In this article, I aim to showcase exceptional thought leaders in the talent sourcing and recruiting professionals in our industry. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to interview some of the top thought leaders in our field through WizardSourcer, and as a result, I have curated a list of talent sourcing leaders whose social media presence is worth following. Successfully sourcing and recruiting talent requires a combination of creativity and knowledge, and it is essential to keep abreast of the latest trends in AI automation, webscraping, contact finding tools, extension tools, and software tools to overcome sourcing and recruiting challenges. By staying up-to-date, you position yourself to thrive in our industry.
In this article, we have compiled a list of sourcing thought leaders who offer insightful strategies for scraping data, automation, analytics, and outreach. By following their guidance, you can effectively convert people into qualified candidates. Please note that the list is not ranked in any particular order.
Top Talent Sourcing Thought Leaders to Follow in 2023
1. Pete Radloff
When I started the WizardSourcer recruiting blog in 2015, it was difficult to get anyone to speak with me. However, Pete Radloff was one of the few who took the time to understand my goals and what I hoped to achieve with the blog. He was the first person to be interviewed by me, and he has been a great friend and supporter ever since.
As a Principal Recruiter at Datadog, Pete Radloff is dedicated to finding the best talent for his team. He approaches every interaction with care and consideration, and will only reach out to you if he has a specific reason to do so. If you’re interested in creating efficiencies and driving unprecedented scale and efficiency, Pete would love to talk to you about the amazing opportunities at Datadog.
With over 20 years of recruiting experience, both in corporate and agency environments, Pete is a passionate and dedicated recruiter. He takes pride in connecting talented engineers with great companies, and finds mentoring and community involvement to be essential parts of his work. In fact, he is a former member of the Board of Directors at recruitDC, a local organization focused on sharing knowledge and developing recruiters in the DC area. Pete has also had the pleasure of speaking at industry events like SourceCon, RecruitingDaily (HRTX), and TMA.
2. Balazs Paroczay
Balazs is a Talent Acquisition Strategist, Sourcing Leader, and Keynote Speaker. Since 2020, he has been heading CODΞ, a boutique Sourcing Advisory Agency that aims to enhance sourcing capabilities for outstanding companies. With nearly 20 years of experience, Balazs has worked with multiple European and global organizations to establish top-notch sourcing functions and sourcing expertise across organizations.
3. Sandra Feldmann
Sandra is an HR professional who brings extensive experience in working with international start-ups and scale-ups in the SaaS industry. She has helped companies grow from B/C Series stage, taking them from 20 to 100 employees. She’s adept at implementing innovative and creative work hacks, automated and digital workflows, and creating an environment that fosters employee satisfaction.
In addition, Sandra has experience in building HR organizations from the ground up and possesses a strong background in active recruiting, building talent pipelines, talent attraction, and sourcing. She has worked in various international locations in the EMEA region and hold a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Psychology. With a hands-on mentality and strategic mindset, she’s results-driven, a creative thinker, and adept at utilizing Life/Work Design Thinking principles. Furthermore, Sandra is highly specialized in active sourcing, including data scraping, and reaching out to passive candidates. She has a very active Instagram profile that is definitely worth following.
4. Carrie Collier
Carrie is currently working as a Senior Technical Sourcer & Talent Engagement Specialist for Appian, a PaaS company headquartered in Mclean, VA. With over a decade of experience in recruiting and sourcing engineering professionals, Carrie is highly skilled in building relationships with internal stakeholders, conducting talent market research, identifying business priorities, and creatively engaging with potential candidates.
Sourcing, automation tools, personal branding, mentorship, continuous learning, coffee, and wine are some of my biggest passions. I am always looking to expand my knowledge and skillset, while also trying my best not to go down a rabbit hole.
5. Michael Vroman
Michael is a Talent Sourcing Manager at Maxar Technologies and US military veteran. Michael leads a team and has been an active member of the Sourcecon community for years, contributing to the blog on various topics. I found his series on sourcing military veterans particularly interesting. Michael has given much to the sourcing community and is definitely someone that you should follow on social media.
6. Sofia Broberger
Sofia is a freelance consultant specializing in IT/Tech recruitment and sourcing. With a background in teaching, she blends her experience in education with her passion for sourcing to offer customized workshops and lectures on sourcing, tech recruitment, and employer branding. She is also available to speak at events on these topics.
7. Trish Wyderka
Trish is a highly skilled sourcer who has made significant contributions to our recruiting community. I was lucky to connect with her over the past few years and benefit from her extensive knowledge in recruiting tools and overall technical sourcing knowledge. She is a Lead Researcher at Fidelis Companies and is also the founder of a 12-year-old resume editing service. Trish will be a speaker at the upcoming SourcCon event in spring 2023
8. Glenn Gutmacher
Glenn is a highly skilled professional who has effectively strategized and operationalized talent sourcing systems, developed customized tools, and trained sourcing teams to build diversity-skewing candidate pipelines. He has worked at six multibillion-revenue companies, including Getronics, Microsoft (where he spent two years as a full-time sourcing trainer with Shally Steckerl), Avanade, State Street, Huron Consulting Group, and currently NVIDIA. Additionally, Glenn periodically speaks on sourcing and related recruiting topics at industry conferences.
Glenn finds great satisfaction in building domestic and offshore sourcing teams and bringing them up to speed quickly. He motivates his teams to learn new and better ways of doing things and creates sourcing centers of excellence to put their knowledge into practice. He incorporates aggressive diversity methods and metrics to ensure that his teams create highly qualified and diverse candidate pipelines.
9. Amy Miller
Amy is a Senior Tech Recruiter at Amazon, bringing with her two decades of experience in recruiting a broad range of positions, from truck drivers to CFOs. After learning the ropes in several agencies, Amy spent several years in big tech at Microsoft and Google, honing her craft. She is dedicated to ensuring that both clients and candidates have the best possible experience throughout the recruiting process.
Amy believes that good consulting is sometimes misunderstood as bad customer service. She knows that true success in recruiting involves building authentic relationships with clients and candidates alike, and this requires a high level of communication and empathy. With her extensive experience and passion for providing a great experience, Amy is an invaluable asset to the recruiting team at Amazon.
10. Katrina Collier
Katrina is a renowned author, speaker, and facilitator. Widely regarded as an expert in the recruiting space Katrina has authored “The Robot-Proof Recruiter: A Survival Guide for Recruitment and Sourcing Professionals,” which comes highly recommended by many leaders within the recruiting community, including myself.
In her book, Katrina shares invaluable insights on how recruitment and sourcing professionals can future-proof their skills and remain relevant in the face of the increasing automation and artificial intelligence. As a sought-after speaker and facilitator, Katrina has helped countless organizations and individuals develop their talent acquisition strategies and optimize their sourcing practices. Her expertise and passion for the industry make her a trusted and valued resource for recruiters and sourcers everywhere.
11. Vanessa Raath
Vanessa brings over 15 years of experience in the Recruitment Industry, with a particular focus on the Tech sector. Prior to entering the world of recruitment, Vanessa taught school children in London, operated a ski chairlift in the USA, and taught scuba diving in Southeast Asia.
In 2019, Vanessa launched her own Sourcing Training Business, which has been a fulfilling and exciting challenge. She is dedicated to elevating the global standard of sourcing, with a special emphasis on Africa. Vanessa enjoys sharing her expertise in talent sourcing, especially in the area of diversity sourcing, through keynote presentations at international conferences.
When not working, Vanessa can be found enjoying a vegetarian braai with family and friends in the bush or at the beach. For more insights and updates, connect with Vanessa on Twitter and Instagram at @Van_Raath
12. Aaron Lintz
Aaron is currently serving as Senior Sourcing Specialist at Thoughtworks in Florida, is a highly experienced professional in the recruitment industry. He has been a speaker at numerous recruiting conferences around the world, demonstrating his expertise in the field.
13. Guillaume Alexandre
Guillaume is a talented Talent Sourcer currently working in the Research team at 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙨 at 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙖. As part of this team, Gulliaumee is responsible for identifying, contacting, and engaging with researchers, scientists, and technical experts who will shape the future of Virtual Reality technologies.
Gulliaumee is passionate about creating cutting-edge technology that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. Their focus is on building something truly innovative and unique, utilizing technologies that have not yet been developed.
14. Marcel van der Meer
Marcel van der Meer is an accomplished global sourcing trainer. He has trained thousands of recruiters, including Signify, DSV, Calvin Klein, Rabobank, Boskalis, Tommy Hilfiger, Mobiquity, and many other companies.
Marcel has led successful sourcing teams in both corporate and agency settings. Marcel is a sourcing training expert and the founder of Klikwork, sourcingtraining.com, and BadAss Recruiters & Sourcers.
He is well known for his sourcing methodology, automation and growth hacking skills, and the application of neuromarketing to sourcing, particularly in candidate outreach. Marcel and his family live in the Netherlands, where he derives his energy from craft beer, kamado barbeque, innovation, automation, and positive people.
15. Erin Mathew
Erin is a highly skilled Talent Sourcer currently working at PayPal. She has been actively involved in content creation for various renowned platforms, including SourceCon, RecruitingDaily, The Sourcing 7, Recruiting Brainfood, and CareerArc. Erin is a true wizard when it comes to sourcing.
Her expertise and insights into the field of talent acquisition are highly valued, and her passion for sourcing is evident in everything she does. Erin’s contributions to the industry have been invaluable, and her work has helped many recruiters and sourcers to improve their skills and find the best possible candidates for their organizations.
16. Josef Kadlec
Josef is a true wizard when it comes to talent sourcing. He has an impressive background as a former ethical hacker, digital forensic examiner, and hardcore Linux engineer, which he has successfully utilized in his work in the recruitment industry.
Together with Milan Novak, a former board member of Grafton Recruitment, Josef co-founded GoodCall, an international recruitment agency that specializes in social recruitment for companies ranging from 5-person start-ups to 10,000-person Fortune 500 teams. GoodCall currently employs over 140 people and is highly regarded in the industry for its innovative and effective approach to talent acquisition.
Josef’s expertise and experience have made him a highly sought-after talent sourcing professional, and his contributions to the field have been invaluable. He is a true leader in the industry, and his work has helped many organizations to find and hire the best possible candidates for their teams.
17. Jeremy Bonewitz
Currently Jeremy is Senior Recruiter at Terracon. In recent years, I have been extremely impressed by his work and I was excited to share my interview with him. I believe that his insights and expertise will be valuable to anyone interested in talent acquisition and recruitment.
18. Carmen Hudson
Carmen is a Principal Consultant at Recruiting Toolbox and co-founder of Talent42, the first-ever conference focused on tech recruiting. With over 15 years of recruiting experience, Carmen has a deep understanding of what it takes to attract, source, and recruit top talent for organizations.
In addition to her consulting work, Carmen has recently launched Recruiterhunt, a platform designed to help recruiters discover useful resources for recruiting tools. Her commitment to helping other recruiters succeed is a testament to her passion for the industry and her belief in the importance of building strong relationships with candidates and clients. Carmen’s insights and experience are highly valued within the recruiting community, and her work has made a significant impact on the field.
19. Will Sims
Will is a Talent Acquisition Manager at Plural Strategy, and he is highly active within the recruitment community. Will is the founder of the UnRecruitment (Recruitment Hacks, Productivity, Automation) group on Facebook, which is a popular platform for recruiters to share ideas and best practices.
I have been very impressed by the insights that Will has shared on sourcing in recent months. His expertise and knowledge in the field of talent acquisition are invaluable, and his dedication to sharing his insights with others is truly admirable. Will’s contributions to the recruitment community have been significant, and I believe that his work will continue to have a positive impact on the industry for years to come.
20. Sarah Goldberg
Sarah is a highly skilled talent acquisition professional who leverages data, research, and creativity to identify the right candidates for the job. She is currently a member of the Human Resources team at The New York Times, where she has made a significant impact in the field of talent acquisition.
In addition to her work at The New York Times, Sarah is also the organizer of Chicago’s Queer Tech Club and is a regular speaker at industry events. She is highly regarded in the recruitment community and has been recognized for her expertise and contributions to the field. Sarah also sits on SourceCon’s advisory council, further demonstrating her dedication to advancing the industry and sharing her knowledge with others.
21. Martin Freeman
Martin is a highly skilled sourcing professional who currently works at Medallia. He is a very active and positive voice within the recruitment community, and his expertise and insights are highly valued by his peers.
In addition to his work at Medallia, Martin recently launched a website that highlights all the latest talent sourcing and recruitment tools. This platform is an invaluable resource for recruiters and sourcers looking to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the field. Martin’s dedication to sharing his knowledge and expertise is a testament to his passion for the industry, and his work has made a significant impact on the recruitment community.
22. Luke Doubler
Luke is a highly experienced talent sourcing professional who has been actively involved in the industry for over 15 years. He started a local staffing company in the Twin Cities, which has since become a prominent player in the recruitment industry.
I have been following Luke’s work for some time, and we recently connected at a SourceCon meetup in Minneapolis. Luke is a kind, passionate, and highly driven individual who is deeply committed to the field of talent acquisition. It was an absolute honor to sit down with him for an interview and to gain insights into his work and his approach to sourcing. Luke’s expertise and dedication to the industry are truly inspiring, and his contributions to the recruitment community have been invaluable.
23. Shally Steckerl
Shally is a true pioneer, rebel, and innovator in the field of talent sourcing. He is a husband, father, and globally recognized as the Godfather of Sourcing, known for his unparalleled expertise in finding and engaging hard-to-find talent.
As the author of three books, including the seminal text on how to fix what’s broken in Talent Acquisition, Shally has become the foremost authority on sourcing and has presented thousands of keynotes, workshops, and webinars worldwide. He is widely regarded as a thought provoker, empowering recruiters to efficiently find unfindable talent.
Shally’s methods have become global standards, adapted to every business setting in an ever-changing talent market. He has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Forbes, and hundreds of other publications, and his name appears on countless “top influencers” lists.
Despite his many accolades, Shally remains passionate about provoking thought and providing instant pain relief for talent sourcing and recruiting challenges. He is a true leader in the field and his contributions have made a significant impact on the recruitment community.
24. Bret Feig
Brett is a true builder at heart, driven by an insatiable curiosity for data and technology and how they are transforming the talent landscape. His passion for innovation and his deep understanding of these trends have made him a highly sought-after expert in the field of talent acquisition.
25. Michael Crouse
Michael is a highly active and respected member of the sourcing community, as evidenced by his participation in recent Facebook groups and discussions. With many years of experience in IT, Financial, Pharmaceutical, Sales, and Engineering recruiting, he has developed a deep understanding of how to find and attract top talent in these industries.
Michael is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly giving and caring, freely sharing his insights and expertise with others. His passion for talent acquisition is evident in every conversation, and his commitment to excellence has made him a highly sought-after expert in the field.
26. Greg Hawkes
Greg Hawkes is a Principal Sourcing Lead at M&T Bank and Creator and Founder of SourcingIRL, HRSourcingToolbox, HealthcareSourcingToolbox and has ongoing Speaker and Contributor for a wide array of Recruitment and Sourcing Conferences. He’s recruited and sourced in tech, healthcare, mechanical/electrical/structural engineering, biotechnology, manufacturing and many other industries. Greg has covered topics ranging from Site Searches, Programmable Search Engines, to Advanced Web Scraping, Virtual Conference Infiltrations and URL Sourcing.
He has been a HR/Recruitment/Sourcing Speaker on several occasions and contributed countless blogs, vlogs, webinars (and now Tiktoks, Reels, and Shorts) covering a wide array of sourcing strategies. He is a huge fan of emerging technologies, architecting solutions through use of technology and humanity, and most importantly finding people jobs in one of the most challenging and chaotic times we’ve ever lived in.
27. Gabi Preson-Phypers
Gabi is a co-founder of The Tooled-Up Raccoons, a recruiting tech start-up company based in the UK. Gabi’s passion and creativity in our field caught my attention, and she has shared a wealth of talent sourcing trends on social media.
28. Srinivasa Raju
Mr. Raju is an active member of the recruiting community, generously sharing his expertise in advanced Boolean strings and recommended recruiting tools. I felt privileged that he agreed to be interviewed by our team at WizardSourcer. Please find the interview below, and I hope you find it informative and enjoyable to read.
29. Maisha Cannon
As a sourcing leader who values learning and sharing, Maisha strikes a balance between creativity and practicality. With years of experience recruiting for top companies like Google, LinkedIn, and GitHub, she brings a unique approach to identifying, engaging, and assessing talent. Maisha’s expertise has earned her international recognition as a top sourcer, ranking in the top three globally in 2015 and in the top 10 in the 2018 SourceCon Grandmaster Challenge.
When writing my Diversity guide book, I drew much guidance and inspiration from Cody’s work. Currently, Cody is the founder of the Cody L Horton Group, which focuses on assisting companies with their diversity and inclusion recruitment and hiring strategies.
31. Angie Verros
She is an active member of the SourceCon community and I have had the privilege of hearing her speak on multiple occasions. With over two decades of experience in recruiting, Angie is an expert in her field. Although she began her career as a technical recruiter, she quickly realized that she could have a greater impact by leading sourcing teams.
Those on this list are individuals who have made a connection with me in the past, for which I am incredibly grateful. They are talent sourcing thought leaders who took the time to respond to my messages over social media and to be interviewed by me, despite their busy recruiting workloads. I recognize that many people ignored my messages and never responded, which makes the effort of those who did all the more appreciated.
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