Why Zapier Execs Serve as “Heads of Talent” for Their Teams | Chief People Officer Brandon Sammut

What key themes emerge when you talk to some of the best and brightest talent leaders working today? Join host Dave Travers as he highlights our guests’ most valuable insights in this special “Best Of” episode.  Featuring clips from top talent leaders at companies like eBay, FedEx, and Nike, Dave distills four key lessons to elevate your talent strategy heading into 2025.You’ll learn:How business needs should drive your talent strategyThe art of advocating for your team by understanding stakeholders deeplyWhy candidates should be treated like consumers in the hiring processExpert tips on how to get more out of interviewsPerfect for HR leaders, recruiters, and anyone passionate about building high-functioning teams, this episode is packed with actionable advice from the best in the business.Enjoying the show? Please consider sharing it with a friend or family member, or leaving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

How do you create a talent culture that scales with your business growth?Katie Czerepak, Head of Talent for Bain Capital’s Tech Opportunities Team, shares insights from her experience helping dozens of fast-growing teams source and develop talent. You’ll learn how she came to embrace a career in HR after initially resisting it, how she approaches conversations with CEOs, and why she’s such a big fan of highly adaptable generalists.Katie also shares:Effective strategies for advocating for resourcesWhat makes a world-class recruiterWhy she treats hiring managers as customersAnd much moreConnect with Katie on LinkedInConnect with us:💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiterEnjoyed this episode? Let us know by leaving a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

How do you build a meaningful career in talent acquisition? For Paula Radloff, former VP of Talent Acquisition at Nike and Starbucks, it’s all about picking your spots and making bold moves.In this episode, Paula reveals the career-defining lessons she’s learned while leading talent teams at some of the world’s most iconic brands.  Paula also shares:Creating positive candidate experiences as company “branding”How executive search differs from high-volume recruitingWhy timing and “daring to ask” are so important when making career leaps Connect with Paula on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-m-radloff/  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 conversation? Please leave us a rating or review on the podcast app you’re using to listen to this episode.

Great recruiting goes beyond numbers—it's about quality, relationships, and delivering value for both the business and candidates. But how do you build a recruitment process that achieves all three?Becky McCullough, VP of Talent Acquisition & Mobility at HubSpot, shares her approach to measuring recruiter performance, improving the candidate experience, and driving efficient, high-quality hiring practices through periods of rapid growth.Becky also talks about:What success looks like for recruitersHow to implement a candidate experience survey that worksManaging recruiter efficiency while maintaining quality Connect with Becky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckymccullough/  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 you’re a top executive at a company that moves 2% of the world’s GDP, talent is never far from your mind.Brie Carere is the Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at FedEx, and she joins Talent All-Stars for a wide-ranging conversation about talent acquisition, culture, change management, and more.You’ll learn how FedEx’s leadership navigated hiring amid COVID-19, the “Purple Promise” that drives decision-making across the business, and how the company is improving the candidate experience – even for those who don’t ultimately land the job.Brie also shares:Tips for making a business case to senior executivesWhy talent acquisition is no longer a one-way dialogueThe biggest mistake she sees hiring managers make in interviews Connect with Brie Carere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briecarere/ 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 conversation? Please leave us a rating or review on the podcast app you’re using to listen to this episode.

What’s the secret to bridging the gap between talent acquisition, HR business partners, and company leadership?According to Kelly Culler, VP of Talent Acquisition and Senior Business HR Partner at Northwestern Mutual, it’s all about walking a mile in each other’s shoes.In this episode, Kelly shares how she’s been able to successfully navigate TA and HR roles, and what she’s learned about empathy and psychology along the way.Plus:Why recruiters must build skills that go beyond speed and executionWhat makes a great HR Business PartnerHer secret to extracting a candidate’s authentic self in interviews Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyiculler/  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.

Zapier’s team is made up of more than 700 people across 42 countries. Yet the company has built a strong, distinctive culture and a nimble workforce that can adapt to shifting business needs. So how do they do it?Zapier Chief People Officer Brandon Sammut joins us to answer those questions, plus:  The “4 B’s” Zapier uses to acquire new capabilitiesHow they redeployed team members internally during a hiring slowdownHolding department execs accountable for their own talent development Connect with Brandon on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-sammut-8147b76Zapier: https://zapier.com/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/@ziprecruiterEnjoyed this episode? Please leave us a rating or review on your favorite podcast app.

So much of business success comes down to aligning the right people with a healthy company culture. But what does that actually look like in practice?In this episode, Blake Irving reveals how he was able to accomplish that combination of feats as CEO of GoDaddy. You’ll learn the strategies he used to establish trust, attract top hires, and drive business growth.Blake also talks about:What makes a great (and not so great) recruiterHis go-to, outside-the-box interview questionGetting buy-in when asking for resources from senior leadership   Connect with Blake Irving on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeirving/  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/@ziprecruiterEnjoyed this conversation? Please leave us a rating or review on the podcast app you’re using to listen to this episode.

In the race for talent, speed is key. But how do you move quickly while still maintaining a warm, welcoming candidate experience?Kris Dunn, Marriott International’s SVP of Global Talent Acquisition, knows a thing or two about striking that balance.In this episode, Kris shares his blueprint for landing top talent (within hours of receiving their applications!) in a hyper-competitive global marketplace.Kris also shares:His #1 measure of recruiting successOne secret to conducting a great interviewTips for navigating big career decisions Connect with Kris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisdunn/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? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify.

What’s the secret to building a successful talent strategy?It starts with understanding what the business needs both today and into the future.eBay’s VP of Global Talent, Danielle Clark, joins Talent All-Stars to share how she prioritizes initiatives, gets buy-in from stakeholders, and drives measurable business results.Danielle also shares:Her transition from agency recruiting to leading global talent teamsHer POV on the talent lifecycleHer #1 interviewing tip: “Don’t be a hippo!” Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-clark-sf  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/@ziprecruiterWant to be a guest on Talent All-Stars, or have an idea for the show? Send us an email at [email protected].