Welcome to the Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, a podcast where we dive into the stories, strategies, and insights behind the hiring process. 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. Join us as we uncover the challenges, successes, and lessons learned by hiring managers and talent professionals across industries, offering valuable tips and fresh perspectives on all things recruitment.
Season 3 - New Topic! - Hiring in the Age of AI
We’re kicking off season 3 focused on Hiring in the Age of AI, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we hire, build teams, and grow talent. In our first episode, tech leader Nisha Paliwal shares how AI is shaping mentorship, global talent discovery, and the skills needed to thrive: the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Tune in and rethink everything you know about hiring on your favorite podcast platform.
Coming soon!
Episode 2
Season 2 - Art of Search, Hiring Manager Series
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
In the season 2 premiere, Erica Piper, Sr. Director of Executive Talent Acquisition at Capital One, shares her approach to engaging top talent and building long-term relationships with potential hires. She discusses key leadership traits, the questions she asks to assess talent, and the connection between talent acquisition and HR onboarding to create strong support for new hires.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
​In this episode, Sofia Kaufman, Chief People Officer at Point Wild, shares her insights on hiring at speed without losing company culture. She discusses the balance between hiring for "culture fit" versus "culture add," and how to assess candidates' ability to contribute to growth.
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.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
This week we hear from Andrea Constantinides, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Shift Technology, where she shares her 25+ years of expertise in identifying top talent. She discusses her hiring process, and how she seeks out candidates with diverse, well-rounded backgrounds that demonstrate resilience and grit, perfect for success in today’s ever-changing work environment.
This week on Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen dive into what really happens when it’s offer time. Want to know how recruiters create a smooth, successful offer experience? Tune in for key strategies that lead to wins on both sides.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Vince Tseng, CEO of Partnerslate, discusses the challenges of hiring for startups. He shares insights on recruiting adaptable, resilient generalists who thrive amid uncertainty and change.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail%20(1).png)
In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Chief Product Officer Akanksha Manik Talya shares her approach to hiring during times of change. She emphasizes potential, adaptability, and team alignment, offering practical strategies from startups to enterprises. A must-listen for anyone building resilient teams.
​In this episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series, Somer and Zen dive into the critical offer stage. They share how building trust through learning, discovery, and listening helps secure top candidates—even amid competing offers. A must-listen for recruiters focused on placing people in the right roles.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
In this episode, Chris Cox, CTO at Keller Williams, explores how to spot hidden talent, foster cross-functional growth, and lead with humility. He shares lessons on why resumes only tell part of the story—and how trust, time, and curiosity reveal the rest. Insightful advice for anyone building resilient teams.
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.
If you’ve ever hesitated to share the full story with a candidate, this episode will change how you approach those critical conversations. Tune in to learn how transparency isn’t just the right thing—it’s your competitive edge.
​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 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.
Titles are different from company to company so when you're handed a job that doesn't exist anywhere else, where do you start? Tune in to learn how to approach roles that are unique to a company’s journey.
Season 1 - Art of Search, Hiring Manager Series
Welcome to the first episode of Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series. Nearly every hiring manager wants to hire fast, but what exactly does that mean?
Zen Mak and Somer Hackley talk about specific things great hiring managers do both before and during a search to ensure its success. They also talk about what recruiters expect from hiring managers.
Zen talks about her career-defining moment. She reflects on a particular search at the offer stage with a candidate, and why it went wrong.
Somer talks about her career-defining moment. Somer reflects on a particularly difficult search where the one and only candidate in process was showing their true colors at the final hour, and what she did about it.
Somer and Zen discuss how great hiring managers conduct first-round interviews, balancing the dual role of screening candidates while selling the opportunity. They explore what candidates want to hear and how hiring managers can effectively engage them from the start.
Somer and Zen go deep on this topic and what a great hiring process looks like. Throughout the interview process, candidates are meeting various stakeholders. What’s that process like? Are they aligned on the position? What gets asked and assessed?
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
As a recruiter, I have the opportunity to speak with some of the best hiring leaders out there, and I wanted to bring you into the conversation so you can also benefit from their stories and wisdom.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
George Brady shares his blueprint for creating an excellent candidate experience and his approach to recruiting for unique positions. Don't miss the valuable insights and stories he offers for setting the stage before the first interview.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
Dan McGuire shares his journey as a "recovering bad hirer," emphasizing the importance of viewing hiring as a holistic process. He reflects on past mistakes and the courage needed to protect the process, even under pressure. Dan also highlights how serendipity can play a key role in making great hiring decisions.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.png)
Sudeep Gautam, EVP at Upbound, shares his insights on hiring, emphasizing how each hire can transform a role and shape a company’s future. He discusses navigating conflicting opinions in interview panels and the importance of diversity in perspectives to make more informed, holistic hiring decisions.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
Kevin Ertell, Founder & CEO of Mistere Advisory, discusses the importance of understanding team dynamics in hiring. He introduces the "3 C's" – Character, Critical Thinking, and Chemistry – as key criteria to complement and elevate team performance, offering valuable insights for building stronger teams through strategic hiring.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
In this episode of "Art of Search: Hiring Manager Series," we're joined by Mike Gionfriddo, Co-founder and CTO of Tallied. Mike brings a unique blend of experience from both startups and established companies, and he shares his personal approach to hiring with us.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
Andrew Ramm, former General Manager of Amazon Guided Shopping, shares insights on values-based hiring and assembling gender-diverse teams. He discusses how values-alignment fosters growth and helps build high-performing teams, offering valuable guidance for hiring managers.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
In this episode of we're joined by Gill Haus, Chief Information Officer at Chase, who shares his thoughtful approach to hiring. Gill offers a candid look at why hiring should be treated as a full-time commitment. For Gill, hiring is all about building relationships, and he’s willing to invest the time.
In this episode, Somer Hackley and Zen Mak debunk the myth of the "perfect candidate" and explore why hiring success is so subjective. We discuss the key factors that make a candidate suitable for a specific role, from company culture to team dynamics, and why there's no such thing as a universally good candidate.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
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.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
In this episode 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.
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.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
Robert Sears, CPO at Accion Opportunity Fund, shares lessons learned from building teams at startups and large companies. He discusses what he looks for in candidates, how his hiring style has evolved, and offers tips for filling roles urgently, focusing on finding individuals with fresh perspectives and problem-solving skills.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
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 scaling teams at leading technology companies like Rivian, Tesla, and Apple. This is truly a masterclass in building effective, people-centered recruiting functions for companies poised for rapid growth.
%20Art%20of%20Search%20Thumbnail.jpg)
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 we talk with Sravana Karnati, EVP of Global Technology Platforms, about his approach to hiring and leading in diverse geographies.