Hiring On All Cylinders

In this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, host Matt Staney sits down with Samantha Perlman, Head of People at OneSignal, for a powerful conversation on how Talent Acquisition can — and must — operate as a strategic business driver. From her early days scaling teams at Airbnb and Fastly to now leading both TA and People strategy at OneSignal, Samantha shares what it takes to build a strong talent foundation that unlocks long-term growth. Together, they explore: * How the definition of “strategic TA” has evolved from 2023 to 2025 * Why investing in foundational systems is essential for scale * How AI is reshaping TA tech — and what smart adoption really looks like * The leadership mindsets and capabilities TA leaders need today * What’s next for the future of Talent Acquisition Whether you’re a talent leader, people ops pro, or simply curious about the evolving role of TA in business success, this episode delivers actionable insight and bold ideas from someone who’s helping redefine the field. 🔊 Powered by the HIGHER community — real conversations, fresh perspectives, and practical strategies for building exceptional teams.

Recorded live in San Francisco at the HIGHER Altitude Summit, this special episode of Hiring on Cylinders brings the summit’s biggest themes to life — from tech-enabled TA and global delivery to AI fluency and what it really takes to be a next-gen TA leader. Hosts Kathryne Friend (VP Community, EMEA @ HIGHER) and Matt Staney (VP Community, USA @ HIGHER) are joined by four world-class TA leaders: * James Footman, Recruiting Leader at Wiz * Karen Arnold, Global VP of Talent at Automattic * Tracy St.Dic, Global Head of Talent at Zapier * Anastasia Pshegodskaya, Director of TA at Remote Together, they reflect on how talent leaders are adapting to scale, speed, and complexity—sharing practical insights on distributed hiring, tech implementation, and evolving the role of TA as a true business driver. Missed the summit or want a front-row recap? This episode offers a glimpse into the day’s most impactful conversations and themes.

Inclusive hiring isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the future of building high-performing teams. On this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Kobi Ampoma, Head of Talent Acquisition at Heineken Netherlands joins Kathryne Friend and shares how he’s rethinking talent strategies across industries — from fashion and tech to FMCG. With two decades of experience at companies like Nike, ASICS, PVH, and Getir, plus his work as a LinkedIn Top Voice and board advisor at OMEK, Kobi brings a fresh, future-focused lens to what inclusive hiring can really look like. From challenging outdated practices to designing practical, scalable solutions, Kobi offers a clear blueprint for talent leaders looking to future-proof their hiring approach.

Duolingo is famous for its TikTok presence — but can it become just as iconic as an employer brand?  On this episode of Hiring on All Cylinders, Jocelyn S. Lai, Global Head of Talent Brand at Duolingo, shares how she’s building the Talent Brand function from the ground up with bold ambition. From reporting into Marketing and leading with a lean team, to attracting top-tier tech talent in Pittsburgh and reimagining what “LinkedIn fame” really means, Jocelyn delivers both practical advice and fresh perspective for anyone looking to build a standout talent brand.

Get an exclusive sneak peek into how Duolingo built its iconic employer brand with insights from Jocelyn S. Lai, Global Head of Talent. In this trailer, discover the bold strategies, creative risks, and data-driven decisions behind one of the most recognized talent brands in the world. Full episode drops tomorrow 👀 3rd June 2025