briefcase in hand!) to leading global people strategies, the challenges of stepping into an internal leadership role, and the power of data-driven decision-making in HR. She breaks down Skillsoft’s strategy cascade, a system that ensures every employee’s work drives company success, an…

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Data Storytelling for People Teams with Serena Huang, PhD 35:34

7M ago35:34

35:34

Today's guest, Dr. Serena Huang, champions the crucial role of data experts in people teams, showing how people analytics can lead to smarter talent decisions. A globally recognized speaker and innovator, Dr. Huang has a unique background as a data executive at Fortune 100 companies and a Chief Data Officer in the startup world. Her work goes beyon…

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Flex EMEA TA Manager Benjamin Tarmann 32:49

7M ago32:49

32:49

Benjamin explains how he and his team measure candidate ROI, how he’s improved the candidate selection process, what to be wary of when using AI in TA, and the opportunities that await between what a candidate already knows and what they’re expected to learn in their new role. To end, Benjamin walks us through key data points that, when paid attent…

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LPGA Chief People Officer Sam Simmons 37:35

8M ago37:35

37:35

How do you create a career that reflects your values while staying open to unexpected opportunities? Today, we speak with Sam Simmons, Chief People and Internal Operations Officer at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), about embracing adaptability and authenticity. Sam shares her incredible career journey, starting in higher education …

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Sandoz VP Global Head of Culture Frank Kellenberg 35:33

8M ago35:33

35:33

In a world where workplace culture typically lives on posters and slideshows, how do you ensure it’s felt and lived every day? Joining us to explore this vital question is Frank Kellenberg, VP Global Head of Culture & Inclusion at Sandoz. With a career spanning leadership roles at Ingram Micro, Adidas, and Novartis, Frank is a culture champion and …

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Executive Talent Director Dr. Hamira Riaz 38:09

9M ago38:09

38:09

Until recently, business or occupational psychologists have been rarities who mostly get hired as contracted consultants. But now, companies are beginning to see their undeniable value, and there’s a drive toward having an in-house business psychologist in all workplaces. Today we welcome Dr. Hamira Riaz, Executive Talent & Assessment Director. Dr.…

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Mosaic Senior TA Leader Orlando Haynes 38:39

9M ago38:39

38:39

Orlando shares insights from his many years of experience and how he is giving back to the career-searching community through his coaching. He outlines his advice on how to navigate the interview process, especially when you’re asked to do free labor as a candidate, and how to view things from both sides of the recruitment process. Orlando also tel…

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TLDR Director of People & Talent Brandon Jeffs 38:26

9M ago38:26

38:26

Explaining the resilience of modern talent acquisition pros is Brandon Jeffs, the Director of People and Talent at TLDR – one of the largest newsletters in the world with daily summaries of the most interesting stories in startups, tech, and programming. Brandon’s career is focused on empowering the employee-employer relationship, and he walks us t…

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EQ App CEO/Founder Marcus Sawyerr 37:54

10M ago37:54

37:54

How is AI reshaping the recruitment landscape, and what does it take to implement it effectively? Today, we sit down with returning guest Marcus Sawyerr to delve into the potential of AI-powered recruitment. Marcus is the Founder and CEO of EQ app, an AI-driven platform designed to connect people and knowledge to drive business growth. Marcus is a …

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Quantum Motion Head of Talent & People Christine Ng 35:51

10M ago35:51

35:51

Christine shares how her background has enabled her to treat with the most technical talent in the market, and details her approach of developing young talent as well as luring niche talent away from academia. Key Points From This Episode: A bit about Christine’s career and how she landed at Quantum Motion. Christine tells us about the engineering …

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Munich Re Head of TA, Europe & Latin America Nuria Munoz 31:12

11M ago31:12

31:12

Local recruiting for a global brand is not always as synchronous as it could or should be. Joining us with the solutions to this problem is the Head of Talent Acquisition for Europe and Latin America at Munich Re, Nuria Munoz. We discuss the importance of large company gatherings and how to maximize that time before unpacking the value of building …

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Gentrack Chief People Officer Fran Caldwell 34:43

11M ago34:43

34:43

It is a leader’s responsibility to create the best possible environment for their team and there’s no better way to get insight into how to do that than leveraging employee engagement. Tuning in to this episode of Talk Talent to Me, you’ll hear all about our guest, CPO of Gentrack, Fran Caldwell, why she has such a positive attitude towards her wor…

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Remote.com Director of TA Anastasia Pshegodskaya 33:27

11M ago33:27

33:27

Anastasia Pshegodskaya is the Director of Talent Acquisition at Remote—a global employment platform that eliminates barriers to international hiring so that great companies can work with great people—and she begins our conversation by explaining why she’s always been more susceptible to working from home. We unpack Amazon’s recent back-to-the-offic…

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Harvard Business Publishing CHRO Angela Cheng-Cimini 35:03

11M ago35:03

35:03

The mental wellbeing of employees is a crucial part of the overall success of any organization. Today on Talk Talent To Me, we’re joined by the CHRO of Harvard Business Publishing, Angela Cheng-Cimini to discuss self-advocacy, career development, and most importantly, mental health. Angela shares how her father encouraged her to get into HR, why yo…

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Play Ventures Head of Talent Joe Burridge 35:25

1+ y ago35:25

35:25

Venture capitalists are far more collaborative among each other than one may think, and today, we learn how this willingness to share ideas enticed today’s guest to join his current company. Joe Burridge is the Head of Talent at Play Ventures – a venture capitalist firm that loves helping ambitious and passionate entrepreneurs to fulfill their drea…

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LKQ Director of TA Gordon Patterson 29:10

1+ y ago29:10

29:10

In today’s episode, I sit down with Gordon Patterson to discuss his mission of fostering relationships and championing individual empowerment. Gordon is the Director of Talent Acquisition at LKQ Corporation, a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles. In our conversation, Gordon te…

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Black Crow AI Sr. Manager TA Kelsey Sorensen 24:11

1+ y ago24:11

24:11

Are you curious about the evolving landscape of recruitment and the secrets behind successful talent acquisition strategies? In today’s episode, I sit down with Kelsey Sorensen, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Black Crow AI, to discuss the dynamics of recruitment in both traditional and startup environments. With a career spanning over a de…

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise VP of Global TA & Onboarding Lavonne Monroe 32:39

1+ y ago32:39

32:39

Modern talent acquisition is more than just making the right hires. Onboarding, mobility, and retention are just a few of the many new responsibilities that TA’s have to consider (and often, they aren’t even in the TA’s title). Today’s guest, Lavonne Monroe, explains how she became the Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition and Onboarding at H…

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Zephyr Head of Talent Nicolette Jackson 35:06

1+ y ago35:06

35:06

There’s a saying that goes “Nothing grows in the comfort zone” and our guest today is a formidable example of success outside of comfort! We are thrilled to welcome to the Talk Talent to Me podcast, Nicolette Jackson, Head of Talent over at Zephyr. Nicolette shares more about what they do at Zephyr and her journey to becoming the Head of Talent. We…

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Northwestern Mutual VP HR Kara Hughes 33:48

1+ y ago33:48

33:48

Sometimes, life is all about taking leaps of faith. And when it comes to talent and talent management, a leap of faith can open doors that you never even considered walking through. Today we are joined by Kara Hughes, the VP, HR Business Partner of Tech & Digital, as well as the Head of Workforce Planning, People Insights, and Analytics at Northwes…

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SeatGeek Sr. Director of HR & TA Frank Cebek 27:35

1+ y ago27:35

27:35

In this episode, you will hear about Frank’s wealth of experience, recruiting for SeatGeek and the challenges it has brought, and their amazing finance and HR business partner team We then delve into what Frank is currently working on at SeatGeek before discussing the importance of foresight and being proactive when bringing talent into a large com…

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Riceland Foods CHRO Lionel Riley 32:42

1+ y ago32:42

32:42

Doubling up throughout most of his career, my guest today has both maintained his rank and activity in the Air Force while being a C-level HR professional at a large, well-established company. I’m joined on the show today by Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Human Resource Officer at Riceland Foods Inc., Lionel Riley. Join the conversation as we learn h…

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Multiverse Senior Director of Global Talent Veronica Salcido 36:49

1+ y ago36:49

36:49

Veronica Salcido is the Senior Director of Global Talent at Multiverse, and she joins us to share the defining moment in her life when she chose to decline a string of amazing job offers to sell her possessions and climb Machu Pichu. While acknowledging the privileged position she found herself in, Veronica urges listeners to take the plunge and re…

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AllTrails VP of People Doreen Ghafari 30:03

1+ y ago30:03

30:03

Today on Talk Talent to Me, we are joined by Doreen Ghafari, VP of People at AllTrails, to find out how she and her team spearheaded a period of significant growth for the company, more than quadrupling the AllTrails staff in just over three years. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the value of making recruiting efforts an extension of the brand experi…

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Paramount SVP of Talent Acquisition Russell Weaver 37:42

1+ y ago37:42

37:42

Russell is a seasoned professional with years of experience leading recruitment teams across various industries. His professional achievements and personal values make him a dynamic leader in the talent acquisition space. Hear how the shift from linear media to digital media has transformed the industry, his motivation for pursuing a career in tale…