Transforming People and Talent Functions into Strategic Drivers
Release Date: 01/09/2025
Transforming People and Talent Functions into Strategic Drivers
The Talent Tango
In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand interviews Jim Conti, Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, about redefining the value of people and talent functions. Jim shares strategies for evolving the role from being process-driven to a core strategic contributor, while highlighting the importance of aligning with business goals, automating admin tasks, and building impactful employee experiences. This episode is packed with practical advice for HR professionals, talent leaders, and anyone looking to amplify the value of their talent organization. Key Takeaways: Identify Your Org’s...
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Navigating Hiring and Leadership Challenges
The Talent Tango
In this insightful episode, host Amir speaks with Tanaz Mody, Head of People Operations and Talent at Lerer Hippeau, to explore the unique challenges founders face in hiring and leadership. The conversation highlights the complexities of transitioning from founder to CEO, building trust, and making strategic hiring decisions in early-stage startups. Tanaz provides practical advice on delegation, setting expectations, and the evolving role of People Operations in supporting business growth. Episode Highlights Founders and Hiring Challenges The emotional attachment founders have to...
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Empowering Women in the Workplace: Navigating Health, Advocacy, and Balance
The Talent Tango
In this powerful episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Dena Singleton, Chief HR Officer at Kajabi, about the challenges women face throughout their careers. They explore key issues like balancing personal and professional life, navigating health-related workplace returns, and addressing menopause—a topic often overlooked in organizational conversations. Dena shares personal stories and actionable advice on creating inclusive environments, advocating for oneself, and fostering open communication. This episode offers valuable insights for HR leaders, managers, and anyone looking to create more...
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Attracting Top Talent with Authentic Storytelling
The Talent Tango
In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand chats with Loren Boyce, VP of Talent Acquisition at M13, about the transformative power of storytelling in recruitment. They discuss how compelling narratives can elevate job descriptions, align hiring teams, and attract top-tier candidates by highlighting a role’s true impact. Loren shares actionable strategies for founders and hiring managers to refine their recruiting approaches by focusing on the “why” behind each role. They explore balancing sales-driven versus authentic hiring methods and how transparent conversations can address job...
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Building Inclusive Talent Strategies
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Hilliary Turnipseed, Senior Director of Talent at Kapor Capital, to explore the essential practices behind consciously inclusive hiring. They dive into how organizations can diversify their talent pools, avoid hiring biases, and create equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups. Hilliary shares how Kapor Capital’s investment philosophy centers on closing access gaps for low-income communities and communities of color. She also discusses how talent leaders can adopt inclusive strategies, de-risk hiring decisions, and expand their reach...
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Super Agility in Talent Management
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Amir sits down with Kelsey Lang, Global Head of Talent at Techstars, to explore how organizations can achieve 'super agility' in talent management. Kelsey shares how startup-style adaptability can be combined with strong foundational processes to manage teams effectively in fast-moving environments. They discuss blending cultural nuances, balancing flexibility with structure, and leveraging agile project management frameworks like Scrum and Kanban to improve team efficiency. Kelsey also highlights how aligning stakeholders can unlock greater organizational success. Key...
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The Power of Little Things in Talent Management
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Laura Hilton, Head of Executive Talent at Bain Capital Ventures, to explore how small but impactful actions in talent management can drive long-term success. They discuss the importance of relationship-building, effective follow-ups, and creating a standout candidate experience. Laura shares how successful companies differentiate themselves by mastering the 'little things' — from personalized outreach to seamless communication. She also offers actionable strategies for leveraging technology and maintaining personal discipline in follow-ups. Key...
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Mastering Recruiting Frameworks
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Amir is joined by Cassie Chao Leemans, Vice President of Talent at Craft Ventures, for an insightful discussion on creating scalable and effective recruiting strategies. Cassie shares her expertise on building strong recruiting frameworks, defining competencies, and ensuring fair and consistent hiring processes. The conversation dives into crucial concepts like "interview debt," balancing high hiring standards with bias reduction, and the essential role founders play in early-stage hiring success. Whether you're scaling a team or refining your recruitment approach, this...
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AI's Impact on Talent Management
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Erin Peterson, Head of Talent at Great Hill Partners, joins Amir Bormand to explore the evolving role of AI in talent management. They discuss how generative AI can streamline recruiting processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve candidate experience while maintaining a human touch. Erin shares insights on balancing automation with personal engagement and how technology can enhance decision-making in hiring. The conversation also touches on change management, bias reduction, and preparing teams for AI-driven processes. Key Takeaways: Automation in Recruiting:...
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Why Org Charts Matter for Scaling Companies
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Chris Fahey, SVP of Talent and HR at Volition Capital, discusses the often-overlooked value of org charts for growing companies. He discusses how they can pinpoint hiring gaps and the importance of focusing on roles, not just people. Chris also highlights the importance of aligning your company's strategy with its structure and regularly revisiting this alignment for smoother scaling. Great tips for founders and businesses aiming for efficient growth! Highlights: 01:47 The Importance of Org Charts in Business 02:59 Challenges and Benefits of Creating Org Charts 04:56 Aligning...
info_outlineIn this insightful episode, Amir Bormand interviews Jim Conti, Talent Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, about redefining the value of people and talent functions. Jim shares strategies for evolving the role from being process-driven to a core strategic contributor, while highlighting the importance of aligning with business goals, automating admin tasks, and building impactful employee experiences. This episode is packed with practical advice for HR professionals, talent leaders, and anyone looking to amplify the value of their talent organization.
Key Takeaways:
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Identify Your Org’s People Function Priorities: The reporting structure and allocated budget reveal how much a company values its talent function.
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Evolve from Admin to Strategic: Focus on aligning talent initiatives with broader business goals and automate routine tasks to free up time for strategy.
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Build a Business Case for Talent Investments: Use data and ROI-driven arguments to gain leadership buy-in for new tools and initiatives.
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Set Boundaries Without People-Pleasing: Clarity and transparency in career development discussions create trust and empower employees without over-promising.
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Measure Talent Impact: Post-hiring surveys and bar-raiser metrics help show the business value of talent initiatives.
Timestamped Highlights:
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[00:00:30] Introduction to the role of people and talent functions in organizations.
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[00:03:00] Key indicators of whether an organization views HR as strategic or process-driven.
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[00:05:14] Shifting the people function from admin-heavy to strategically aligned.
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[00:07:54] Building a business case for HR investments and gaining buy-in from leadership.
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[00:11:54] The importance of transparency and clarity in employee development conversations.
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[00:18:00] How talent leaders can demonstrate business value by engaging with stakeholders.
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[00:23:00] Questions to ask during the interview process to assess a company’s strategic outlook on talent.
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[00:24:55] Matching organizational challenges to your personal career goals.
If you’re looking for actionable insights to elevate your talent organization, this episode is a must-listen.
Share it with your network to inspire more strategic thinking in the HR and talent space. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated with the latest discussions in talent leadership!
Jim Conti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/contijc/