Podcast
ELEVATE: Women Leading the Way in Pharma
Hosted by Vector Talent · EN
Elevate is the podcast from Vector Talent bringing you honest conversations with women leading the way in pharma services.
Each episode goes beyond the CV. We talk to senior figures across CDMOs, CROs, Biotech and the wider pharma services sector about how they've built their careers, the challenges they've navigated, and what it really takes to lead in this industry.
No generic career advice. Just candid, experience-led conversations from women who are shaping one of the most complex sectors in the world.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Callum Buxton - Making the Transition from Recruitment into Talent Acquisition
Feb 5, 202500:24:31Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded under our previous name of Talent Sandbox. In this episode, Neil is joined by Callum Buxton, lead partner for executive and critical hiring at SOPHiA Genetics. SOPHiA Genetics sits at the intersection between healthcare and technology, an AI platform that supplies data-driven insights to the healthcare industry for the use in diagnostics and treatment around the world. Often people arrive in talent acquisition, not necessarily having sought a career in recruitment. Having spent his career in external agencies and consulting roles, Callum has made the transition in-house at Sophia Genetics, attracted by the impact of their work the organisation is undertaking. In an organisation that is directly affecting outcomes for cancer and rare diseases worldwide, the mission and purpose of SOPHiA Genetics has a fundamental role in attracting talent. Callum shares how they listen to the experiences of employees to bring to life the mission and culture of the organisation in their hiring activities. Having made the transition to an in-house role, Callum shares insight about the key differences he’s seen and experienced, most significantly factoring in the needs of the hiring manager and the organisation. Aligning talent acquisition with the commercial strategy of the business requires a curiosity to fully understand the needs of stakeholders and the business. If you’re interested in transitioning from a recruiter into talent acquisition, this is an insightful episode that lifts the lid on making a successful change.
Transcribe →Sherin Varghese - Unlocking Employer Branding at GXO Logistics
Feb 5, 202500:33:48Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded under our previous name of Talent Sandbox In this episode, we’re joined by Sherin Varghese, Senior Director & Head of Talent Acquisition – Americas & Asia GXO Logistics Inc. Formerly part of XPO Logistics, GXO is a world leader in providing cutting-edge logistics solutions for multi-national companies and blue-chip market leaders. A Fortune 500 company, operating in 27 countries, with 130,000 employees and revenues of over $9 billion, makes GXO the largest contract logistics company in the world. As the business seeks to streamline and optimise operations with new technology, the need for specialised skills has evolved, presenting unique talent acquisition challenges for GXO. Join Sherin as he delves into the complexities of employee branding across multiple markets and regions, with a focus on establishing an independent identity and powerful communication of the 'why' to potential talent. This episode delivers valuable insights on embedding a global employer branding strategy that respects and reflects the unique character of local markets as well as evolving skillsets for talent acquisition professionals.
Transcribe →Adam Gordon - Recruiter Enablement: Unlocking Success Through Purposeful Design
Feb 5, 202500:40:24Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded under our previous name of Talent Sandbox. In this episode of the Talent Sandbox, we are excited to be joined by Adam Gordon, Co-founder of newly launched Poetry HR, the recruiter enablement workspace. This fascinating discussion focuses on the evolving role of talent acquisition - its response to complex labour markets, changing consumer demands, job requirements of incoming generations, the impact of new technology and the importance of acting as a talent advisor to the C-suite. Adam shares his views on what TA leaders should be doing more of to create value for their organisations, including: Creating on-demand supply of talent when hiring teams need it through talent engagement and pipelines. Continuously monitoring and asking what is the right shape for my team? Thinking about ‘resources’ as humans and machines. If it’s humans, do they need to be employees, contractors or outsourced? Acting as talent advisors to senior leaders in the business, helping to shape the business from a people perspective and how this will need to evolve over time. Having spent his career in and around the recruitment and recruitment technology space, Adam believes it is an important time for TA, having seen first-hand how the role of the recruiter is evolving. Recruiters must be able to act as ‘data analysts’ (highly numerate, derive insights from numbers), ‘experience designers’ (adopting a marketing mindset, what do we want people to think and do) and finally ‘tech managers’ (analytical, tech-savvy with a great understanding of what is achievable). Yet, despite the rise in automation and technology, Adam firmly believes that organisations will still need recruiters, however, one of the biggest challenges to be overcome, is equipping teams with the tools and resources needed to do the job well, at pace, and at scale. Having listened to hundreds of organisations and learning from what’s happening in other business functions such as sales and marketing, Adam and his co-founder, Mike Hughes, created Poetry HR – a workspace for recruiters that contains everything they need to successfully execute in their organisation. Finally, Adams offers advice to TA leaders about how to build and optimise their technology stack to deliver on their talent strategy. Hint: the answer doesn’t lie in changing your ATS! To find out more visit: https://www.poetryhr.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@RecruiterEnablement
Transcribe →Adrian Thomas - Revving Up Talent Acquisition: From Family Saloon to F1!
Feb 5, 2025Tap to summarizeThis episode was recorded under our previous name of Talent Sandbox. In this episode of the Talent Sandbox podcast we are extremely fortunate to be joined by our newly appointed Strategic Advisor, Adrian Thomas. Adrian is a highly experienced resourcing professional having led talent acquisition functions for large global organisations such as GlaxoSmithKline, Royal Bank of Scotland, Network Rail and more recently UK Senior Civil Service. A passionate advocate for the Talent Acquisition industry, he continually champions for investment and professional standards in recruitment. In this wide-ranging discussion we delve into the challenges and opportunities within the TA realm, exploring topics like transforming TA into a promising career path, unlocking the hidden potential of tools and technology, and navigating the wide-ranging functions of TA, from administrative duties to becoming a strategic advisor. Adrian asks the compelling question: in the race for talent, will a family saloon car or an F1 racing car get you to your destination faster? We dive into the concept of transitioning from reactive and one-dimensional recruitment approaches to a three-dimensional mindset, where the TA function is seen as a valuable asset within the organisation. Gear up and get ready to transform your TA strategy!
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