We kick off our new season of Art of Search with a new focus on Hiring in the Age of AI. This season explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we hire, build teams, and grow talent. Starting with Nisha Paliwal, who is an entrepreneur, former CTO and seasoned technology leader for top financial institutions for the past 20 years, we dive into how AI is powering smarter hiring, helping shape a mentorship program, and enabling a global approach to talent discovery. A natural c...
All content for Art of Search - Hiring Manager Series is the property of Somer Hackley and Zen Mak and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
We kick off our new season of Art of Search with a new focus on Hiring in the Age of AI. This season explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we hire, build teams, and grow talent. Starting with Nisha Paliwal, who is an entrepreneur, former CTO and seasoned technology leader for top financial institutions for the past 20 years, we dive into how AI is powering smarter hiring, helping shape a mentorship program, and enabling a global approach to talent discovery. A natural c...
We kick off our new season of Art of Search with a new focus on Hiring in the Age of AI. This season explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we hire, build teams, and grow talent. Starting with Nisha Paliwal, who is an entrepreneur, former CTO and seasoned technology leader for top financial institutions for the past 20 years, we dive into how AI is powering smarter hiring, helping shape a mentorship program, and enabling a global approach to talent discovery. A natural c...
Titles are different from company to company so when you're handed a job that doesn't exist anywhere else, where do you start? In this episode, Somer asks Zen how she approaches these unique hiring challenges. Zen shares how it all begins with asking the right questions, clarifying the business need, and uncovering what the role really is. Tune in to learn how to approach roles that are unique to a company’s journey.
In this episode of Art of Search – Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen share how to create a more effective interview experience. They break down what it takes to strike the right balance between vetting candidates and selling the role while clearly communicating its vision. Tune in to learn the key tactics great hiring managers use to drive better outcomes.
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen unpack the role of metrics in executive search, highlighting both the pros and cons. They explain how each stage, from outreach to offer, tells a story, but it's thoughtful interview feedback that often unlocks the most successful and productive searches. Check out the full episode to learn more!
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen dive into the art of delivering the full picture to candidates including the not-so-glamorous details. They break down why honesty from the start builds long-term trust and prevents painful surprises later. Learn how to lead with the positives, follow up with the real talk, and why phone conversations beat email when it comes to reading a candidate's gut reaction. If you’ve ever hesitated to share the full story with...
Chris Cox, Chief Technology & Digital Officer at Keller Williams Realty, joins the show to talk about uncovering hidden talent during times of transformation, building cultures where people can step out of their lanes and shine, and why confident humility is key to servant leadership. He also shares hard-earned lessons on hiring including why resumes only tell half the story and why real insight takes time, trust, and curiosity. Chris offers sharp, actionable insights on spotting po...
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen discuss one of the most pivotal moments in the hiring process: the offer stage. What happens when your top candidate is also fielding multiple offers? How can you confidently know they’ll choose yours? This conversation explores the art of building deep trust with candidates so they feel safe sharing the full picture. Somer and Zen break it down into three core principles: learn, discover, and listen. They highlight ...
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, we’re joined by Akanksha Manik Talya, Chief Product Officer and transformation leader. She shares her approach to hiring during times of change, focusing on potential, adaptability, and alignment. From startups to large enterprises, Akanksha offers real-world strategies on building balanced teams and taking smart bets on people, just as others once did for her. If you’re rethinking how to build teams that thrive through change, this is ...
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, we’re joined by Vince Tseng, CEO of Partnerslate, to explore the complexities of hiring for startups. Vince shares valuable insights on the unique challenges of recruiting for business operators and generalists in startup environments—where uncertainty is the norm. Vince emphasizes the importance of resilience and grit, highlighting how the ability to adapt, envision change, and thrive under pressure are essential qualities for success ...
This week on Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen explore what happens when a company decides to make an offer to a candidate. Will the candidate be prepared for it? They discuss the importance of allowing candidates time to evaluate the role and company before reaching the offer stage, providing transparency throughout the interview process. By giving candidates the time and space to process their feelings and address any concerns, recruiters help ensure the decision isn’t rus...
This week on Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, we have the privilege of speaking with Andrea Constantinides, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Shift Technology. With over 25 years in the talent space, Andrea shares her expert insights on identifying and hiring top-tier talent. She takes us through her hiring process, emphasizing what she looks for beyond just a resume—traits like adaptability, growth mindset, and the ability to connect with others. Andrea digs deep into candidates' pas...
In this week's episode of the Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, we explore what makes a great interview question. It’s not just about asking yes/no questions or checking boxes—it’s about curiosity. Great questions invite candidates to share stories and examples, revealing their true capabilities. We discuss how to dig deep, listen actively, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions to truly understand a candidate's journey and qualifications. Plus, we highlight the importance of s...
In this episode, we’re joined by Sofia Kaufman, Chief People Officer at Point Wild, as she unpacks the challenges of hiring at speed and scale without losing sight of company culture. Growth is inevitable, but it’s the transformation that follows—especially in culture—that makes or breaks success. Sofia digs into the delicate balance between hiring for "culture fit" versus "culture add," and how hiring managers can assess whether a candidate truly aligns with both your company’s values and yo...
When you talk to a great candidate who isn't a fit for a role today, but you feel they would be a great addition to your organization, what do you do? Do you create a role for them? How do you stay in touch with them for months or even years? In this episode, Erica Piper, Sr. Director, Executive Talent Acquisition at Capital One, answers these and other questions. She shares her approach to identifying and engaging top talent, as well as the methods she and her team use to build long-ter...
If you were tasked with building a technology team from scratch in a completely unfamiliar geography, how would you ensure you’re hiring the right people? In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, we talk with Sravana Karnati, EVP of Global Technology Platforms, about his approach to hiring and leading in diverse geographies. Sravana shares his methodology of scaling teams rapidly while maintaining high standards, and how to build teams from scratch in an unfamiliar market. Tun...
How do you create a world class hiring experience scaling companies from 1,200 to 12,000 or 8,000 to 50,000? I’m honored to have Cindy Nicola with us today on the podcast, who has done just that. She was kind enough to share her wisdom with us and there are so many great takeaways here that all hiring leaders can learn from. In this episode of Art of Search, Zen and Somer are joined by Cindy Nicola, VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Databricks, who has an exceptional track record scali...
In this episode of "Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series," Zen Mak and I chat with Robert Sears, the Chief Product Officer at Accion Opportunity Fund. Robert is a seasoned C-Level executive, innovator, and serial entrepreneur having been a CEO, COO, and founder of pioneering companies, including one of the first consumer neobanks and a SaaS platform for lending and payments. We talk about the lessons he’s learned from building teams at both startups and big companies, the key things he ...
In this episode, Somer Hackley and Zen Mak dive deep into the delicate dance of determining whether a candidate will say 'yes' to your offer. They explore the subtle signs that reveal a candidate's true level of interest and how to decipher them, emphasizing the importance of asking the tough questions—those we often shy away from—and honing the skill of active listening.
In this episode of the Art of Search Podcast, Zhen Lu, CEO of RunPod, shares his journey from personally interviewing every hire in the early days, to scaling the hiring process as the company grows. Zhen discusses creating the right processes and the trust involved in partnering with leaders to hire their own teams and ensuring culture fit. He emphasizes the importance of not just hiring great people but also providing them with the right direction, support, and onboarding to ensure their su...
In this episode of "Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series," we sit down with Abbey Perkins, CIO at StoneX, who brings over twenty years of senior technology and financial experience. She discusses StoneX's growth and crucial hiring strategies. Abbey emphasizes the importance of a global hiring approach and cohesive teamwork in high-pressure finance environments. She underscores the value of clear communication, meticulous planning, and thoughtful workforce management strategies. She highlight...
We kick off our new season of Art of Search with a new focus on Hiring in the Age of AI. This season explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we hire, build teams, and grow talent. Starting with Nisha Paliwal, who is an entrepreneur, former CTO and seasoned technology leader for top financial institutions for the past 20 years, we dive into how AI is powering smarter hiring, helping shape a mentorship program, and enabling a global approach to talent discovery. A natural c...
