EP277: Renuka Gundala , Founder & Director at Talent Grader Ltd - Why EMPATHY is your secret sauce as a recruiter

Renuka Gundala, Founder & Director of Talent Grader LTD. In this episode she shares her, two decade long, journey in recruitment with a focus on executive search and senior roles in the not for profit sector. Starting Talent Grader during the COVID-19 pandemic, she initially provided talent assessments for recruiters and HR professionals then later expanding into executive search services for charities and purpose driven organisations, including B Corps.

Renuka emphasises the thoughtful use of psychometric assessments, deploying them only when they serve a clear client need. She also created an online database to help users find the right assessment tools. Despite their potential, these tools are underused by recruitment businesses in hiring for their own teams.

Her executive search approach is tailored and client focused, involving case studies, scenarios and occasionally psychometric tools. She values transparency and the human element in recruitment & underscores the recruiters ability to positively shape the hiring process. The conversation also explores equality, diversity and inclusion, acknowledging both ongoing efforts and the challenges posed by shifting political climates.

In terms of inclusive hiring, Renuka advocates for empathy and simplicity recommending job descriptions list only 5–6 essential criteria to attract a diverse range of applicants. Her and Lysha stress the importance of designing thoughtful, inclusive recruitment processes that consider the candidate experience.

The discussion concludes with advice for recruiters and business founders on building empathetic, inclusive, and value driven hiring practices, especially in the non profit sector, where diversity and mission alignment are key.

Connect with Renuka here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renukagundala/

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