Advancing Talent Acquisition

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Michelle Krier sits down with Steven Swan, CEO of The Swan Group and host of the podcast Biotech Bytes, to explore how biotech hiring has evolved over the past 25 years. Steve shares how the industry shifted from valuing potential to seeking “perfect match” candidates—and why it’s now swinging back toward hiring for aptitude, cultural fit, and soft skills. He discusses the critical role of clean, well-governed data in accelerating biotech innovation, the growing demand for consultative recruiters who can uncover candidate motivations, and why the human “work in the middle” will remain essential even as technology reshapes the hiring landscape.

Connect with Michelle and Steven!

Michelle Krier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrier/

Steven Swan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swangroup/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, host Michelle Krier sits down with Peter Webster, a veteran talent acquisition and HR technology leader with more than 20 years of experience in life sciences and CDMOs. Peter shares how the industry’s hiring landscape has shifted dramatically with the rise of biotech startups, generational changes, and new expectations around flexibility, purpose, and skills-based hiring. He explores why focusing on quality of hire, not just time to fill, has become a critical measure of success, and how technology, metrics, and candidate experience must all work together.

Connect with Michelle and Peter!

Michelle Krier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrier/

Peter Webster: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-webster-hrprofessional/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Michelle Krier sits down with Mike Foster, Client Services Director at Advanced RPO, to unpack the five most common mistakes companies make when outsourcing recruitment. Drawing on more than 15 years of talent acquisition and RPO leadership experience, Mike shares real-world lessons on how unclear goals, “set it and forget it” mindsets, poor communication, process misalignment, and ignoring data can derail success. Together, Michelle and Mike explore how organizations can avoid these pitfalls, embrace change management, and build RPO partnerships that deliver lasting impact.  

Connect with Michelle and Mike! 

Michelle Krier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrier/ 

Mike Foster: https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruiterfoster/ 

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Johnny Campbell, CEO and co-founder of Social Talent, explores how interviews have become one of the most overlooked opportunities for employer branding. He shares actionable insights on how hiring managers can enhance candidate experience through preparation, structure, and purpose-driven conversations. From avoiding bias and snap judgments to turning interviews into two-way conversations, Johnny challenges organizations to treat interviews as brand moments that reflect their culture. He also leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: be the CEO of your own career.

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Jenna Hinrichsen welcomes Guru Sethupathy, CEO of FairNow, to unpack what AI governance really means and why it’s more important than ever for organizations of all sizes. Guru breaks down his five pillars of AI governance, from risk assessment and human oversight to compliance and continuous monitoring, and explains how these frameworks protect companies from bias, regulatory pitfalls, and costly lawsuits like the Workday class action. They also explore the risks of deepfake job applicants, the debate over federal vs. state AI regulation, and why smart governance doesn’t slow innovation - it accelerates it.

Connect with Jenna and Guru!

Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/

Guru Sethupathy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guru-sethupathy/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Jenna Hinrichsen sits down with Megan Taylor, Talent Director at Millrock Packaging, to explore the real impact of outsourcing talent acquisition. Megan shares how partnering with Advanced RPO helped her team move beyond “side-of-desk” recruiting to a more strategic, streamlined, and scalable hiring approach. From improving internal efficiencies and reducing time-to-fill to gaining consultative support and market insights, this conversation highlights the tangible ROI that comes with the right recruitment partner. Whether you’re considering outsourcing for the first time or looking to optimize your current TA strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Connect with Jenna and Megan!

Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/

Megan Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantaylor5/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Jenna Hinrichsen sits down with Megan Taylor, Talent Director at Millrock Packaging, to explore the real impact of outsourcing talent acquisition. Megan shares how partnering with Advanced RPO helped her team move beyond “side-of-desk” recruiting to a more strategic, streamlined, and scalable hiring approach. From improving internal efficiencies and reducing time-to-fill to gaining consultative support and market insights, this conversation highlights the tangible ROI that comes with the right recruitment partner. Whether you're considering outsourcing for the first time or looking to optimize your current TA strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Connect with Jenna and Megan!

Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/

Megan Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantaylor5/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, host Jenna Hinrichsen sits down with Victoria Hill, Director of Diversity and Social Impact at Advanced Group, for a timely and honest conversation about the evolving state of DEI in today’s workplace. Together, they unpack what diversity, equity, and inclusion truly mean, and explore how organizations can foster a sense of belonging for everyone, especially in the face of growing misconceptions and opposition. Victoria shares actionable strategies for sustaining DEI efforts, highlights the risks of rolling them back, and reminds us why inclusion is more than a “nice to have” — it’s a must-have.Connect with Jenna and Victoria!

Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/

Victoria Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahilldei/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Jenna Hinrichsen sits down with Eric Gregg, founder of ClearlyRated, to explore how customer experience directly influences the hiring process. They discuss why treating job candidates like consumers is critical, how employee and customer experience are deeply connected, and what companies can do to build a more candidate-friendly, experience-driven hiring strategy. Connect with Jenna and Eric! Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/ Eric Gregg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericgregg/

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Jenna Hinrichsen reconnects with longtime recruiting expert Amber Schleinkofer to explore the evolving relationship between employer loyalty and career mobility. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across industries, Amber shares insights into how technology, shifting values, and greater job mobility have redefined what loyalty looks like in today’s workforce. Together, they examine the trade-offs between long-term tenure and diverse career experiences, the need for intentional talent planning, and how organizations can foster both retention and growth through meaningful development plans. Connect with Jenna and Amber! Jenna Hinrichsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-hinrichsen-2b03342/ Amber Schleinkofer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aschleinkofer/