Employer Branding Unplugged

The brightest minds on the map: Why TA and Marketing need a shared compass

On the surface, Geospatial technology sounds like a niche world of maps and coordinates. But when you’re representing a global tech powerhouse, how do you find the human heart behind the high-tech software?   On this episode of Employer Branding Unplugged, Mark Puncher is joined by Christina Brown (CMO) and Tibo Torche (TA Lead) from Boustead Geospatial. This is a look at how marketing and TA can join forces to ensure an employer brand is truly lived beyond the page.   This episode explores the powerful intersection of brand, culture and talent acquisition when marketing and HR work in tandem with each other. Christina and Tibo share how they uncovered and crafted their global EVP and company values across diverse international markets.    Together they prove the importance of truth-telling, authenticity and empowering your people to tell their story. The conversation also shows how a hand-in-glove partnership between departments can transform your employer brand strategy.    This episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to align global teams or wondering how to make a technical brand feel deeply, authentically human.   Boustead Geospatial (Esri Australia): esriaustralia.com.au/about/careers [https://esriaustralia.com.au/about/careers] Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com [https://www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/]

Gloss vs Grit: Why authenticity beats the ‘cool factor’

Fashion. Sports. Hospitality.    On the surface, these industries sell themselves. But what happens when the ‘cool factor’ isn't enough to keep talent going through the day-to-day grind?   Mark Puncher is joined by dynamic duo (and former colleagues) Gareth Brown (Schnitz) and Gina Selak (SEN) for a conversation that cuts straight through the hype.   Gareth doesn’t mince words about the reality of working in hospitality, admitting that no matter how exciting your brand is, employees have to be okay with “going home smelling like chips” after the lunch rush.   Meanwhile, Gina takes aim at the way we define roles in the modern workplace. She reveals why she scrapped the humble Position Description in favour of ‘Contribution Profiles,’ a shift designed to stop employees from just filling a seat and start empowering them to own their impact.   Ultimately, Gareth and Gina show us that in an age of AI and hybrid work, the most powerful retention tool isn't a perk - it's the simple, messy and rewarding act of working shoulder-to-shoulder. This episode is a reminder that while your brand might get talent in the door, it's the people they work with - not just for - that make them stay.   Schnitz: schnitz.com.au/careers [https://schnitz.com.au/careers/?srsltid=AfmBOoqYfSAEQrhB7eqwAcNPG8YW9qYTliqiiqY4cBp9Ciy33205IOIK] Sports Entertainment Network: sportsentertainmentnetwork.com.au [https://www.sportsentertainmentnetwork.com.au/] Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com [https://www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/]

Where Purpose Meets Possible: Shifting the narrative at Bupa

Bupa is a household name, but the reality inside this global health giant is shifting.  As the organisation evolves into a customer-centric healthcare provider, bringing a workforce 84,000 strong on the journey, their employer brand has never been more critical. In this episode of Employer Branding Unplugged, Mark Puncher sits down with Meagan Michaels, Head of Employer Brand and Experience at Bupa.  Meagan reveals how Bupa’s unique structure - having no shareholders - creates a culture where purpose acts as a ‘north star’ for high performance, and how this intersection of heart and ambition inspired their new EVP lead line: “Where Purpose Meets Possible.” The episode also covers the “messy,” non-linear journey of developing Bupa’s EVP, why “launching” an EVP is often a mistake and why the rise of AI might just herald a new golden age for imperfect, authentic human storytelling.   Bupa: careers.bupa.com.au/ [https://careers.bupa.com.au/] Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com/ [https://www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/]

Kill, Keep, Evolve: Unfiltered truths with Quila Cervelli & Ivan Harrison

This episode of Employer Branding Unplugged feels less like a podcast recording and more like a pub chat!  Mark Puncher is joined by industry veterans and long-time friends Quila Cervelli (V/Line) and Ivan ‘Harry’ Harrison (Toll) to dismantle the clichés holding employer branding back. The trio plays a ruthless game of “Kill, Keep, Evolve,” where Harry doesn’t hesitate to kill the workplace culture trope that “we’re all one big family.”  He also delivers a searing hot take on greed as a driver in our economy, predicting a not-so-distant future where we might actually pay a premium for genuine human experience. Meanwhile, Quila flips the script in “Three Words Only” claiming the future of humans at work will be “bot’s best friend.” She also hits back at the idea that we all have the attention spans of goldfish, saying she’d happily watch a documentary-length employer branding film if it had a good story. In a world where employer branding often feels safer than it is honest, this episode brings the kind of candour you usually only hear after hours.   Employer Branding Australia: employerbrandingaustralia.com/ [https://www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/]

Hiring for heart: the reality of recruiting in Human Services

There’s arguably no sector that brings as many challenges, and as many rewards, as human services. It’s a tough gig, let’s be honest. There’s no hiding that. But, as this week’s guests can attest, sharing the reality - warts and all - is critical to attracting the right people and deterring the wrong ones. In this week's episode of Employer Branding Unplugged, Mark Puncher sits down with two heavyweights in human services HR - Katarina Elezovic (Head of Talent, Mercy Health) and Matthew Quinn (Talent Acquisition Manager, Anglicare Victoria). Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges of recruiting in human services - the delicate balance between ‘noble purpose’ and ‘hard slog’ and dismantle the myth that moving into the non-profit sector is a ‘career step backwards’. Kat and Matt share their organisation’s incredible EVP messaging, proving that a strong EVP is what connects thousands of employees to a shared mission.   Mercy Health: mercyhealth.com.au/our-organisation/careers/ [https://www.mercyhealth.com.au/our-organisation/careers/] Anglicare Victoria: www.anglicarevic.org.au/careers/ [https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/careers/] Employer Branding Australia: www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/ [https://www.employerbrandingaustralia.com/]