Talent acquisition has come a long way—it’s no longer just about hiring; it’s about building the future. How do you adapt to a workforce that’s constantly evolving? How do you balance cutting-edge tech with the human touch?
Today’s TA leaders are crafting strategies that don’t just fill roles but create thriving teams and cultures. The question is: are we ready for what’s next? Because the future of talent acquisition is about leading the way.
But what does it truly take to excel in this role? The answer lies in the people who lead the charge. Listen to such great minds In this exclusive episode, ‘Talent Superheroes: Champions of Excellence in Talent Acquisition’.
Through the lens of their journeys, this blog explores the human side of talent acquisition, highlighting the experiences, challenges, and insights of five exceptional leaders who are redefining the art of hiring.
The Superheroes and their transformation stories
Anjali Byce – Group Chief HR Officer, STL
Anjali Byce, STL’s Group Chief HR Officer, is leading the charge in redefining talent acquisition for the future. STL, a global leader in optical and digital solutions, recognized the need for a strategic overhaul to meet the demands of a rapidly changing industry.
Anjali’s vision emphasizes building relationships, not just filling roles—transforming recruitment into an ongoing process of creating a talent marketplace. She believes, “In the future, I don’t think recruitment is going to be about hiring just for a position—it’s going to be building relationships. It’s no longer going to be hiring as an event but an ongoing process of building a talent marketplace.”
The organization boasts an exceptional 4.8/5 candidate experience rating, a reflection of their unwavering commitment to providing a seamless and engaging hiring journey.
Mohan – Head of Talent Acquisition, Financial Software and Systems (FSS)
FSS has redefined talent acquisition with a focus on overcoming niche hiring challenges and delivering exceptional candidate experiences. At the heart of this transformation is Mohan, a visionary leader in talent acquisition.
Mohan champions a two-fold approach, emphasizing background verifications as key to fostering organizational trust and culture:
“Background verifications build trust within the organization and with clients. Combined with a focus on candidate experience, they become pivotal ingredients for success.”
He credits the ATS for revolutionizing their recruitment strategy. “Today, RippleHire ATS reduces our burden, enabling us to target the right talent for the right job with greater ease and efficiency.”
Under Mohan’s leadership, the TA superheroes at FSS are shaping the future of fintech by building a robust and skilled workforce ready to lead digital innovation. And his organization went on to win the Brandon hall award for excellence in talent acquisition. Here’s what award-winning recruitment looks like:
- Candidate experience rating soared to 4.8/5
- 40% reduction in recruitment efforts
Himanshu – Head of HR, Axis AMC
Himanshu exemplifies strategic foresight in talent acquisition. Recognizing the dynamic challenges of hiring in a rapidly growing industry, Axis AMC embarked on a transformation journey to create a seamless, engaging, and data-driven recruitment experience.
The company’s HR leadership established a Centre of Excellence to analyze their hiring landscape, identifying key gaps such as inconsistent candidate experiences, limited sourcing channels, and lack of data visibility. With a focus on enhancing employer branding and leveraging technology, Axis AMC partnered with RippleHire to build an automated and efficient recruitment process. This shift not only optimized operations but also fostered strong stakeholder engagement across teams.
Himanshu shares “Change management supersedes technology implementation. By closely monitoring metrics and ensuring stakeholder alignment, we achieved smooth transitions and meaningful impact within six months.”
Earning the Brandon Silver Award for the category of Best Unique Innovative Talent Acquisition Programme, Axis AMC’s story underscores the power of combining leadership vision with strategic execution, setting benchmarks in talent acquisition excellence.
Saroj Mohanty – VP – HR & Head of Talent Acquisition, Tata AIA Life Insurance
When it comes to hiring challenges in the life insurance sector, Tata AIA stands out by reimagining talent acquisition.
The company operates across 400+ locations, hiring over 600 employees monthly—a testament to the scale and complexity of its talent needs. The insurance industry’s unique hurdles—high attrition, low awareness, and a passive talent pool—demand innovation, and Tata AIA has responded with a game-changer: iRefer, their employee referral program launched in partnership with RippleHire.
As Saroj shares, “Our people’s philosophy is doing the right thing in the right way with the right people, and the results will follow. iRefer has been a standout initiative, helping us hire 45% of our employees through referrals while rewarding our workforce with trips, gold coins, and gadgets.”
This innovative approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Tata AIA’s efforts earned recognition at the prestigious Brandon Hall Awards, where their results spoke volumes: a 3x increase in referral hires and a 90% offer-to-join ratio—a testament to the program’s effectiveness.
Built on the ethos of “People – Our Core,” iRefer has gamified the hiring process, driving unparalleled participation while enhancing candidate quality. Today, Tata AIA continues to raise the bar in talent acquisition, staying committed to building a high-performance work culture and exploring new horizons for iRefer, including hiring agents—a critical focus area for the future.
Are you ready to be inspired by these incredible stories? Catch their insights and strategies on our youtube channel ! Let’s celebrate the brilliance of those who build not just teams but futures.
Keerthi Kariappa – Chief Customer Officer, RippleHire
RippleHire is rewriting the playbook for recruitment innovation. As a trailblazer in cloud-based hiring solutions, RippleHire empowers organizations to transform their talent acquisition strategies with simplicity, efficiency, and a human touch.
Guiding this journey of transformation is Keerthi Kariappa, RippleHire’s Chief Customer Officer, who brings years of expertise from her leadership roles and her global talent acquisition journey. With a sharp focus on customer success, Keerthi leads RippleHire’s post-sales functions to deliver not just solutions, but tangible, lasting value.
Keerthi shares her perspective on what sets RippleHire’s customers apart:
“When I look at all the winners and their achievements, one thing stands out — their strong leadership commitment to transformation, powered by an unwavering focus on execution excellence.”
RippleHire’s game-changing Talent Acquisition Cloud and Employee Referral System have redefined hiring. By automating manual processes, enabling data-driven decisions, and creating remarkable candidate experiences, RippleHire has become a trusted partner for organizations aiming to excel in a fiercely competitive hiring landscape.
The results speak for themselves: better recruiter productivity, faster hiring, and seamless scaling across industries. But what truly makes RippleHire stand out is its relentless focus on understanding each customer’s unique needs and crafting solutions that deliver measurable success.
The shared mindset of Talent Superheroes
While their journeys are diverse, these leaders share a common thread—a belief in the transformative power of people. They understand that great hiring is about more than ticking boxes; it’s about vision, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Together, they remind us that talent acquisition isn’t just a function; it’s a legacy in the making. By nurturing talent and creating opportunities, these superheroes are shaping the future of their organizations and the industry as a whole.
