As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to recognize some of the most influential leaders in recruiting who are shaping the future of talent acquisition. These professionals bring diverse expertise, innovative strategies, and valuable insights, making them worth following on social media in 2025 and beyond.
Being a recruiting thought leader in 2025 means staying at the forefront of talent acquisition trends and influencing the industry’s future through innovation and insight. It involves leveraging data-driven strategies, embracing advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring practices. Thought leaders actively share knowledge through writing, speaking engagements, and social media, offering actionable advice and inspiring others to rethink traditional methods. They are adaptable, forward-thinking, and deeply attuned to workforce dynamics, using their expertise to solve complex hiring challenges while shaping a more ethical and efficient recruiting landscape.
The rankings aren’t important; I simply wanted to showcase my favorite recruiting leaders to follow online.
You can click on the name to follow them directly on LinkedIn.
1. Paul DeBettignies
Paul DeBettignies, often referred to as “Minnesota Headhunter,” is a highly respected recruiter, speaker, and consultant in the talent acquisition industry. Based in Minneapolis, he is known for his expertise in technical recruiting, employer branding, and career development. Paul has been a trusted advisor to companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 firms, helping them attract and retain top talent. He frequently shares his knowledge through speaking engagements, workshops, and his widely-read blog, where he covers topics like job search strategies, hiring trends, and building strong recruiting networks. With a personable approach and a wealth of industry insights, Paul has become a key figure in the recruitment community.
- Role: Owner of MN headhunter LLC
- Expertise: Relationship-based recruiting model.
- Specialization: Tackles tough, hard-to-fill searches.
- Additional Focus: Advocates for volunteerism within the IT community.
2. Benjamin Mena
Benjamin Mena is a seasoned talent acquisition professional and recruitment strategist known for his expertise in sourcing and candidate engagement. With a background in both agency and corporate recruitment, he has worked across multiple industries, helping organizations attract top-tier talent. Benjamin is recognized for his ability to implement innovative sourcing techniques, including the use of data-driven strategies and social media to find and connect with candidates. As a thought leader, he often shares his insights on recruitment best practices, technology trends in talent acquisition, and building diverse teams.
- Role: Founder of Select Source Solutions.
- Expertise: Government contract recruiting.
- Additional Contributions: Host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast
- Background: Combines a strong foundation in economics with recruiting practices.
3. Daniel Harten
Daniel Harten is passionate about leveraging data, social media, and advanced sourcing techniques to connect with candidates and optimize hiring strategies. His focus on improving the candidate experience and streamlining recruitment workflows has earned him recognition in the talent acquisition community.
- Role: Host of SpeakEZ Podcast by hireEZ
- Expertise: Deep dives into talent acquisition challenges and strategies.
4. Amy Miller
Amy Miller is also passionate about candidate experience and regularly shares her insights on improving recruitment strategies, hiring processes, and fostering inclusive workplaces. As a leader in the talent acquisition field, she is active in mentoring and supporting others in the recruitment community.
- Role: Senior Business Recruiting Partner for Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
- Experience: Over 20 years in recruiting across big tech (Microsoft, Google) and agency roles.
5. Mike Wolford
Mike Wolford is a seasoned recruitment expert and talent acquisition leader with a strong focus on data-driven recruitment strategies and the use of technology to enhance hiring processes. He has extensive experience in sourcing, candidate engagement, and building effective recruitment teams. Mike is particularly known for his work in developing innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of talent acquisition.
- Role: Author of The AI Recruiter
- Expertise: Integrating AI technologies into recruitment.
- Contributions: Regular writer for Recruiting Daily and speaker at industry conferences.
6. Marc Hamel
Marc Hamel is an experienced recruiter and talent acquisition professional known for his expertise in sourcing, recruitment strategy, and talent engagement. With a background spanning across various industries, Marc has built a reputation for utilizing innovative techniques to identify and attract top talent. He is skilled in leveraging both traditional and modern tools, such as social media, Boolean search, and AI-driven platforms, to connect with high-quality candidates
- Experience: 13+ years in tech sourcing, including roles at startups, Amazon, and Meta.
- Current Role: Leading sourcing initiatives for Amazon Entertainment.
7. Leticia Berry
Leticia Berry shares her insights through speaking engagements, training, and content creation, helping other HR professionals build more equitable and inclusive recruitment strategies. Her work is centered around not only finding top talent but ensuring that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities within organizations.
- Role: Senior Recruitment Manager at Frederick Fox.
- Specialization: Recruiting for Private Equity-backed companies.
- Expertise: Data-driven recruiting strategies.
8. Balazs Paroczay
- Role: Talent Acquisition Strategist and Sourcing Leader.
- Position: Head of CODΞ, a boutique Sourcing Advisory Agency.
- Experience: Nearly 20 years establishing global sourcing functions.
9. Toby Culshaw
Toby Culshaw is a renowned Talent Intelligence Leader at Worldwide Amazon Stores, where he heads a global team of economists, consultants, business analysts, and researchers in the field of talent intelligence. He is the author of “Talent Intelligence” available on amazon.
- Role: Global Head of Talent Pipeline Strategy & Intelligence Worldwide Amazon Stores
- Position: Leader of Talent Intelligence
- Experience: Nearly 20 years of experience
Each of these leaders brings unique insights and a forward-thinking approach to recruiting. Following their work and thought leadership will keep you ahead in the ever-evolving talent acquisition landscape.
Which other leaders do you follow in the recruiting industry?
Recommended Reading:
Becoming an Effective Recruiting Leader: Tips for Managing a Team
Top 10+ AI Recruiting Software Tools to Transform Hiring in 2025
Talent Sourcing in 2025: Predictions for a Dynamic Workforce
- Top Recruiting Leaders to Follow in 2025 - January 8, 2025
- Talent Mapping and Talent Intelligence in the Age of AI: A Game-Changer for Recruiters - January 8, 2025
- Mastering LinkedIn’s AI Search Updates - January 7, 2025