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 AI-enabled assessments and active sourcing. She emphasizes the value of honesty in recruiting and fostering autonomy and creativity within teams to drive success.

Key Takeaways:

(02:31) Candi’s career is rooted in achieving operational excellence and customer focus.

(04:45) Mattress Firm sought a TA evolution to streamline processes.

(06:39) Field site hiring is the top priority for the TA team.

(09:37) Metrics help improve turnover rates and retention strategies.

(11:54) Career growth is a key focus from employee engagement surveys.

(13:12) Recruiting focuses on industries with commission-driven professionals.

(15:51) Providing realistic job previews builds trust with candidates.

Resources mentioned:

Candi Thomas -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/candi-thomas-sphr-58a01b9/

Mattress Firm | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mattressfirm/

Mattress Firm | Website -

https://www.mattressfirm.com/

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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 function.

(12:45) The impact of AbbVie’s acquisition of Allergan during COVID.

(14:09) Establishing a transformation office to revamp TA.

(20:46) Implementing a new operating model and aligning staff globally.

(22:36) The importance of hiring manager feedback and measuring success through key TA metrics.

(24:54) Balancing technology with the human element in TA.

(29:02) Assil’s advice for career development in TA.

Resources Mentioned:

Assil Omar | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/assil-omar/

AbbVie | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/abbvie/

AbbVie | Website

https://www.abbvie.com

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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 standardization and forecasting headcount through 2028. She highlights the impact of metrics like time to fill and source of hire in refining recruitment strategies, especially in the competitive building materials industry.



Key Takeaways:

(02:32) Communications studies opened doors to sales and recruiting.

(05:07) Recruitment spans operations, sales, corporate and internship roles.

(06:23) Communication improvements target TA teams, business partners and candidates.

(08:07) Metrics like time to fill and source of hire drive TA decisions.

(10:02) Forecasting provides direction for marketing and recruitment strategies.

(12:06) Building rapport with candidates creates a lasting impression.

Resources Mentioned:

Ashley Phillips -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/agonzalesphil/

Beacon Building Products | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-building-products/

Beacon Building Products | Website -

https://www.becn.com/

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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 strategies with business goals. This conversation provides valuable takeaways for senior-level TA professionals aiming to navigate the complexities of modern recruitment.

Key takeaways:

(02:39) From politics to PepsiCo, Blair Bennett shares her journey into TA leadership.

(07:10) PepsiCo’s TA team ensures business success at every level.

(10:24) Standardizing processes set the stage for rapid and positive change. 

(13:21) Continuous improvement drives PepsiCo’s approach to future-ready and effective talent acquisition.

(16:01) Social listening tools help measure employer brand performance and engagement trends.

(17:50) Piloting interview intelligence tools refines talent strategies and business outcomes.

(20:59) Leveraging talent intelligence tools to support high-value recruiter contributions.

(24:31) Talent communities and tagging systems become more efficient with new tools. (26:34) Learning and curiosity fuel long-term success in the dynamic TA field.

(29:31) Lifting your focus beyond daily tasks fosters impactful contributions.

Resources mentioned:

Blair Bennett -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairabennett/

PepsiCo | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pepsico/

PepsiCo | Website -

https://www.pepsico.com/

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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) Implementing AI to streamline hiring.

(12:10) AI brings efficiency and value to recruitment processes.

(15:15) Focusing on data literacy and AI adoption to add business value.

(18:03) Prioritizing talent branding and enhancing candidate experience.

(21:35) Leading with trust, empowering teams and showing TA’s value.

Resources mentioned:

Anne Arnold -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annearnoldprofile/

Farmers Insurance® | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-insurance/

Farmers Insurance® | Website -

https://www.farmers.com

Microsoft Teams -

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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 importance of balancing efficiency with personalization in TA.

Key Takeaways:

(00:54)  An unsuccessful sales interview led to TA.

(03:36)  Early career work at Wayfair and TJX.

(07:15)  Burlington recruits full-time and interns.

(08:48)  Data drives improvements in the recruitment funnel.

(10:47)  Measuring performance reveals improvement areas.

(14:45)  Predicting trends in the early career market.

(17:01)  Personalization is vital to TA success.

Resources Mentioned:

Dustin Leszcynski -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinleszcynski/

Burlington Stores, Inc. -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/burlington-stores/

Wayfair Careers -

https://www.wayfair.com/careers/jobs

HP’s HR Leadership Development Program -

https://hp-leaders.com/programs

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I’ve seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices but also deliver tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

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.

(12:00) Customer-first and partner-obsessed culture.

(15:00) Innovations in ATS and CRM systems.

(15:30) Centralizing relationships with RPO providers.

(16:39) Building trust with business leaders.

(17:00) Data-driven decision-making in TA.

(17:54) The importance of resilience in TA.

Resources Mentioned:

Beth Barney -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-barney-9057b313/

Cintas | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cintas/

Cintas | Website -

https://www.cintas.com/

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

In this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Dora Rodriguez, Director of Talent Acquisition at The Friedkin Group, to explore how cutting-edge technologies and strategic initiatives are revolutionizing TA.

Key Takeaways:

(02:10) Dora’s journey into TA, starting in retail and hospitality.

(03:40) Overview of Dora’s role at The Friedkin Group, a privately held company in diverse industries.

(05:00) Building the EVP and various TA programs at The Friedkin Group.

(07:17) The importance of aligning performance metrics with the company's vision and culture.

(09:00) Measuring TA performance through various survey journeys and KPIs.

(11:00) The role of digital transformation in enhancing TA strategies.

(12:00) Focusing on data-driven talent and aligning TA with overall business goals.

(13:36) Advice for those entering the TA field and the diverse skill sets beneficial for success.

Resources Mentioned:

Dora Rodriguez -

The Friedkin Group -

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

On this episode, Ryan Dull is joined by Mark Smith, Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic. They discuss Mark’s journey in talent acquisition, Medtronic's transformation and the importance of growth mindset in leadership.

Key Takeaways:

(02:12) Mark’s career journey from the UK to leading global talent acquisition at Medtronic.

(07:20) Overview of Medtronic’s global operations, with 100,000 employees and 12-15,000 hires annually.

(09:42) Medtronic's ongoing transformation focusing on TA technology and employer brand.

(11:00) Challenges and opportunities in enhancing Medtronic's employer brand recognition.

(15:19) Importance of measuring TA performance through classical metrics and sentiment analysis.

(18:24) A vision for future TA leadership at Medtronic, emphasizing a growth mindset and adaptability.

(20:53) Advice for TA professionals on empowerment, trust and authenticity in leadership.

Resources Mentioned:

Mark Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markedwardsmithta/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/medtronic/

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. -Dweck

https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh

https://www.amazon.com/Score-Takes-Care-Itself-Philosophy/dp/1591843472

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech

On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Tara Eckberg, Director of Talent Acquisition for the City and County of Denver. They discuss the challenges and strategies involved in public sector recruitment, particularly in response to the unique demands and crises faced by the city.

Key Takeaways:

(02:12) Tara Eckberg’s unexpected career path from international education to TA.

(04:35) The variety of roles in Denver’s recruitment process, covering over 1,000 job titles. 

(06:01) Handling a humanitarian crisis and the urgent recruitment needs that followed. 

(08:29) Reducing the city’s vacancy rate from 20% to 11% during Tara’s tenure. 

(11:37) Addressing workforce development and the importance of local talent investment. 

(12:43) The unique advantages of working in city government. 

(14:46) The importance of understanding and investing in the success of the team. 

(16:55) Transitioning to an advisory role with the integration of AI in recruitment.

Resources Mentioned:

TNTP Website - https://tntp.org

This episode is brought to you by Sagemark HR.

Sagemark HR can help you:

✔ Improve your talent practices and make better, more informed people decisions.

After 20+ years of experience leading Recruiting and Talent Acquisition across a wide variety of industries, I've seen enough hires (over 100,000 to date) to know that hiring decisions truly can make or break an organization.

✔ Identify opportunities to not only improve your talent practices, but also delivering tangible business results.

We understand every organization is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all magic solution. So we listen first and identify the gaps and sticking points in your current process before ever recommending a solution.

✔ Bridge the gap from “traditional” to modern recruiting, without the painful learning curve.

We believe recruiting, talent, and HR technology is a deep well of untapped business potential, and our mission is to help you identify and implement those hiring tools in a way that works for you.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach me at:

www.sagemarkhr.com

✉ [email protected]

#Talent #Recruiters #Recruiting #HRTech