https://staciebaird.com/the-hx-podcastIn this episode, I'm kicking off a new series that’s very near and dear to my heart: talent. I was struck by a McKinsey study called "The War for Talent," published back in 1998, which happened to be the first year I was in recruiting. Reading it again, I was shocked to realize that the core challenges it identified; a shortage of leadership talent, a lack of manager accountability for developing people, and the need for a compelling employee value proposition - are issues we are still grappling with today, perhaps more acutely than ever. It really made me ask, why are we still hiring like it's 1998?

This realization is why I'm launching this series. We're going to dig into what it truly means to attract, develop, and retain people in 2025 and beyond. We’ll question everything, from legacy practices like requiring a bachelor's degree for every job posting to how we can elevate the human experience for candidates in an era dominated by applicant tracking systems. We’ll explore how to build a real talent pipeline, how to measure potential, and how to create a workplace where great people actually want to join and stay.

I want to be clear that I don't have all the answers; I’m here to learn right alongside you. This is a conversation I want us to have together. I'm excited to talk about what has evolved over the last 25 years, what has stubbornly stayed the same, and what we need to do now to finally move forward. If you're passionate about this topic, I want to hear from you as we explore how to finally win this long-running war for talent.

Stacie

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