Talent All-Stars

Great leaders don’t just walk in and start making changes—they listen, learn, and then lead.

Jason Desentz, Chief Human Resources Officer at Toshiba America, has built a career on this principle. From consulting to leading HR at major corporations, he has mastered the balance between business impact and cultural legacy.

In this episode, Jason shares how he navigates massive organizational shifts, why he believes influence is about trust just as much as strategy, and how being proactive in your career can open unexpected doors.

Jason also talks about:

• How he builds rapport with team members when stepping into a new role
• The bold move that got him into Chrysler’s high-potential program
• The power of asking the right follow-up questions to shift a conversation and open opportunities

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-desentz/

Connect with us:

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💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter  

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

What’s Vanguard’s secret talent acquisition superpower? Turning their mission into an irresistible recruiting pitch.

Tiffany Haley, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Vanguard, shares why the best recruiters are those who genuinely believe in what they're selling.  

In this episode, Tiffany explains how she coaches her team to leverage empathy, passion, and storytelling—transforming them into true brand ambassadors who attract top talent that drives company results.

Tiffany also covers:

• How a call center job prepared her for C-suite communication
• How to teach recruiters to “feel” your mission
• How to create “zero buyer's remorse” hiring experiences

Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-haley/  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

When scaling a global tech giant like Intel, talent isn't just important—it's mission critical.

Cindi Harper, VP of Human Resources, Talent Planning, and Acquisition at Intel, learned this firsthand when a plant manager gave her a career-defining wake-up call: Without the right people in place, he warned her… the entire operation grinds to a halt.

In this episode, Cindi shares how she went from hesitant college grad to global talent leader in one of the world’s most competitive and rapidly changing industries.

She also shares:

• How writing “future letters” helps Intel’s leaders align behind a common vision
• How she forecasts short-term and long-term hiring needs
• Her approach to balancing business outcomes with organizational health
•  

Connect with Cindi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindi-harper-75aba0/  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

Can you break traditional management structures and still drive exceptional results?

Steve O'Brien, SVP of People Solutions at Syneos Health, proves it's possible with his innovative "decoder ring" approach to talent leadership—managing 25 direct reports without a single scheduled one-on-one meeting.

In this episode, Steve explains how he balances efficiency with employee engagement, why decision-making should be pushed down to remove bottlenecks, and how psychological safety and autonomy drive performance.

Steve also talks about:

• The 3 biggest priorities new leaders should tackle
• Why some “creative tension” is healthy for talent teams
• How to leverage quarterly performance reviews for big wins

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemobrien  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

Today’s Talent All-Star was recently on the other side of the talent acquisition table, and he came away from that experience with some shocking insights.

Jay Olson, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic, had spent years perfecting the art of hiring. But recently, his time as a candidate gave him an entirely new perspective. Which led him to rethink his entire strategy as he settles into his new role.

Jay also shares:

• How over-reliance on automation can damage candidate experience
• How to build alliances when joining a new company
• How to cultivate both internal and external professional relationships

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

Ready for the remarkable story of a talent all-star who rose from cleaner to C-level leader… in the very same office?

Bettina Deynes, Global CHRO at Carnival Corporation, leads a 160,000-person team in one of the world’s most dynamic industries. In this episode, she shares her incredible journey from janitor to HR executive, the importance of self-learning, and how she champions HR as a strategic function inside the C-suite.

Bettina also discusses:

• Her immigrant roots and self-taught rise in HR
• Leading through massive organizational complexity
• Balancing technology with the human touch in future HR

Connect with Bettina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettina-deynes-shrm-scp-she-her-hers-356864b/

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

Want to build a world-class team? Start by thinking like a business leader.

Melanie Steinbach has led talent teams for several major brands—McDonald’s, Cameo, and now MasterClass—and she knows that talent strategy goes well beyond the common perception of HR.

In this episode, Melanie shares how she aligns hiring decisions with business growth, the compensation mistake most companies make, and why holding managers accountable for talent development is the key to long-term success.

Melanie also shares:

• The “$10K” lesson every TA leader needs to hear
• Why “average compensation” attracts average results
• AI’s real role in HR (spoiler: It’s not replacing you)

Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniesteinbach/  

About MasterClass at Work:  

MasterClass at Work provides powerful and flexible learning solutions featuring the lived experiences and insights of the world’s top experts.  

The platform offers a suite of at-work solutions for employees and leaders. Each video lesson is designed with the learner in mind, configured to enhance the personal and professional development of employees—from the field to the boardroom—to drive real business impact.  

Each MasterClass at Work lesson is available at home, in the office or on-the-go on mobile, tablet, desktop, Apple TV®, Android™ TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku® players and devices.

Link: https://www.masterclass.com/for-business

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

How do you turn a retention crisis into a talent acquisition triumph?

Scott Sell, Mercy’s Chief Talent Acquisition Officer, unpacks the strategies that helped this Midwest healthcare leader slash turnover and attract mission-aligned talent. Discover why Mercy prioritizes candidate experience as fiercely as patient care—and how their bold shift from “quantity to quality” created a pipeline of compassionate, purpose-driven hires.  

Scott also discusses:

• Leveraging team members’ strengths rather than shoring up their weaknesses
• Delivering candidates an honest view of what a role entails
• Are the “Sunday Scaries” a sign you might be in the wrong role?

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellscott/  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

Recruiting in healthcare is extremely competitive – but with the right strategy, it’s possible to stand out from the crowd.

In this episode, Yvette Hansen, Director of Talent Acquisition at Baylor Scott & White Health, shares how her team bought back 10,000 hours by automating key steps, allowing recruiters to focus on sourcing top talent.

Yvette also shares:

• A simple way to capture employee stories (and go viral on TikTok!?)
• Tips for managing change when introducing automation
• How to partner with diverse organizations to expand outreach

Connect with Yvette Hansen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvettehansen/  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

What happens when your strategic plan meets an unpredictable reality?  

Rose Sheehan, Chief People Officer at Hartford HealthCare, knows all about pivoting under pressure. From leading her team through COVID-19 to addressing the Great Resignation, Rose has built a dynamic HR function focused on agility, innovation, and purpose.

In this episode, Rose reveals the strategies behind her success, including how she’s transforming talent acquisition through technology, partnerships, and storytelling.

Rose also talks about:

• Her unexpected transition to HR leadership
• Developing a talent pipeline to address today’s workforce challenges
• Building a culture of shared values and purpose that supports retention

Connect with Rose on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Rose-sheehan-4b220bb/  

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter

Enjoyed this episode? We’d be grateful for a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.