EP 200: What Most TA Leaders Get Wrong About Influence

EP 200: What Most TA Leaders Get Wrong About Influence

Author: James Mackey March 24, 2026 Duration: 1:05:04
Gabrielle Mellon grew up in a big, competitive family that shaped her instinct to act, adapt, and figure things out fast. She carried that mindset into bold career moves and high-stakes roles, eventually leading Talent Acquisition and HR Operations at Axon through a period of rapid growth. In this conversation, she tackles what most leaders avoid: why being liked can hold you back, how to be direct without losing trust, and what it really means to develop people. Connect with host James Macke...

Hosted by James Mackey, The Breakthrough Hiring Show: Recruiting and Talent Acquisition Conversations digs into the real work of building great teams. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a series of direct conversations focused on turning hiring from a constant challenge into a genuine edge for your business. You'll hear from leaders and practitioners who are in the trenches, discussing everything from the strategic shift needed to become a talent-first organization down to the granular details of process, technology, and metrics. Episodes move between high-level thought leadership and actionable advice you can use immediately, whether you're in a fast-moving SaaS startup, a growth-stage company, or an established firm. The dialogue here covers the full spectrum: effective onboarding and retention strategies, practical diversity and inclusion initiatives, navigating job boards and social media, and understanding the recruitment metrics that actually matter. Tune into this podcast for honest talk about empowering top talent and constructing a hiring engine that drives business forward. It's for anyone in recruiting, HR, or leadership who wants to move beyond just filling roles and start building a lasting competitive advantage through people.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Breakthrough Hiring Show: Recruiting and Talent Acquisition Conversations
Podcast Episodes
EP 198: Why Context Matters More Than Hiring Templates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:09
Esra Huseyinzadegan grew up in Istanbul, a city that quickly teaches you to adapt, question assumptions, and see the world from multiple perspectives. Those instincts carried her from academic success in Turkey to leadin…
EP 196: From Equestrian Arenas to Scaling Teams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:45
Emily Zahuta, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition at Horizon3.ai, highlights how a chaotic yet loving Bay Area upbringing and elite equestrian training shaped a builder’s mindset grounded in discipline and self-possessio…
EP 195: How to Succeed as the First Recruiter at a Startup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:58
Shannan Farmer, Lead Talent Partner at Freshpaint, details a sharp first thirty days blueprint, from fast ATS upgrades to structured debriefs and centralized feedback, proving that disciplined process can increase qualit…
EP 194: Leading with Respect and Direct Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
Ashlye Hernandez, Executive Director of Global Talent Acquisition and Operations at nCino, examines how her path from rural North Carolina to executive leadership shaped a people-first approach grounded in respect, resil…
EP 192: Aligning Who You Are with How You Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:02
Jaasiel Bulnes, VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Workiva, reveals how growing up amid Miami’s constant motion and being raised in an immigrant household shaped Jasi’s resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment to earn…
EP 191: Hiring Lessons from Mission Work and Global Service [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:29
Jeramy Keetch, Director of Talent Acquisition at Nerdy, traces how his Midwestern upbringing and global service experiences shaped his leadership philosophy, one rooted in empathy and adaptability. He reflects on faith,…
EP 190: A Philosophical Approach to Hiring and Team Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:14
Nicole Hirsch, Sr. Director of TA & People Operations at Lattice, explores how a foundation in philosophy and early leadership as an RA shaped her people-first approach. Nicole and James talk about parallels between Plat…
EP 189: Empathy, Grit, and Leading Teams Through Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
Lauren Groshong, GTM Recruiting Leader at Vanta, shares how growing up with grit and humor was foundational to her leadership style. Lauren talks about her time leading business recruiting at Grammarly, and how the leade…