Why Talent Leaders Should Value Personal Journeys As Much As Credentials

At Providence Health & Services, retention isn’t just about keeping people happy. It’s a science. With more than 120,000 caregivers across 50 hospitals and 1,000 clinics, Greg Till, Chief People Officer at Providence, has built one of the most data-driven and mission-centered workforce strategies in healthcare.In this episode, Greg explains:The five biggest predictors of whether someone will stay or leaveWhy 3,000 employees came back through Providence’s boomerang hiring strategyHow AI and technology can actually make work more humanWhy “your ego is not your amigo” is the leadership mantra every manager needsConnect with Providence: https://www.providence.orgConnect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-till-phr-85016b4Connect 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 po

At 84 Lumber, talent acquisition is more than filling jobs. It’s about creating long-term careers. With 96% of store leaders starting as management trainees, the company has built one of the strongest internal mobility pipelines in the industry.In this episode, you’ll hear how 84 Lumber attracts candidates with no industry experience, develops them through structured training, and promotes from within to sustain growth. Paul Yater, CIO and Head of HR, explains the strategies behind this model:Why onboarding is the “make or break” moment for retentionHow storytelling powers recruiting and employer brandingThe role of technology and AI in streamlining hiringWhy promotions, not just hires, are the ultimate measure of successConnect with 84 Lumber: https://www.84lumber.comConnect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-yater-b229633Connect 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.

Jennifer Christie has built a career at the intersection of leadership, service, and transformation. From her time running presidential personnel in the White House to senior posts at American Express and Twitter, she’s now Chief People Officer at Docusign.In this episode, Jennifer explains:Why government and corporate leadership share more in common than most thinkHow AI is transforming HR and why leaders must focus on “what you’ll do instead”The one HR role she believes is essential for any aspiring CPOWhy internal mobility will matter more than everShe also shares practical advice for interviewers: look past the résumé to understand motivations and transitions, not just bullet points.Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-christie-5254866Connect 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.

Ana Moran’s story is proof that leadership can start anywhere. After immigrating from Colombia as a child, she began her career on the frontlines as a call center agent. Today, she is Chief People Officer for the U.S. Market at Foundever, leading a workforce of more than 150,000 employees.In this episode, Ana shares how her immigrant experience and frontline beginnings shaped her leadership philosophy. She explains why bravery matters as much as credentials, how organizations can unlock talent by valuing personal journeys, and why frontline roles are essential to creating opportunity at scale.You’ll learn:Why frontline jobs create pathways for mobility and prosperityHow personal experiences can reveal leadership potential beyond credentialsHow Foundever balances efficiency with humanity in talent acquisitionWhy bravery is the foundation for leadership growthConnect with Ana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-moran-6623b823Connect 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.

At Salesforce, technology and humanity are designed to evolve together. AI isn’t seen as a threat but as a tool that frees employees to focus on empathy, creativity, and leadership.In this episode, Molly Ford, VP of Talent Connection and Engagement, shares how Salesforce integrates core values like equality and volunteerism into every business plan while adopting AI in ways that enhance, not replace, the human experience.She also explains how data and storytelling work together to build confidence, measure impact, and bring culture to life inside one of the world’s most influential companies.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Salesforce sees AI as a way to free people for more meaningful workWhy equality is a non-negotiable value woven into every business planHow volunteerism and social impact fuel company cultureWhy data + storytelling are the secret to leadership confidence and influenceConnect with Molly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-q-ford-a7598Connect 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. 

At Concentrix, a global leader in customer experience solutions, talent acquisition is closely integrated with business operations rather than functioning as a standalone department.In this episode, Jillene Jensen, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, shares how her operations background led to a new kind of talent acquisition strategy: prioritizing alignment, performance, and long-term impact.You’ll learn:Why former operations leaders make great recruitersHow Jillene’s team calibrates with business units to improve the quality of hireHow Concentrix balances AI tools with human touchWhat talent acquisition metrics really drive retentionConnect with Jillene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillene-jensen-423932111Connect 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.

At Marsden Services, a national provider of cleaning, security, and maintenance services, talent acquisition starts with clear and honest role-selling.In this episode, Vice President of Talent Acquisition Ashley Lynch shares how visiting worksites, understanding the day-to-day realities of each role, and setting clear expectations have helped her team improve both speed-to-hire and retention.You’ll learn:Ashley’s “big three” framework for identifying bottlenecks in Talent AcquisitionTwo case studies where better role clarity solved retention challengesHow Marsden pilots AI tools without losing the human touch in hiringConnect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-lynch-18294ba1/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.

At Legacy Health, talent acquisition is shaped by data, experimentation, and a deep understanding of people.In this episode, Travis Trautman, Director of Sourcing and Talent Acquisition, shares how his team uses mini-experiments to improve hiring speed, candidate fit, and decision-making across a highly regulated healthcare environment. With a career spanning banking, education, and healthcare, Travis offers a rare cross-industry perspective on what truly moves the needle in TA, whether it's reducing time-to-fill or building trust with hiring managers.You’ll learn:How psychological safety shapes talent innovation at Legacy HealthWhat to watch for when evaluating AI and new recruiting techOne timeless lesson that still shapes Travis’s approach 20 years laterConnect with Travis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travistrautmanConnect 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.

Johnson Controls is known for making buildings smarter, safer, and more sustainable. But inside the company, there’s a different kind of transformation happening—in how they attract, hire, and prepare talent for the future of work.In this episode of Talent All-Stars, Mike Aronson— Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition Operations—shares how he’s applying over 15 years of hands-on recruiting experience to reshape the function from the inside out.You’ll learn:Why it’s more important to fall in love with a problem and not a solutionThe 30-second elevator pitch that defines TA success at Johnson ControlsWhy Mike believes we’re the last generation to manage an all-human workforceConnect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikearonsonConnect 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.

Ace Hardware’s hiring strategy is grounded in one core principle: a consistent, transparent experience for every candidate—regardless of outcome.In this episode, Stef Nikitas, Director of Talent Acquisition at Ace Hardware, outlines how her team developed “The Ace Way of Hiring”—a structured, brand-aligned approach that sets clear expectations for candidates, hiring managers, and recruiters.She also shares how Ace applies technology thoughtfully across the hiring process, and how her team navigates the complexity of supporting multiple business units under a unified talent strategy.You’ll learn:How Stef’s life changed when she went from team-player to team-leaderWhy a well-delivered rejection can still strengthen your employer brandWhat skill TA leaders need most to stay relevant in a changing worldConnect with Stef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snikitasConnect 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.