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 HigherHer, hosts Krista and Natalie welcome Chasity Douyon, a career coach and hiring manager in the sports recruiting industry. Chasity shares her journey of overcoming personal challenges, including the loss of her father at a young age, and how that experience shaped her passion for mental health advocacy. The conversation explores the importance of empowering women in a predominantly male-dominated sports industry, the influence of mentors, and strategies for job seekers to stand out in a competitive market. Chasity emphasizes the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership and the value of networking and mentorship in career development. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Chasity Douyon 02:23 Overcoming Personal Challenges 04:37 Empowering Women in Sports Recruiting 07:19 Influential Figures in Career Development 08:52 Building a Strong Online Presence 10:36 Strategies for Job Seekers 13:03 Mentorship and Networking in the Industry 14:48 Essential Qualities for Women Leaders ------- Chasity's Bio: www.linkedin.com/in/chasitydouyon  Chasity Douyon has over 2 years of experience in community based mental health, 4 years of career coaching experience, and over 3 years of recruiting experience. She is currently the Operations Hiring Associate (Hiring Manager) at Sports Info Solutions where she helps to oversee recruiting/hiring across all sports (baseball, basketball, and football). She currently holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Spring Hill College, a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Alabama, and a Masters in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from the University of Alabama. She has enjoyed connecting with others on LinkedIn and currently has over 74,000 followers. Chasity enjoys using her platform to share job opportunities, job search strategies, and advocate for mental health awareness. 

Lusely Martinez has over 8 years of HR and recruiting experience and currently serves as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Syndio, a workplace equity SaaS platform. She is also the Founder and Principal Consultant at FirstGen Lab, supporting the careers of first-generation professionals. Lusely's expertise includes building early-stage start-up teams, optimizing talent acquisition through technology, and strategic workforce planning. In addition to her corporate roles, Lusely shares her insights on hiring trends and best practices on Linkedin, podcasts and other platforms. Her commitment to empowering diverse talent continues to shape her career journey.

In this episode, Tina Cella, a seasoned talent acquisition expert and founder of Unicorn Career Compass, shares her journey from overcoming personal challenges to helping others find fulfilling careers. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, self-care, and the role of mentorship in professional growth. Tina also discusses the critical need for diversity and inclusion in recruitment and offers insights into building a successful career in a challenging job market. Her passion for helping others shines through as she shares her vision for the future and the importance of networking. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tina Cella and Her Journey 05:11 Overcoming Personal Challenges 09:31 The Importance of Mindset and Self-Care 13:53 Mentorship and Career Growth 16:15 Diversity and Inclusion in Recruiting 20:08 Future Aspirations and Networking ------ Tina's Bio: Founder of Unicorn Career Compass https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-unicornhunter/ I help people navigate a crazy job market, focused mostly on GTM tech professionals and recent college grads in the tech world.  I am a career advisor, relationship guru, dog mom, and yogi with a passion for people. 🫶 🚀 Why I'm Your Go-To Girl: With a solid background in talent management, hiring, recruitment strategy, sourcing, and networking, I've honed my skills in business development, talent acquisition, and relationship building. I thrive on making connections that matter. 💖 My True Passion: I'm all about elevating the human experience for both candidates and employers, creating a culture that fosters growth and success. It's not just a job; it's a calling. 🌟 What Sets Me Apart 🌟 ✨ Proven track record as a consistent high performer, President's Club and recognized as a 6sensation. ✨Expert in managing all aspects of talent acquisition, from sourcing to negotiations, ensuring exceptional placements and hitting corporate goals. ✨ Social media savvy, especially on LinkedIn. I leverage digital platforms to showcase companies and attract top-tier talent. 🔍 Highlights of My Journey: • Uniformly outstanding reviews and accolades. • A knack for building lasting relationships with peers, candidates, and clients.

As a leader with experience focused on Talent Management in Silicon Valley startups and Fortune 500 companies, Stephanie leverages her expertise to help organizations thrive by improving employee engagement, retaining top talent, and elevating leadership effectiveness. Stephanie also recognizes that our world is changing faster than we can adapt. That change is constant, and burnout is rampant. She works with leaders to empower them to lead and live with greater purpose, presence, and impact. Helping them elevate their leadership and expand their influence.

Brooke Wheeler is an executive Talent Acquisition leader known for transforming recruitment strategies and building high-performing teams. Most recently, as Vice President of Talent Acquisition at MerchantE, she led the hiring of over 500 employees in just four years, saving significant costs through innovative in-house strategies. Her dedication to business partnership was recognized at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, where she received the Golden Puck Award from the CEO for being an exceptional partner. Now, as the founder of Restoration Talent Solutions, Brooke provides Fractional Talent Acquisition services to high-growth companies in industries such as Technology, FinTech and Data Analytics, helping them develop effective recruiting processes during pivotal growth phases. She’s loves to share her career insights on elevating your Talent Acquisition career and building impactful, scalable recruiting practices.

Sylvanna is a recruiter with 9 years' experience, specializing in sourcing talent across diverse industries from O&G, semiconductor, hospitality, and energy sector.

Jana is a strategic and inclusive Talent Acquisition Leader with over 15 years of recruiting experience in high-growth, fast-paced companies, and over 8 years of proven leadership in directly managing, coaching, and mentoring high-performing teams. Her passion lies in building talent strategies that not only drive business success but also cultivate diverse, engaged, and thriving teams. She is currently serving as the Head of Talent at Logic20/20, where she's been committed to achieving exceptional outcomes while fostering a culture of collaboration and success across all levels of the organization. Before joining Logic20/20, she spent four years at West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting firm, where she led global talent acquisition efforts across Digital and Technology. Prior to West Monroe, she spent four years at EY, where she led talent acquisition efforts within Technology Consulting. She was recently recognized as a Talent100 Awardee (by Higher Community), which recognizes the top leaders in Talent Acquisition worldwide. 

Kasi is a visionary talent acquisition and HR leader with 15 years of experience in scaling companies' talent strategies across Tech, FinTech, and Retail, including at Block (formerly Square), Stitch Fix, Wells Fargo, and Target. She has a proven track record of guiding teams through growth stages, IPOs, and revolutionizing recruiting strategies to drive unprecedented business expansion. Inspired by a passion for providing accelerative talent solutions for high growth companies, she founded Moxii Talent Solutions. Moxii Talent Solutions focuses on infusing the essence of moxie in every partnership through courage, determination, and innovation — specializing in crafting scalable, innovative talent solutions that empower businesses to achieve long-term success through strategic talent investments.

Anne is the Chief of Staff, Head of Marketing at Braintrust, the largest user owned talent network revolutionizing hiring with Braintrust AIR, the world's first and only end-to-end AI recruiting platform . Anne was hired as employee number one and was instrumental in building the company from the ground up, leading various elements of the business from go-to market strategy,  to recruiting and setting up the operational infrastructure  to support a company with 30 employees, thousands of customers, and  hundreds of thousands of talent around the globe. Prior to joining Braintrust, Anne served as Director of Communications and then Chief of Staff at OZY Media. There Anne served as an extension of the CEO, tasked with the highest priority and visibility projects, from multimillion dollar partnerships to a Festival with over 20,000 attendees in Central Park, in addition to being responsible for all media placements. Before OZY, Anne worked for four years at High10 Media, a PR agency with clients such as Smithsonian, the New York Daily News, National Geographic, and prior to High10, Anne cut her teeth in the FOX Business Network PR department. Anne is a proud graduate of Boston College and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, 2 year old son, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Guest Jaidin McCann is CEO at Jasper Consultancy and specializes in executive search & human capital strategy, transforming cultures, and optimizing Growth. She's an advisor, speaker and board member and was named top 100 innovators & entrepreneurs.

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

Danielle Mathis's loves nothing more than mentoring and growing people- helping connect great talent to great places, watching them succeed and make an impact. She has managed recruiting and HRBP teams of up to 20+ globally and is experienced in consulting through thought partnerships with executive leadership to plan headcount equitably. She always strives to improve processes, recruiting best practices, and customer experience for hiring managers and candidates.

Katy is a learner, teacher, problem solver, hustler, networker, and entrepreneur.  She started her career teaching Geometry in South East Washington D.C. as a Teach for America Corps Member. After seeing the inequities in education, she became passionate about teaching students and adults real world skills necessary for the workforce. She worked at Pearson and then General Assembly running massive educational programs. While at GA, she partnered with Fortune 500 companies, including Booz Allen, Bloomberg, Capital One, The Department of Defense, and Disney, to up-skill and re-skill their teams. After realizing that GA was only solving one piece of the talent puzzle, she sought to learn more about recruiting.  She then spent 2 years learning the ins and outs of recruiting at an executive search firm. Seeing a need to help companies in a 360 fashion, Katy founded Higher People. While still an all-star recruiter, she also believes you have to find ways to motivate, re-skill, and retain your top talent.  When she’s not helping companies, she’s rock climbing, hiking with her dogs Johnny Cash & Bleu, re-exploring LA, listening to live music, and working on her "adulting skills."

Sarah Englade is the Owner & Founder of Monarch Talent Solutions, a boutique recruitment firm that specializes in senior-level and mid-executive-level direct-hire roles in accounting, finance, and human resources throughout Houston, TX. Sarah serves as an executive recruiter within the firm, partnering with local companies to grow their teams. She also offers candidates career resources, including resume, cover letter, and interview support, job market trend updates, local continuing education opportunities, and more.  Before launching Monarch Talent Solutions in 2020, Sarah gained nearly a decade of recruiting and leadership experience at two global recruiting firms. In her roles, she was regularly recognized as a top producer, successfully placing over 2,800 candidates between 2012 and 2020 and generating millions in revenue. Now, Sarah is focused on humanizing the recruiting process, driven by her firm's core values.  Sarah's commitment to the Houston community extends beyond her professional endeavors. She volunteers at Dress for Success Houston, is an active member of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC), and was a nominee for the Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 from 2022 to 2024. Various media outlets have recognized her contributions, including Shoutout HTX, Voyage Houston, GoSolo, CanvasRebel Magazine, Houston Made, and LFN Network's Breaking The Silence Talk Show. Outside of her professional life, Sarah finds joy in spending time with her husband and their two dogs and cat. She is an avid reader, a passionate traveler, and a dedicated fitness enthusiast. Her love for her community is evident in her active support for various Houston initiatives.

Cecilia Ng has spent a bulk of her tech career with companies like Facebook and Robinhood, however prior to this spent time abroad working in talent with companies like Moody's, Whirlpool and Robert Half. She is currently a Talent Partner with MVP Ventures, a firm specializing in co-investing with focus on early stage (Seed - A) and deep tech (AI, Hardware, Robotics). She partners primarily with Founders on their founding team hiring, collaborating on building hiring strategies, workflows and nascent infrastructure.

Katie Finn is currently a Director of Talent Acquisition at Dow Jones, overseeing strategic hiring across nine business units. Prior to her role at Dow Jones, Katie spent over 10 years at the Walt Disney Company supporting ABC News. She managed talent acquisition during significant scaling initiatives including the launch of the streaming network ABC NEWS Live. Katie also has experience at a high-growth telecom startup, sourcing specialized talent in the US and EMEA and spent time at a staffing agency focused within financial services. 

Is Gina Peckman the real-life superhero of executive recruitment? Well, more than a quarter-century of fulfilling engagements has honed those senses to dizzying levels. Instinctively, she appreciates that the intangibles are what make a particular candidate not simply qualified but just right. Known in her field as the powerhouse founder of Dynamo Recruiting, perhaps Gina’s true superpowers are her knack for evolution, reinvention, and striving to uphold the principles of the industry she helped build. Throughout the past decade, she's maintained this powerful vision, working with a "who's who" list of Pacific Northwest clients that includes top start ups-as well as Fortune 500 enterprises-all of whom have benefited greatly from her expertise in the talent acquisition and management arena. Having completed hundreds of executive placements to date, along with numerous mid-management and technical search, Gina knows exactly how to showcase an employer's job opening, product offering and cultural aspect to attract and close deals with top performers from around the globe. Gina is the standard-bearer for PS Partners and all that it embodies: sustained experience, uncompromising integrity, and a personal connection and steadfast commitment to clients and candidates. As leader of the only company to bear her name, Gina champions its values and mission to create rewarding connections.

Rocki Howard, founder of Diversiology.IO and host of the Grown Woman Life podcast, is a renowned diversity and talent acquisition strategist. A 2022 and 2023 SIA Diversity Influencer and Global Power 150 Woman in Staffing, she's an advisory board member for WedgeHR and Informed Decisions, and a Forbes HR Council member. Featured on various outlets such as ABC News, various podcasts, and talent platforms, she's a vocal advocate for DEIB, speaking at major events. As a black, Christian wife and mom over 40, she's dedicated to fostering engaged, inclusive work cultures and believes you change the world, one story, one conversation, one action at a time.

Jill is the director for Early Talent Programs at Insperity. Jill holds multiple industry certifications—certified personnel consultant, certified temporary staffing specialist, SPHR and SHRM-SCP. She has also earned her Masters of Science in Human Resource Management from Tarleton State University-Stephenville.

With over 15 years in talent acquisition, Carrie Beeks has thrived in startups, fast-paced sales organizations, and Fortune 500 companies, primarily within professional services. Specializing in senior and executive recruitment, she has adeptly built recruitment infrastructure and spearheaded retention and employee experience initiatives. Her genuine passion lies in understanding people's stories, forging meaningful relationships, and guiding individuals to achieve their career aspirations. Throughout her career, Carrie has continually demonstrated a commitment to both the individuals she works with and the organizations she serves.

Edie Greenberg is a freelance Startup Recruiter who thrives on coffee, creativity, and conversations. Married with three young adult children (who she constantly nags about updating their LinkedIn profiles), she's a founding member of Talent Collective’s Chicago chapter. A Gen Xer with a Gen Z spirit, Edie dreams of shaking things up at a Women’s Health startup focused on midlife wellness.

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.

Meet Maisha, the dynamic founder of The Collab Lab, Inc. A trailblazer in the recruiting industry, her enthusiasm for learning and sharing knowledge is nothing short of infectious. Maisha has delivered powerful presentations at some of the most prestigious conferences in her field. She has captivated audiences at SourceCon (7x), Recruiters Network (6x), and Gem Summit (2x). As an industry leader, her expertise has been displayed in publications such as Recruiting Daily, Recruiting Brainfood, and SourceCon. Maisha's inventive approach to sourcing has not gone unnoticed. She has been honored as a finalist in the SourceCon Grandmaster Challenge and as the third-place winner in the World's Greatest Sourcer competition.

Hosts Natalie Stones and Krista Tan sit down with Kaylee Estes, a talent acquisition leader, entrepreneur, and mom with over a decade of experience scaling high-growth technology companies. In January 2023, Kaylee founded Estes Group, a talent strategy firm built for startups and their early teams. Estes Group has reimagined a way to grow early-stage startups and beyond- by making better hires early and creating recruiting playbooks for their unique needs. Kaylee lives in Atlanta and has three children. 

Hosts Natalie Stones and Krista Tan welcome Talent Collective founding member Larissa Gerlach as they discuss how Larissa got into recruiting and who helped shape her journey along the way.

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

In this episode of HigherHer, Ami Arroyo shares her journey from high-volume recruiting in corporate settings to starting her own recruiting agency. She discusses the importance of mentorship, creating opportunities, and the strategies she employs to ensure quality in recruiting. Ami emphasizes the significance of building a supportive company culture and the future plans for her business, focusing on growth and quality experiences for both candidates and clients. Chapters 00:00Introduction to Ami Arroyo and Her Journey 03:07Transitioning to Entrepreneurship in Recruiting 05:54The Role of Mentorship in Career Growth 09:07Creating Opportunities and Taking Risks 12:06Strategies for Successful Recruiting 14:57Building a Quality-Focused Recruiting Business 18:13Future Plans and Company Culture Ami's Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amithomas1 "Our goal is to be your village when it comes to all things recruiting.” – Ami ArroyoAmi Arroyo is the heart and soul behind a people-first recruiting firm that's changing the game for how organizations and candidates connect. With a passion for building careers, not just filling jobs, Ami is dedicated to creating meaningful, long-term matches that truly benefit both companies and individuals. Her firm’s mission is simple yet powerful: to be the trusted village that supports clients and candidates every step of the way.Ami is known for her warm and empathetic leadership style. She believes in authentic communication and quality in every interaction, ensuring that every candidate and client feels valued, heard, and supported throughout the hiring process. This people-centered approach sets her firm apart, as they pride themselves on providing exceptional talent and fostering lasting partnerships.With a career that includes leadership roles at Charles Schwab and Salesforce, Ami brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the importance of aligning skills, culture, and growth opportunities. She sees recruiting as more than just a transactional process—it’s about helping people achieve their potential, building inclusive teams, and supporting organizations in reaching their goals.Ami’s leadership style and core values shine through in every aspect of her business. Whether it’s through innovative strategies, thoughtful storytelling, or simply taking the time to connect on a human level, Ami and her team are dedicated to creating opportunities and empowering others to succeed.