Episode 109: From Headhunting to Transformation: AI, Talent Strategy, and the Future with Jess Von Bank

Episode notes

Do you know if the jobs your company is hiring for today will even exist in three years? Or if your recruiters are spending too much time filling seats instead of creating strategic talent pipelines? In this eye-opening conversation, Jess VonBank, part of the HR Digital Transformation practice at Mercer, shares unfiltered truths about the inefficiencies plaguing recruiting and the bold steps needed to fix them. You’ll hear how Jess went from door-to-door insurance sales to niche executive headhunting, to leading high-volume hiring for 28,000 people in a year — and why she believes most TA leaders should be fired for wasting resources. Jess explains why AI isn’t just changing recruiting; it’s redefining what jobs will even exist, what skills will matter, and how companies must design hiring systems with precision, personalization, and long-term impact in mind. We also dive into urgent industry challenges, from healthcare staffing shortages to manufacturing’s generational shift.