Talent Acquisition Leaders Podcast - Recruiting, Staffing, Human Resources

Most TA leaders are measuring the wrong things. Victor Gaines has spent 20 years fixing that. As AVP of Talent Acquisition at Wellstar Health Systems, where his team hires 14,000+ people annually , Victor has led recruiting innovations across healthcare, fintech, food service, and media. In this conversation, he shares the real work behind two of his proudest career wins: cutting turnover by 60% a...

On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by John Heyliger , Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at Lockheed Martin . They discuss how one of the world’s largest defense organizations is modernizing talent acquisition, shifting toward skills-based hiring, embedding AI into recruiter workflows and tying TA outcomes directly to business performance. John shares practical insights on workforce pla...

Building talent at enterprise scale requires more than efficient hiring — it demands a long-term commitment to capability, culture and growth. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Astad Dhunjisha , Vice President Human Resources - Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development at AT&T . They dive into Astad’s career journey, how AT&T hires and develops tens of thousands of emplo...

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 evol...

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...

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...

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 outc...

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 sha...

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 bac...

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...

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....

Talent acquisition in healthcare demands a unique blend of strategy, adaptability and human-centered leadership. In this episode, host Ryan Dull speaks with Josh Dudzik , Associate Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Inova Health , about transforming TA practices to support a growing health system. Josh shares how his team revamped Inova’s talent acquisition structure by introducing a dedicate...

Stepping outside your comfort zone can shape your career in unexpected and rewarding ways. That’s exactly what Jenny Hofler , Director, Early Career Recruiting, Global Talent Acquisition at Labcorp has done — and now she’s building opportunities for early career talent at a global scale. On this episode, she joins host Ryan Dull, and they discuss how Jenny’s journey from a communications graduate...

Navigating global hiring challenges takes more than process — it takes strategy, relationships and relentless curiosity. In this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Ryan Alexander , VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Flowserve . They discuss Ryan’s experiences at Flowserve, a global leader in flow control solutions with over 18,000 employees across 52 countries. Ryan also breaks down the company’...

Knowing your career path early can be a game-changer, but aligning internships to long-term hiring goals is where most companies fall short. Jacquilynne Ellison-Wickson , Director of Talent Acquisition for Canada of HUB International , joins Ryan Dull to explore how HUB builds career pipelines, rethinks intern hiring and redefines what success looks like in TA.  Key Takeaways: (02:38) Jacquil...

In today’s tight labor market, delivering the right talent at speed isn’t just an advantage, it’s a necessity. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Tara Darnell , Vice President of Talent Acquisition Strategy and Workforce Planning at Sutter Health . Tara discusses how she led the transformation of a decentralized TA model into a highly efficient, centralized function serving one of the la...

Transforming talent acquisition at a global scale starts with one thing: a mindset ready for change. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Mike Aronson , Senior Director of Talent Acquisition Global Operations at Johnson Controls . Mike shares his career journey from agency recruiting to leading global TA operations, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in systems, data-informed decisio...

Host Ryan Dull is joined by Mark Rogers , Global Executive Talent Acquisition Director of Mondelēz International . Mark shares his career journey from the military to leading TA teams across major global organizations. He discusses the evolution of TA, the impact of proactive talent pipelining and how technology is transforming recruitment strategies. Mark highlights the importance of building an...

On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Candi Thomas , Director of Talent Acquisition: Field, Corporate and Supply Chain at Mattress Firm . With 22 years of experience, Candi shares her journey from retail management to leading TA teams, unifying processes and building a strong talent acquisition brand. Candi discusses key metrics like time to fill and offer turnaround, as well as initiatives like...

Host Ryan Dull is joined by Assil Omar , Chief Equity Officer and Vice President, Talent Acquisition of AbbVie . They discuss her unique career journey, the transformation of TA at AbbVie and how the balance between human capital and technology is driving their success. Key Takeaways: (02:40) Assil Omar’s background and entry into TA at AbbVie. (08:21) AbbVie’s organizational structure and TA func...

On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Ashley Phillips , Director of Talent Acquisition, Sales and Corporate at Beacon Building Products . They discuss Ashley’s career journey from sales to TA, including her current role overseeing a team that hires 2,500 employees annually. Ashley shares insights into building a strong TA foundation, emphasizing the importance of communication, process standardi...

On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Blair Bennett , Senior Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo . Blair shares insights into managing over 30,000 requisitions annually, standardizing interview processes, leveraging data and technology, and enhancing PepsiCo’s employer brand. She discusses tackling frontline hiring challenges, upskilling recruiters and aligning talent str...

On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Anne Arnold , Director of Enterprise Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Marketing at Farmers Insurance® . They discuss her journey into TA, the role of AI in recruitment and her team’s efforts to align TA with business objectives. Key Takeaways: (02:30) Anne’s career journey into TA. (04:54) Establishing structured career paths in TA. (10:23) Implementi...

On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Dustin Leszcynski , Director of Talent Acquisition - Early Career at Burlington Stores, Inc. They discuss Dustin’s journey into the TA space, his experience working for various brands and the evolution of Burlington’s early career programs. Dustin shares how data has played a critical role in optimizing the recruitment process and highlights the importa...

Beth Barney , VP of Talent Acquisition at Cintas , joins Ryan Dull on this episode. They dive into Beth's extensive experience within the company and her approach to building a culture-focused TA strategy. (02:15) Beth’s career journey at Cintas. (06:42) The importance of culture in driving success. (08:42) Recognition program for top recruiters. (09:21) Key metrics for measuring TA success. (12:0...