On today’s episode of Talk Talent To Me, we are joined by Taryn Sheldrake, SVP of Talent Acquisition over at PTC, to discuss the shifts over the past few years, as well as how to choose a company to work for as a talent leader, and the ins and outs of leading a TA team. In our conversation with Taryn, she shares how the industry has changed to finally have TA and HR at the leadership table, and the importance of ensuring each team member understands their role in the company-wide strategy. She fills us in on how to evaluate the maturity and needs of a prospective company, and what questions strategic talent leaders should be asking in the interview process to ensure they land in a company that will enable them to affect change in the ways they see fit. We learn about Taryn’s approach to upskilling and developing her team and why she genuinely wants her team members to succeed, no matter where they end up. Tune in for an episode jam packed with great advice and find out the best ways to challenge yourself and succeed in the long run! 

 

Key Points From This Episode:

 

• Introducing Taryn Sheldrake, SVP of Talent Acquisition at PTC.
• How Taryn’s both in retrospective mode and planning mode for 2022 and ‘23.
• The flexibility required in a frequently changing talent landscape.
• Taryn’s approach to end-of-year retrospectives.
• The importance of ensuring each team member understands their role in the company-wide strategy.
• Taryn’s background and her role at PTC.
• Taryn’s current methodology and how TA  and HR now have a seat at the leadership table.
• What strategic talent leaders should ask prospective employers in an interview.
• How it feels to shift a company’s talent strategy from a reactive to a proactive one.
• Taryn shares her view that it takes a village to make hires.
• How to evaluate the needs of an organization when assessing them as your next company.
• The shift in the industry over the last few years in terms of job fluidity.
• Choosing a role by gauging your ability to affect change.
• Taryn’s approach to upskilling and developing team members.
• How the expectations she has for her team have changed over the past five or 10 years. 
• The importance of meeting people where they are and involving them in decisions when it comes to enhancing their skill set. 
• Taryn’s instinct to challenge herself, and the benefit of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
• Taryn’s advice for those looking to land up in a strategic talent leadership position.

 

Tweetables:

 

“To make something meaningful, I think you’ve got to personalize it. You’ve got to hit at the heartstrings, really understand your people, what they need, where they want to develop, and what they want to do, and try to help them get there regardless of what that outcome may be.” — Taryn Sheldrake [0:05:40]

 

“It's an amazing feeling to be able to come into a company and steer the ship in that different direction and go from that completely reactive talent strategy to a proactive one if you have the right mindset and chops to do it.” — Taryn Sheldrake [0:13:52]

 

“I challenge myself. I'm the person in the room that's always going to take the thing that nobody wants. I've always been that person.” — Taryn Sheldrake [0:29:10]

 

“Take some risks, and also take some time to own your own path.” — Taryn Sheldrake [0:31:36]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

Talk Talent to Me

Taryn Sheldrake on LinkedIn

Hired