Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Mary Shea PhD: Cracking the Code for Hidden Talent
Host: Vince Chan
Release Date: December 10, 2024
Guest: Mary Shay, PhD
Theme: Leveraging technology to uncover hidden talent pools in HR and recruitment.

1. Introduction

In this engaging episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan welcomes back a familiar and esteemed guest, Mary Shay, PhD. Recognized for her unconventional career path—from a classical musician to a senior tech leader—Mary brings a wealth of experience and insights into the evolving landscape of HR technology and recruitment.

Vince Chen [02:22]:
"Mary's career path is anything but ordinary. We're talking a journey from classical musician to frontline salesperson, all the way to senior tech leader in sales and revenue enablement."

2. Mary Shay's Career Journey

Mary Shay recounts her diverse professional journey, highlighting her transition from an industry analyst at Forrester to leading roles in technology-driven companies. Her passion for leveraging technology to revolutionize HR processes led her to collaborate with Higher Quotient, a rising star in the HR tech sector.

Mary Shay [06:13]:
"The company essentially is HR tech, as you mentioned, with a focus on recruiting. And it's a software company, it's not an agency."

3. The Role of Higher Quotient in HR Tech

Mary delves into the specifics of Higher Quotient’s technology, emphasizing its use of generative AI and automation to streamline the recruitment process. The platform integrates with various data providers, enabling recruiters to source candidates beyond traditional platforms like LinkedIn, thereby reducing bias and increasing diversity.

Mary Shay [06:45]:
"Higher Quotient can essentially offload the first three quarters of the recruiting process for the recruiter... It helps the recruiter manage against the bias problem."

Vince Chen [11:28]:
"I'm intrigued by the idea of uncovering hidden talent pools. Can you walk us through how that actually works in practice?"

Mary Shay [12:03]:
"One is the level of sophistication and quality of the AI and the ability to use very sophisticated prompts. The second is rich external relationships with database companies..."

4. Debunking Misconceptions about HR Tech for Senior Roles

A significant portion of the discussion addresses the common misconception that scalable HR tech solutions are only suitable for lower-skilled jobs. Mary Shay provides compelling examples from her experience to demonstrate how Higher Quotient effectively fills high-level, specialized roles by enhancing the recruiter’s capabilities rather than replacing them.

Vince Chen [17:00]:
"There's a common belief that scalable HR tech solutions are best suited for lower-end less skilled jobs versus higher-end highly skilled and senior jobs."

Mary Shay [17:28]:
"I had to hire a chief customer officer... Higher Quotient dramatically reduced the time it would have taken me and other executives to hire by surfacing highly qualified candidates quickly."

Mary emphasizes that HR technology should augment the recruiter’s efforts, allowing for more personalized and efficient engagement with top-tier candidates.

5. Personal Experiences and Challenges in Recruitment

Mary shares her personal experiences with deploying Higher Quotient, illustrating how the technology has transformed her recruitment strategies. She recounts instances where the platform not only identified exceptional candidates swiftly but also facilitated increased diversity within the hiring process.

Mary Shay [12:03]:
"We were doing a search on the technology for a database company... The system ranked the candidates based on the must-have and nice-to-have skills."

Mary Shay [24:32]:
"Hiring quotient found several candidates that met all of my career criteria within two to three weeks and we had hired that role in four weeks, which blew my mind."

6. Advice for Job Seekers in an AI-Driven Market

Transitioning to job seekers, Mary offers practical advice on how to stand out in an AI-driven recruitment landscape. She emphasizes the importance of detailed resumes, comprehensive LinkedIn profiles, and active networking. Mary underscores that while AI tools are integral, human connections and community remain paramount.

Mary Shay [37:49]:
"Be very detailed in your LinkedIn and focus on your human connections. Have a community. Network like hell, don't stop doing that."

Mary Shay [40:00]:
"Focus on your human connections. Have community. Use some of the communities that are out there... network with a personal board."

7. Networking in the Digital Era

The conversation shifts to the evolving nature of networking in the digital age. Mary highlights the importance of balancing technological tools with genuine human interaction. She advocates for modern networking strategies that incorporate both online and in-person elements to build meaningful and sustainable relationships.

Vince Chen [41:05]:
"The definition of networking, the approach to communicating with people, building and developing sustainable, meaningful relationships is so much different from ours."

Mary Shay [42:04]:
"Technology should not be designed to replace human interactions. It should be designed to augment them or to make our lives better."

Mary shares initiatives like bilateral mentorship programs that pair digital-native professionals with experienced mentors to bridge generational gaps in networking and interpersonal skills.

8. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

As the episode wraps up, both Vince and Mary reflect on the symbiotic relationship between technology and human intelligence in transforming HR practices. Mary’s insights underscore the necessity of integrating advanced tools with empathetic, human-centered approaches to foster effective recruitment and talent management.

Mary Shay [45:24]:
"Technology should not be designed to replace human interactions. It should be designed to augment them or to make our lives better."

Vince Chen [45:58]:
"This is why I never see myself building a podcast, a show. I am building a community."

Mary’s closing remarks reinforce the episode’s core message: harnessing technology as a superpower requires blending it with genuine human connections to unlock hidden talent and drive meaningful change.

Notable Quotes

• Mary Shay [06:13]:
  "The company essentially is HR tech, as you mentioned, with a focus on recruiting. And it's a software company, it's not an agency."

• Mary Shay [17:28]:
  "I hired an amazing person who is now doing a tremendous job in leading not only her organization but is a strong number two for the current CEO of that company."

• Mary Shay [37:49]:
  "Have community. Network like hell, don't stop doing that."

• Mary Shay [42:04]:
  "Technology should not be designed to replace human interactions. It should be designed to augment them or to make our lives better."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Chief Change Officer offers a deep dive into the intersection of HR technology and human intelligence through Mary Shay's expert lens. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on overcoming recruitment challenges, debunking industry myths, and effectively navigating the modern job market. Mary’s experiences and advice serve as a testament to the transformative power of blending technology with human-centric strategies in achieving career and organizational success.

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