Welcome back to Talent Spotlight – where very month, we shine a light on standout talent professionals, and the real stories shaping our industry.
Hey Anna, tell us a bit about yourself 😀. Who are you, where are you, and what keeps you busy these days?
I’m Anna, and I live in Berlin. I spend my days helping tech companies build strong teams and simple HR foundations that actually work. I’ve been in fast-paced companies for years, often as the first or only recruiter, so I’ve learned to create order in the middle of chaos.
Right now I’m very excited about two things. Shaping talent acquisition processes and building teams. And in life, I’m enjoying raising a tiny human. Both teach me patience, structure, and fully enjoying every single day, even when the things don’t run as planned.
What keeps me going is collaboration with people and networking, getting to know people as they are. It gives me energy. And having on the side, houseplants and a garden, is another source to recharge.
Your Story
1. Will you share a small moment that taught you a big lesson with us? (could be a mistake, a surprise, or an “aha” moment – from any part of your life):
A few years ago, I was the only recruiter in a company that was growing fast. At one point I had 24 open roles on my desk. Every role was marked as urgent. I worked late hours and tried to keep everything moving at the same speed.
One morning my CEO walked over and asked me a simple question: what’s your priority? I answered with a list of roles.
He asked again. I repeated the list, trying to give more details. And then he said, Anna, there is only one priority.
That moment stayed with me. It taught me that focus isn’t about juggling everything. It’s about choosing one thing, doing it well, and letting the rest follow. It carried me through many chaotic chapters since then, and it still guides how I work today.
“Focus isn’t about juggling everything. It’s about choosing one thing, doing it well, and letting the rest follow.”
2. What about something you learned from a completely different field/hobby/experience that unexpectedly helped you in your talent work:
A surprising place where I learned a useful skill is my YouTube channel. I learned to tell the difference between feedback that helps me grow and feedback that comes from someone’s bad day. And I learned that I prefer direct feedback. One person commented “Your content is good, but your audio is shit”. This made me invest into a good mic the next day and grow my channel faster with better quality of videos.
That skill carried into my talent work. I listen better. I make clearer decisions on what to take in and what to let go.
Talent Talk
1. What’s the most unconventional thing you’ve done in recruiting that actually worked really well?
One of the most creative things I tried was for a very niche role. Traditional sourcing wasn’t working, and the talent pool was tiny. Instead of pushing harder, I reached out to someone who was already well connected in that field. I asked if they could recommend someone and share the job on their LinkedIn.
They agreed, and their post reached the exact people we needed. We hired the right person within three weeks. It was a good reminder that sometimes the smartest move is to lean on someone else’s network instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
2. Would you share a (sourcing, interviewing, etc.) trick or productivity hack that makes your life easier:
I can talk about productivity for hours, both at work and in life. But my number one tip is very simple: keep your space and desk clean. A clear desk helps you think clearly. It sounds small, but it helps with focus.
The same goes for prioritization. I set one priority and work on that before touching anything else. No jumping between tabs, files, emails, messages or tools. One thing at a time. It makes my work so efficient.
3. What’s one thing about talent acquisition that you’ve completely changed your mind about over the years?
For a long time I believed that speed was the most important thing in hiring. Fast process, fast replies, fast decisions. I worked in places where everything felt urgent, so I treated every role the same way.
Over the years I changed my mind. Speed matters, but only when it’s paired with clarity. If a company doesn’t know what they truly need, fast hiring just creates fast problems. I learned that slowing down for one clear conversation with the team can save weeks of confusion later.
Now I focus on alignment and quality first and speed second. It builds stronger teams and keeps everyone sane and happy.
Community Connection
1. Who in your community inspires you and why? (Should we ask this person to share their story next?)
There are many people who inspire me, but I want to mention one person in particular. Thomas Klein was my manager in one of my previous companies. He had a rare gift: he could connect with each of the team members and really understand what motivates each of us, what we cared about, and how to help us grow.
I remember leaving some of our conversations so inspired that I couldn’t focus on anything else for the rest of the day. His energy, open conversations, thoughts and ideas for the future stayed with me for hours. I recently read the book “Key Person of Influence,” and he is exactly that person for me. He has influenced my career in so many ways.
👀 What’s one question you’ve always wanted to ask other talent professionals?
What is one thing you stopped doing in your talent work that made everything else easier?