In this episode of HigherHer, Krista Tan and Natalie Stones interview Casey Forbes, a seasoned talent acquisition professional and co-founder of Totally TA. Casey shares her journey into the world of talent acquisition, discussing the challenges she faced transitioning to remote work and the importance of building genuine relationships in networking. She emphasizes the essential skills for success in the field, including empathy, resilience, and authenticity. Casey also highlights the role of Totally TA in supporting the talent acquisition community, especially in times of job market challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Talent Acquisition and Casey Forbes

01:02 Casey Forbes' Journey into Talent Acquisition

03:10 Overcoming Challenges in Career Transitions

07:40 Building Genuine Relationships in Networking

11:09 Essential Skills for Success in Talent Acquisition

14:46 Facing Criticism and Embracing Authenticity

17:32 Empathy in Recruiting and Retaining Talent

22:08 The Role of Totally TA in the Community

Bio

Hi, I'm Casey! I'm a digital nomad and passionate remote work advocate, and I’ve been in TA for the past 7 years, supporting global tech companies. I’m currently a Senior Contract Recruiter at Testlio, a remote-first software testing company, and I’m also a proud co-founder of a global TA networking community called TotallyTA. If I had to describe myself in a few words, I’d say I’m a people connector, empathetic storyteller, and community builder. I love what I do, and I’m not afraid to show it!

In this episode of the HigherHer podcast, Krista Tan, Natalie Stones and Tracy St. Dic discuss the concept of talent agility and its significance in today's rapidly changing people strategy landscape. Tracy, the Global Head of Talent at Zapier, defines talent agility as the ability of an organization to adapt and respond to changes in the business environment. She emphasizes the importance of fostering talent mobility within organizations and the role of learning and development in building a workforce that is agile and ready for new challenges. The conversation also touches on the use of technology to facilitate talent mobility and the common challenges organizations face in implementing these strategies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Talent Agility

03:40 Defining Talent Agility and Mobility

06:19 The Importance of Talent Agility

09:08 Fostering Talent Mobility in Organizations

12:15 Common Blockers to Talent Agility

15:23 The Role of Learning and Development

18:04 Leveraging Technology for Talent Agility

21:02 Conclusion and Future Insights

Bio:

Tracy St.Dic is the Global Head of Talent at Zapier, a no-code automation platform. She oversees talent acquisition, talent intelligence, sourcing, employer branding, diversity partnerships, internal mobility, and executive talent planning. Prior to transitioning to tech, Tracy was the SVP of national recruitment for Teach For America, an education non-profit responsible for the largest, most diverse teacher pipeline in the country.

In this episode of HigherHer, Krista Tan and Natalie Stones interview Kristi Kennebrew, known as Get Me Hired Kristi, who shares her journey in the recruiting space and her passion for helping marginalized communities navigate job searches. The conversation covers the importance of mentorship, self-promotion, and supporting women in leadership roles. Kristi emphasizes the significance of LinkedIn profiles over traditional resumes and offers valuable advice for job seekers, particularly those facing layoffs.

Bio:

“Get Me Hired Kristi!”

Kristi Kennebrew is a passionate advocate for the underrepresented community, particularly those seeking entry-level and transferable roles. As a LinkedIn content creator, she is dedicated to paving the way for others and motivating job seekers looking to transition careers. With a focus on providing the best candidate experience, Kristi always ensures that job seekers have all the necessary resources for a successful interview.

Beyond her commitment to career development, Kristi is an avid networker who is always on the lookout for job opportunities and ways to educate women & people of color on how to communicate their self-worth in the workplace. She believes that getting into tech roles is a keyway for job seekers to begin the process of building financial freedom, and she is committed to helping job seekers from marginalized communities achieve this goal.

Remember, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ARE REAL!

Website: www.GetMeHiredKristi.com

IG: @GetMeHiredKristi

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getmehiredkristi

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/getmehiredkristi

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:54

Christy's Journey in Recruiting

02:52

Influences and Mentorship in Career

05:04

Women Supporting Women in Leadership

11:44

Controversial Trends in Recruiting

17:03

Advice for Job Seekers

22:38

Closing

In this episode of the HigherHer podcast, hosts Krista Tan and Natalie interview Erica Rooney, a seasoned HR executive and advocate for women's empowerment in the workplace. Erica shares her journey from health and wellness to HR, her experiences with gender equality, and the importance of resilience and courage for women in leadership. The conversation also touches on the challenges of recruitment in a competitive job market, humorous moments in HR, and the impact of societal expectations on women and men. Erica emphasizes the need for women to redefine their worth and take control of their careers while navigating the complexities of the modern workplace.

Bio:

Erica Rooney is a powerhouse in leadership, gender equality, and workplace culture, with over 15 years of HR experience, including her role as Chief People Officer in the tech industry. She’s the bestselling author of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors and the host of the Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors podcast, where she inspires thousands to break free from limiting beliefs and step into infinite possibilities! Erica is the founder of HER Collective, a digital community and movement designed to empower women to advance their careers, amplify their voice, and unlock their full potential - without sacrificing their authenticity or well-being.

Erica has graced iconic stages like SXSW and CHIEF, and her work has been featured in Forbes, SUCCESS Magazine, and CBS News. Whether she’s partnering with top organizations or challenging the status quo, Erica is on a mission to help people and companies shatter barriers, unlock their potential, and achieve success without limits.

www.ericaandersonrooney.com

www.joinhercollective.com

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Talent Collective and Erica Rooney

01:21

Erica's Journey in HR and Empowering Women

05:15

Overcoming Challenges and Learning from Setbacks

08:52

Recruitment in a Competitive Job Market

14:33

Humorous Moments in HR and Interviews

17:16

Essential Qualities for Women in Leadership

22:44

Conclusion and Where to Find Erica Rooney

In this episode of the HigherHer podcast, hosts Krista Tan and Natalie Stones engage with Grace Redman, a successful entrepreneur and staffing expert. They discuss the importance of empowering women's voices in talent acquisition, the challenges faced in the industry, and the significance of managing emotional states. Grace shares her journey in staffing, the balance between family and career, and the need for accountability and support among women. The conversation also touches on leadership qualities for women and concludes with humorous anecdotes from Grace's recruiting experiences.

Chapters:

00:00

Empowering Women's Voices in Talent Acquisition

01:02

Grace Redmond's J1ourney in Staffing and Coaching

02:56

Navigating Challenges in Talent Acquisition

05:48

Managing Emotional and Mental States

09:02

The Importance of Accountability and Support

11:57

Balancing Family and Career as a Woman

15:09

Overcoming the 'Should' Mentality

18:01

Women in Leadership: Cultivating Confidence

20:02

Humorous Recruiting Stories

22:53

Closing Thoughts and Future Events

Bio:

Grace Redman is the President and Owner of Stansbury Staffing, a premier staffing firm that has placed thousands of professionals in meaningful careers while helping corporate clients build successful teams with top talent. Her deep care for both candidates and clients has created lasting impact, turning job placements into life-changing opportunities. Under her leadership, Stansbury Staffing has thrived through five economic crises that forced many competitors to close their doors. Through resilience, innovation, and a people-first approach, she has built one of the most respected firms in the Bay Area, earning a five-star rating year after year and recognition as the #1 staffing firm in her area. In 2024, her firm was also named one of the top 5 women-owned businesses in the region.

Beyond staffing, Grace is living proof that we can have a life we love. As a successful Entrepreneur, Success Coach, and Speaker, she has built a life that integrates well-being, family, a thriving career, financial success, and personal freedom. She knows firsthand that achieving it all isn’t about doing everything—it’s about intention, prioritization, and the courage to navigate life’s storms wisely to SOAR to new levels of impact, success, and joy—while having fun along the way

As the best-selling author of Can I Live?! Dare To Go From Fcked Up to Fabulous* and host of the Real Talk with Grace Redman podcast, Grace's influence resonates across multiple platforms and audiences. Her authenticity and vulnerability foster genuine connections, establishing her as a trusted leader.

In this episode of HigherHer, hosts Krista Tan and Natalie Stones welcome Tanaz Mody, head of people and talent at Lerer Hippeau. Tanaz shares her journey into the people and talent space, her experiences in venture capital, and the importance of building culture in early-stage companies. She discusses the challenges she faced in her career, the significance of focus and prioritization in both work and personal life, and the complexities of referral-based hiring. Tanaz also highlights the unique qualities women bring to leadership roles and the importance of creating a supportive environment for women in the workforce.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:16

Tanaz Modi's Journey into People and Talent

02:22

Role in Venture Capital and Portfolio Companies

04:11

Building Culture in Early Stage Companies

05:47

Foundational Experiences in Recruiting

08:11

Overcoming Challenges in Career and Personal Life

12:40

Focus and Prioritization in Work and Life

16:56

Controversies in Recruiting: Referral-Based Hiring

21:48

Qualities Women Bring to Leadership

Bio:

Tanaz Mody is Head of People and Talent at Lerer Hippeau, which she joined in 2022. In her role, she primarily works closely with our founders to build strong foundations on the People and Talent front but also oversees People and Talent for our firm internally. Before joining Lerer Hippeau, Tanaz was Chief People Officer at HQ/Digital Currency Group, where she was employee 3 and grew and scaled the company during the peak crypto market to close to 100 employees in 1 year. Tanaz has also scaled a handful of early-stage companies and dipped into being a co-founder. Tanaz graduated with a business degree from Boston University.

In this episode of the HigherHer podcast, Natalie Stones and Krista Tan speak with Katy Culver, a career coach and mindset mentor for generalists in transition. Katy shares her unique journey into career coaching, emphasizing the importance of clarity and confidence in the job search process. She discusses her Purposeful Path Accelerator program, which helps individuals navigate their career transitions and stand out in a competitive job market. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by candidates and recruiters in the current job landscape, particularly the impact of AI on hiring processes. Katy reflects on her personal challenges in transitioning from employee to entrepreneur and shares valuable insights on identity shifting and the importance of mentorship.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Career Coaching and Generalists

02:03

Katy Culver's Journey to Career Coaching

05:24

The Purposeful Path Accelerator Program

08:02

Navigating the Tension Between Candidates and Recruiters

15:21

Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges

20:43

Influential Mentors and Key Resources

Bio:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynculver/

Website/Newsletter: katyculver.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katy.culver/

Katy Culver is a career coach and mindset mentor for ambitious generalists. She helps growth-minded generalists across tech & consulting unlock clarity and confidence to transition to more energizing careers.

Katy combines experience pivoting careers as a candidate, building ATS and recruiting tools for hiring teams, and coaching over 100 leaders in transition. Her approach combines personal and professional development to help you act like the CEO of your career, clarify your path, and become a Stand Out Candidate to win the job search game. She runs The Purposeful Path Accelerator program & community.

In this episode of HigherHer, hosts Krista Tan and Natalie Stones welcome Victoria Castro, a seasoned recruiter with over eight years of experience in talent acquisition. The conversation explores Victoria's journey in recruiting, memorable candidate experiences, the importance of empathy in the hiring process, and her thoughts on controversial trends within the talent acquisition community. Victoria emphasizes the need for effective communication with candidates and shares her aspirations for the future of recruiting, highlighting the irreplaceable human element in the industry despite the rise of AI.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Talent Acquisition and Guest Background

03:02

Memorable Recruiting Stories and Candidate Experiences

05:59

The Importance of Empathy in Recruitment

08:47

Controversial Trends in Talent Acquisition

12:00

Future of Recruiting and Personal Aspirations

Bio:

Victoria Castro- current recruiter at Robinhood- been in the industry for 8 years across a multitude of industries. Passionate about talent branding, data, and candidate experience. 

In this episode of the HigherHer podcast, Natalie Stones speaks with Katrina Hutchinson O'Neill, co-founder of Join Talent, about her inspiring journey from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship. Katrina shares her experiences in talent acquisition, the challenges she faced as a female leader, and her vision for the future of Join Talent, including their innovative training programs. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of recruitment and the importance of supporting women in the workforce.

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction to Talent Collective and Guest

02:18

Katrina's Career Journey and Entrepreneurial Leap

10:02

Growth and Future Plans for Join Talent

15:03

Controversial Perspectives on Recruitment

18:42

Challenges as a Female Leader in Talent Acquisition

Bio:

In 2018, Katrina turned her back on her well-paid corporate career to start her own business. “As a mother-of-three, and the main breadwinner, it was a risky move,” she says. “But I didn’t want to look back and think, ‘What if?’”

4 years later Join Talent was named the fastest growing company in the UK (first female founded business to take that title), 12th fastest in Europe, and also won the King's Award for Enterprise.

Join Talent now employs over 225 people across 41 countries, working on talent acquisition inside companies including scale-ups, unicorns and Fortune 500 brands. She says the company’s USPs are its ‘practitioner-led’ model and proprietary talent-sourcing platform called Yoke, an active directory of candidates pulled from 53 different sources: “We’re the only company in our space with this game-changing capability.”

TA is Still NOT Broken blog

In this episode, Krista Tan and Natalie Stones interview Kristen Renee, who shares her transformative journey from a high-pressure HR career to founding her own wellness company. Kristen discusses her struggles with autoimmune disease, the importance of self-care, and how she developed a 12-pillar approach to wellness. She emphasizes the need for balance in life and work, and the significance of vulnerability in personal growth. Kristen aims to help others prevent burnout and find their purpose through her coaching and resources.

00:00

Introduction to Kristen's Journey

07:15

The Turning Point: From HR to Wellness

13:47

The 12 Pillars of Wellness

19:32

Vulnerability and Personal Growth

24:01

Connecting with Kristen: Future Endeavors

Bio:

About Kristen Renee

Kristen Renee is a former Bay Area executive turned holistic wellness expert, author, and course creator. After overcoming significant personal challenges—including childhood trauma, limiting beliefs, burnout, divorce, and an autoimmune diagnosis—Kristen’s own journey to wellness became a path of growth and transformation, addressing every aspect of her life along the way.

For over a decade, Kristen struggled with chronic illness and persistent inflammation, trying nearly every healing modality. She found that healing focused solely on the gut wasn’t enough, and the illness would inevitably return. True transformation required addressing the mind-body connection. Kristen witnessed firsthand how acts of courage, understanding the body’s communication, addressing past trauma and emotions, and moving from fear to trust, survival to balance, disassociation to connection, and ultimately stepping into purpose were all directly tied to her healing.

Through her Elements of Healing 12-Layer Online Program, Kristen now helps others create lasting transformation by returning to the basics. Her approach addresses all the key layers of the healing journey—mind, body, and spirit—empowering individuals to foster balance and connection within themselves and their environment.

Kristen is the author of The Purpose Workbook: Finding Your Path to Purpose, with several more books in progress, and the creator of The Growth Path newsletter, bridging healing with workplace wellness. She offers online courses, workshops, and one-on-one coaching to guide people toward lasting transformation and a more balanced, connected life filled with purpose, authenticity, courage, nature, and love.

🔗 LinkedIn: Kristen Renee Appleby

🌍 Website: kristenreneehealing.com

📖 The Elements of Healing Program: Learn More

📚 The Purpose Workbook: Available on Amazon