Jonathan Doulas, Corporate General Counsel at Pacific American Fish Company (PAFCO), delves into his unorthodox route toward overseeing HR. He shares lessons from entrepreneurial ventures and legal experiences that shaped his hands-on approach. He explains why HR should be recognized as a crucial contributor to business expansion. He also underscores the evolving executive mindset required to support HR’s full scope.

Jason Loomis, Chief Information Security Officer at Freshworks, reveals why culture truly eats strategy for breakfast. He delves into the vital role of a supportive, trust-based environment in cybersecurity success. Jason also details how hiring for talent and mindset outperforms checking boxes for technical skills. Leaders can inspire high-performing teams that drive better results by fostering open communication and genuine collaboration.

Patrick Gough, CEO and Founder at Poseidon Consulting LLC, dives into his extensive Marine Corps background and explains why formal leadership curricula are indispensable. He describes glaring shortfalls in the corporate world, where tenure often replaces real development. He argues that investing in training fosters higher retention and performance. He concludes by highlighting why leadership can’t be left to chance and must be taught deliberately.

Ilenia Herrera Lutz, Global Director of Talent Acquisition at Duck Creek Technologies, discusses the critical role of HR in scaling and transforming companies. She highlights HR’s ability to adapt strategies, nurture resilient cultures, and act as a strategic partner during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and digital transformation.

Ilenia emphasizes how a strong employee experience drives innovation and attracts top talent while aligning capabilities with company goals. She also explores proactive HR leadership strategies, fostering shared vision among leaders, and evolving HR practices to sustain organizational growth.

Michael Weinberger, Vice President of Human Resources at Challenge Dairy, discusses merging diverse teams and forging a cohesive company culture. He highlights the vital link between culture and sustainable growth, urging leadership to champion collaboration. Michael also shares strategies to address employee fears around change. He offers insights for maintaining momentum and driving results.

Rachel Bozeman, Director of Talent Acquisition at Consumer Cellular, Inc, discusses critical barriers to creating and sustaining high-performance teams. She shares insights from her experiences in big tech, manufacturing, and retail, highlighting the importance of transparent communication with hiring managers. Rachel addresses the impact of evolving candidate expectations and the value of a genuine team culture. She urges companies to invest in meaningful hiring strategies to overcome roadblocks and drive performance.

Christine Doane, Vice President of Global Human Resources and Head of HR at Genea, reveals why a strong command of core business fundamentals reshaped her HR vision. She explores the shift from administrative tasks to a proactive, business-aligned role. She recounts earning trust step by step and winning a seat at the strategic table. She underscores HR’s power to drive bigger organizational impact.

Mawulom Nenonene, Head of Talent Acquisition at Point, shares his expertise in building predictive models for high-performance teams. He discusses how data-driven recruitment strategies improve candidate qualification, boost team efficiency, and foster diversity. 

Mawulom highlights the need for standardized yet flexible systems to streamline hiring. He also explores the ‘continuous evolution loop,’ ensuring ongoing refinement through structured feedback.

Susan Graye, Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Vontier, shares insights into strategic talent acquisition, emphasizing the need to look beyond surface-level evaluations to build strong teams. She explores the role of collaboration, technology, and market data in shaping competitive talent strategies. 

Susan highlights storytelling’s power in attracting top talent. She reveals how global cohesion and tech-driven insights create compelling hiring experiences.

Stephanie Cramer, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Iron Bow Technologies, explores the nuances of talent acquisition and employee engagement on the Workforce Navigator Podcast. This episode begins with defining success at the organizational level and then strategically working backward to align recruiting and talent management efforts with those goals.

She highlights how starting with a “North Star” and leveraging data can create a ripple effect that elevates hiring strategies. The discussion also covers how tracking metrics, prioritizing team dynamics, and fostering open communication drive high-performance teams and business growth.