Blair Bennett: PepsiCo's SVP of TA: Innovations in Talent Acquisition: LIVE from Unleash 2025
We proudly share #thePOZcast interviews from Unleash 2025 in Las Vegas with guest host Rhona Pierce!
Blair Bennett is the Senior Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo. She is responsible for the Global TA Centers of Expertise and overall success of campus, frontline, professional, and executive hiring strategies and global employer brand. She joined PepsiCo in 2019 and enjoys working with such a passionate TA team, dedicated to creating a candidate experience that embodies PepsiCo’s mission to Create More Smiles. Prior to PepsiCo, Blair’s background was in political consulting and then Talent Acquisition at both Korn Ferry International and Walmart.
Outside of work, Blair enjoys playing golf and traveling with her husband and spending time with family and her two Wheaten Terriers.
Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairabennett/
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Summary
In this episode of the Pozcast, host Rhona Pierce speaks with Blair Bennett, Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo. They discuss the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, the importance of employer branding, and how technology is reshaping recruitment processes. Blair shares insights from her career journey, emphasizing the significance of innovation, candidate experience, and internal mobility within organizations. The conversation also touches on leadership strategies and the value of taking risks in one's career.
Takeaways
- Blair Bennett leads the Global Talent Acquisition function at PepsiCo.
- Her career transitioned from political consulting to executive search.
- Innovation is a key pillar of PepsiCo's employer brand.
- Candidate feedback is collected at multiple points in the hiring process.
- PepsiCo emphasizes internal mobility and employee development.
- Technology is leveraged to enhance recruitment processes.
- Strategic thinking is essential for talent acquisition leaders.
- Taking risks is crucial for career growth and success.
- Leadership should encourage teams to take risks and learn from failures.
- Finding specific mentors can be more beneficial than seeking many.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Talent Acquisition Innovations
03:02 Blair Bennett's Journey in Talent Acquisition
06:12 Leveraging Employer Brand at PepsiCo
09:12 Enhancing Candidate Experience and Feedback
11:57 Internal Mobility and Employee Development
14:48 The Role of Technology in Talent Acquisition
18:01 Leadership Insights and Career Advice
