Host Matt Staney, VP Community at HIGHER, sits down with Jennifer Anker Kaufman, VP of Talent Acquisition at Illumio, for a rich, honest conversation about how recruiting becomes a trusted business partner. Jennifer shares her unexpected start as a dolphin trainer, how she built credibility across hyper-growth tech companies, and why she believes in “talent partners,” not “order takers.” They discuss Illumio’s shift to Ashby, how data reshapes executive conversations, and the future of AI and capacity planning in TA. Along the way, Jennifer reveals her NICE framework and the leadership lessons that turn small wins into lasting impact.

In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Matt Staney talks to James Lafferty, VP of Global Talent Acquisition and Mobility at Epicor. James shares how he’s built a global TA function that makes 1,200+ hires a year across 32 countries—while staying consistent, human, and adaptable. They discuss what it really takes to lead modern TA: building systems that scale, earning trust across cultures, and finding the right balance between tech and the human touch. Highlights:

• Building a global TA model that works across time zones and teams

• Why recruiters need to be partners, not just process owners

• How AI is changing the role—but not replacing it

• Leading through acquisitions without losing what makes teams great

How do you hire fast without creating long-term problems? In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Jerome Leclerq, Global Head of Talent at Wise, shares his playbook for scaling talent teams sustainably — avoiding “talent debt” while still moving at the pace the business demands. Key takeaways include:

• Why short-term fixes create long-term challenges in hiring

• How to balance speed with thoughtful, strategic decision-making

• Using data to improve both quality and efficiency in recruitment

• Designing talent teams that can scale up or down with business demand

• Embedding a “hiring is a team sport” mindset across the business

Whether you’re leading a talent team, managing rapid growth, or rethinking your hiring strategy, this episode offers practical insights on smarter, sustainable scaling.

In this episode, Jamie Edwards—VP Talent & Org Development at Deliveroo and former tech founder—shares how applying product principles to Talent Acquisition can transform hiring. We explore Jamie’s journey from engineer and founder to TA leader, and unpack a practical roadmap for building a user-centric hiring function: one that designs with candidates in mind, redefines success beyond offers, and applies AI only after rethinking the process itself. What you’ll learn:

• How product thinking can reshape recruiting-

• Why hiring should start with candidate research

• Key product maxims for TA (nail it then scale it, don’t automate until it hurts)

• Shifting culture: from “candidates should feel lucky” to “we’re selling them”

• Actionable advice for TA leaders to start small and scale impact

If you’re in Talent Acquisition, HR, or People Ops and want a fresh blueprint for the future of hiring, this conversation is packed with insights you can put into practice today.

In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, host Matt Staney is joined by Tommy Hansen, Head of Recruiting at Juniper Square, to explore how Talent Acquisition can move from a support function to a true driver of business growth. Tommy shares how his team is embedded directly into Juniper Square’s core operations — from participating in weekly revenue forecasting to earning recognition at the President’s Club. He also breaks down the org design changes, skill-building strategies, and AI readiness plans that are helping his team stay deeply strategic and business-focused. 💡 Topics covered include:

• Embedding recruiting teams into core business functions

• The vision and pillars behind the “Associate Recruiter” role

• Building trust and influence as strategic advisors

• Navigating AI’s risks while leveraging its biggest opportunities

• Actionable advice for TA leaders aiming to align with revenue goals

Whether you’re leading a TA function, managing a recruiting team, or rethinking your talent strategy, this conversation offers a clear blueprint for positioning TA at the heart of the business.

In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, we’re live from San Francisco with a powerhouse guest: Manjuri Sinha, VP HR and Global Head of GTM Org Success & People Partner at Miro. Together with host Kathryn, Manjuri unpacks what it really means to build a modern, tech-enabled talent function—from rethinking your TA operating model and integrating tools strategically, to enabling recruiter skill growth in an AI-powered future. 💡 Topics covered include:

• Redesigning the TA function around technology—not just layering it on

• Driving genuine adoption of recruiting tools and platforms

• Future-proofing recruiter roles as AI reshapes decision-making

• Maintaining human-centric principles in tech-forward orgs

Whether you’re a TA leader, HR pro, or just passionate about the future of hiring, this conversation is packed with practical insights and bold ideas.

In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, host Matt Staney sits down with Samantha Perlman, Head of People at OneSignal, for a powerful conversation on how Talent Acquisition can — and must — operate as a strategic business driver. From her early days scaling teams at Airbnb and Fastly to now leading both TA and People strategy at OneSignal, Samantha shares what it takes to build a strong talent foundation that unlocks long-term growth. Together, they explore:

• How the definition of “strategic TA” has evolved from 2023 to 2025

• Why investing in foundational systems is essential for scale

• How AI is reshaping TA tech — and what smart adoption really looks like

• The leadership mindsets and capabilities TA leaders need today

• What’s next for the future of Talent Acquisition

Whether you’re a talent leader, people ops pro, or simply curious about the evolving role of TA in business success, this episode delivers actionable insight and bold ideas from someone who’s helping redefine the field. 🔊 Powered by the HIGHER community — real conversations, fresh perspectives, and practical strategies for building exceptional teams.

Recorded live in San Francisco at the HIGHER Altitude Summit, this special episode of Hiring on Cylinders brings the summit’s biggest themes to life — from tech-enabled TA and global delivery to AI fluency and what it really takes to be a next-gen TA leader. Hosts Kathryne Friend (VP Community, EMEA @ HIGHER) and Matt Staney (VP Community, USA @ HIGHER) are joined by four world-class TA leaders: James Footman, Recruiting Leader at Wiz Karen Arnold, Global VP of Talent at Automattic Tracy St.Dic, Global Head of Talent at Zapier Anastasia Pshegodskaya, Director of TA at Remote Together, they reflect on how talent leaders are adapting to scale, speed, and complexity — sharing practical insights on distributed hiring, tech implementation, and evolving the role of TA as a true business driver. Missed the summit or want a front-row recap? This episode offers a glimpse into the day’s most impactful conversations and themes.

Inclusive hiring isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the future of building high-performing teams. On this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Kobi Ampoma, Head of Talent Acquisition at Heineken Netherlands joins Kathryne Friend and shares how he’s rethinking talent strategies across industries — from fashion and tech to FMCG. With two decades of experience at companies like Nike, ASICS, PVH, and Getir, plus his work as a LinkedIn Top Voice and board advisor at OMEK, Kobi brings a fresh, future-focused lens to what inclusive hiring can really look like. From challenging outdated practices to designing practical, scalable solutions, Kobi offers a clear blueprint for talent leaders looking to future-proof their hiring approach.

Duolingo is famous for its TikTok presence — but can it become just as iconic as an employer brand?  On this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Jocelyn S. Lai, Global Head of Talent Brand at Duolingo, shares how she’s building the Talent Brand function from the ground up with bold ambition. From reporting into Marketing and leading with a lean team, to attracting top-tier tech talent in Pittsburgh and reimagining what “LinkedIn fame” really means, Jocelyn delivers both practical advice and fresh perspective for anyone looking to build a standout talent brand.