Cramped hotel conference rooms and uncomfortable chairs are the banes of many recruiting conferences, but here’s how SmartRecruiters is flipping the script on the traditional industry events.

What was the last conference that truly excited you? What made it unique—the sessions, the networking, the food? Did it have a unique structure, or did it follow the traditional format of sit, listen, stand up, talk? More often than not, industry conferences fall into the latter category, where most event attendees inch towards the closest exit first chance they get. No one is a fan of stuffy conferences, and that’s why SmartRecruiters seeks to redefine the experience for talent acquisition professionals everywhere. 

Hiring Success EU isn’t designed to test your passive listening skills; in fact, participation is encouraged. Every session is designed to be interactive, giving audiences the opportunity to absorb insightful content in a refreshingly new way. In addition to the speaker-led sessions, there are countless workshops and round table discussions where TA and HR leaders can roll up their sleeves and learn as a group. 

The recruiting community is unique for its focus on shared knowledge. We are constantly working together to share ideas, perspectives, and best practices on talent acquisition so that every organization can build better hiring processes that attract the best talent possible. SmartRecruiters feels this approach is necessary to create both a memorable experience and make a lasting impact on how people think about recruiting. 

Hiring Success EU kicks off September 10-11 in Amsterdam, and here is a sampling of what attendees can expect at this non-traditional conference:

1. Reverse Recruiting
Reverse Recruiting is our way of taking action to connect overlooked candidates to jobs at scale. At this year’s Hiring Success EU, 300 interviews will simultaneously take place between audience members and hopeful job seekers, including formerly incarcerated individuals, refugees, transgender people, people with disabilities, and more. These impromptu interviews offer them a chance to practice their interview skills, make connections with current TA professionals, and boost their self-confidence in finding gainful employment. This-meet-and-greet-format will create new bridges of friendship, mentorship, and jobs between our communities. Isn’t that what recruiting is all about?

2. The Hackathon
Twenty technologists invested countless hours over the last few months to create unique hacks and APIs built on the SmartRecruiters platform. Now, these innovators can demo their builds in real-time at the conference. Here’s the catch: Every attendee starts with 1000 “wow points” to invest in the teams they believe have the greatest impact on the future of recruiting technology. The top 3 teams that receive the most investment will be sent to the final round to battle it out for fortune—$10k in sponsorship at Hiring Success 20—and glory.

3. Session: Make your Organization a Microcosm of the World
One of the best-kept secrets in recruiting is the extra-ordinary output of neurodiverse people. Many of us are neuro-diverse—we just don’t know it.  Sara-Jane Harvey, aka Agony Autie, is a world-class activist for neurodiversity and returning Hiring Success speaker, having debuted at Hiring Success Americas earlier this year. Now, she’s back to expose truths about how making offices accessible for autistic people have far-reaching benefits for companies, employees, and the potential to transform the world economy.

4. Session: Reflecting Freedom
Self-imposed limitations are created when our choices and actions are dictated by automatic responses and unquestioning beliefs. Understand these limitations and find freedom from the prison of the mind. This session will take attendees through an inspiring journey of grit, and who better than to tell it than Khalil Osiris, who spent 20 years in prison. During his time in incarceration, he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Boston University. Khalil is now an author, educator, social activist, and CEO of Reflecting Freedom, a social enterprise company. 

5. Session: Getting Smarter
What will your hiring mix look like in 10 years? Get this question right and you’ll see your stock soar. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend your time playing catch up. This session will bring a much-needed perspective from the navigation technology and consumer electronics company TomTom on how it discovered the ideal hiring mix. This session is presented by Thomas Waldman, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at TomTom, leveraging his 20 +years of experience in recruiting and sourcing to discuss how TomTom conducted its own internal discovery and transformation.  

6. Session: Becoming an Inclusive Leader
What does an aikido master and the first ordained African-American meditation master, who also advises Fortune 50 CEOs have to teach company leaders? Find out in this participatory session that is sure to strengthen everyone’s leadership skills. Dr. Steven Jones, who—among numerous accomplishments and accolades—is the CEO of JONES, a consulting firm specialized in diversity and organizational effectiveness, teaching the value of inclusive leadership.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of this one-of-a-kind recruiting conference. Where else can you make a positive impact on someone’s life, flex your entrepreneurial muscle like a VC, or learn from a curated selection of activists, speakers, and TA leaders from around the globe? You will find it all here at Hiring Success EU. To find out more about what to expect, visit our website and secure your tickets before September 10th—see you there!

With experiences that span across cultural borders and industries, here are the inspirational talent acquisition leaders speaking at Hiring Success EU you cannot miss.

Hiring Success is on the move again, this time heading to Amsterdam’s picturesque canals for two days of thought leadership, inspiration, and professional networking. Along with hundreds of TA leaders from global brands like Heineken, LinkedIn, and Facebook, dozens of dynamic speakers will join SmartRecruiters for the next installment of Hiring Success Europe. 

Occupying the majestic Compagnietheater from September 10-11, Hiring Success EU will showcase over 40 sessions led by more than 50 speakers who will help define the future of recruiting. Their tracks include discussions around innovation, diversity & inclusion, and Hiring Success. Conference attendees can customize their own learning path by choosing which sessions align with their interests and professional goals.

The speakers are a hallmark of every Hiring Success conference, and this year SmartRecruiters is excited to announce the following presenters who will make their debut appearances on the Hiring Success EU stage in Amsterdam.

1. Dr. Makaziwe Mandela, House of Mandela

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Dr. Makaziwe (Maki) is the eldest daughter of Evelyn Mase and Nelson Mandela. Maki earned a bachelors in Social Work and an honors degree in Sociology. Through a Fulbright Fellowship, Maki obtained a masters in Sociology and a doctorate in Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Mandela has written several publications on the role of women in a changing South Africa, as well as developed investment portfolios designed to uplift and economically empower women. Maki was also a director at Nestlé and the GM of Human Resources at Spoornet. Dr. Mandela currently serves as the Chairperson of the House of Mandela and sits on numerous boards.

2. Tukwini Mandela, House of Mandela

Raised by her grandmother in Cape Town until the age of 10, Tukwini is the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela. Having lived in the United States and South Africa, she has extensive education in Social Work as well as professional experience in advertising at Leo Burnett and Foote, Cone & Belding. Ms. Mandela’s expertise expanded to communications at First National Bank and marketing at several multinational institutions. Tukwini is currently the Marketing Director for House of Mandela.

3. Tim Ackermann, LIDL

Tim is an international and multi-industry HR leader with nearly 20 years’ expertise in talent acquisition and talent management. At LIDL he connected great people with one of the world’s largest retailers and created an engaging candidate & employee experience throughout the employee life cycle. Tim also has his own side hustle, which he now runs full-time, as the founder & managing director of a day spa and concept store in Potsdam, Germany.

During Hiring Success EU, Tim will lead discussions with other TA professionals as they share engaging and funny stories on how to be an entrepreneur within your own company.

4. Maarten Bokhoven, ABN AMRO

Maarten’s personal mission statement is to move people and make people move. He is passionate about driving business results, as well as helping team members achieve their personal and professional ambitions.

Maarten has exemplified this approach through his 20+ years of experience in marketing and communications for global brands such as Brunel and, most recently, as Head of Employer Branding, Sourcing & Community Management at ABN AMRO Bank. He brings a unique perspective to employer branding, having transitioned from content marketing for consumers to brand proposition for candidates. He is passionate about projects that create brand awareness and engagement but also drive conversion and deliver results.

5. Noor van Boven, N26

Noor is the Chief People Officer at N26, Europe’s first mobile banking service and one of few startup unicorns. However, this isn’t her first foray into the digital sector; Noor also spent several years as the VP Global Head of People at Spotify and even co-founded Hello, an online community designed to connect dynamic, professional women around the world. Noor is a leading example of the next generation of talent acquisition leaders, and during her session, she will share her experiences navigating hiring challenges for a company undergoing hyper-growth.

6. Anna Brandt, Uber

Anna is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition and Community Operations at Uber, a position she serves through her consultancy, Brandt Talent Solutions.  Anna enables organizations to scale their talent acquisition efforts in order to hire and retain the best talent available. She now focuses on Talent Acquisition Program Design & (interim) Management. At Hiring Success EU, Anna will join Noor van Boven in sharing her first-hand experience establishing hiring practices at Uber, as well as how to steer organizations through dramatic growth cycles.

7. Ben Clark, Heineken

Ben leads the Global Talent Acquisition function at Heineken and is proud to represent his organization’s home turf by speaking at Hiring Success EU. At Heineken, Ben established the company’s first-ever talent sourcing hub in Central and Eastern Europe. He also played a critical role in expanding Heineken’s highly publicized employer branding and global implementation of new recruiting technology. For his sessions, Ben will speak about what it’s like working for a well-loved and recognized global brand alongside SmartRecruiter’s Marketing Director, Prachi Gore. 

8. Michael Falkner, Ramboll

Michael spent the past 18 years hunting for the right match. Today, he is an experienced Talent Acquisition leader with an unusual background as a former Detective with the Copenhagen National Police. His drive to seek out people didn’t stop after he turned in his badge, so he launched a career searching for talented professionals.

Michael has extensive recruiting experience from Laigaard & Partners, Hays, Accenture, and most recently, Ramboll. As the current Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Ramboll, Michael is responsible for overseeing recruiting activities across 35 countries and the organization’s Center of Excellence, Operations, Talent Sourcing Hub, Offshoring and Employer Branding.

September is fast approaching, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to see these stellar speakers in Amsterdam. Stay tuned as we continue to publish speaker profiles, tease our flagship party, and more. To find out more about what to expect at Hiring Success EU, visit our website and secure your tickets for the recruiting industry’s most anticipated annual event here.

As Hiring Success 18 Europe fast approaches, we bring you the people who are disrupting Talent Acquisition with tough questions and thought-provoking commentary.

Whether it’s psychology, technology, social justice, or simply the bottom line – there is no singular path that leads a person to a life in TA. However, there is a common question: How can we make work better for everyone?

This inquiry is what drives the practitioners you will see at Hiring Success 18 EU in Berlin September 19th-20th, and it’s what drives us at SmartRecruiters to bring the HR and recruiting community together for two days of seminars, demos, and networking on the scenic banks of the river Spree.

“This is a new era for recruiting,” says SmartRecruiters CEO and founder Jerome Ternynck. “Businesses recognize that their Talent Acquisition function is the competitive edge they need to succeed. Hiring Success is here to bring practitioners out of their silos and connect them with the latest in technology, best practice, and strategy.”

So let’s meet some of the changemakers!

Bill Boorman – Tru Events

Recruiting’s “man in the hat,” Bill Boorman is the harbinger of new tech and the creator of recruiting’s merriest meetup, known as #TRU un-conferences. He’s hosted 100 events in 65 countries and five continents over the last 12 months. As he zigzags the map, he’s learning about the latest in grassroots TA – and he’s ready to share! Meet Bill on the Innovation track as he hosts Battle of the Bots, a live showdown of recruiting chatbots where the audience asks the questions.

To learn more about Bill and why he was dressed as Father Christmas the first time we met, click here!

Jeri Doris – Delivery Hero

From Silicon Valley to Berlin, Jeri Doris, Chief of People for Delivery Hero, is always thinking about company vibes, like what makes an organization a great place to work, or how can a great employee experience happen at scale? Jeri joins us on the Hiring Success track with the session What Hyper Growth Look Like. A rare peek into a business phenomenon that few people ever get to experience, this TA vet will take us through the systems she used to stay on top of the company’s exponential expansion without sacrificing quality or culture.

Noor van Boven – N26

With 15 years of international HumanResources experience, Noor van Boven focuses on building, scaling and transforming companies into successful enterprises. Noor is the Chief People Officer at N26, where she is responsible for building the organization while maintaining a high employee experience and guiding the company through hyper-growth in a healthy way. Her session, What Hyper Growth Looks Like, will explore the instigators for exponential growth, and address key rules and processes needed to scale operations.

Before joining N26, Noor was the VP People at SoundCloud and led the Recruiting, Talent, and Organizational Development initiatives at TomTom worldwide. Her passion for travel, coupled with work opportunities from respected international employers, has allowed Noor to live across the globe, including New York, India, and Germany.

Joanne Lockwood – SEE Change Happen

In 2016 Joanne embarked on her personal rebrand, which included selling her IT services company and transitioning to her true gender identity. In the wake of this decision, she discovered the hidden obstacles that many trans candidates face when they search for the right employment opportunity.

In response to her experience as an applicant, Joanne founded SEE Change Happen, a diversity and inclusion practice specializing in supporting Transgender inclusion to businesses and other organizations. She joins us for the Inclusion track for the session A Path to Gender Parity, a candidate discussion of the subtle obstacles that undermine women in the workplace.

Hilary Klassen – Career Ari

As an HR leader with a decade of experience, Hilary Klassen, the founder of Career Ari, was constantly approached for career advice. So often, in fact, that it became a pattern. Klassen realized that even successful employees at companies that provide career counseling wanted a personal and professional opinion from a third party. “There has to be a way to scale this,” she thought, and that’s how the idea for the first-ever automated career brand coach came to be.  

Hillary joins us on the Hiring Success track for Internal Career Pathing, where she will discuss how to make lateral and upward mobility a frequent occurrence in your business.

Sergej Zimpel – ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

To Sergej Zimpel, Senior Recruiter for ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Co-Founder of the HR organization Purple Squirrel Society, buzzwords like “candidate experience” actually mean something. A psychologist by schooling, the ever-evolving world of HR will never cease to fascinate this TA practitioner. Sergej will join us on the Inclusion track for a deep dive into The Art of Community Building, and a step by step guide of how.

Manjuri Sinha – Zalando

Manjuri Sinha leads the technology talent acquisition team for Europe’s ecommerce giant, Zalando. Prior to this, she was lead HR business partner for technology at Accenture. In addition to her professional career, she is also a speaker, mentor, and blogger. For her session at Hiring Success, Manjuri will speak about how to fix problems within organizations “in the battlefield”, offering practical advice on course correction that is invaluable to even the most veteran recruiters.

Chris Raw – Zalando

As candidate experience and innovation lead for one of the fastest growing ecommerce sites in Europe, Chris has helped Zalando through a hypergrowth of hiring in the past three years. His whirlwind tenure at Zalando has forced him to get creative, moving faster than the fashion cycle to get the right talent on board at the right time. This recruiter comes on board for the Innovation track to talk Course Correction in the Battlefield.

Juliane Stiller – Humboldt University

As an informational scientist for Humboldt University in Berlin, Juliane Stiller is in the business of finding, assessing, and applying critical information to the education and work industries. In essence, she looks at how we can take what we know and apply it to real-world scenarios to get a better result. In this case, Julie helps us take on the scenario Have You Hired a Refugee in the conference’s Inclusion track so all recruiters and TA leaders can learn how to help support this rich source of talent.

Robindro Ullah –  Deutsche Bahn Fernverkehr AG

Robindro broke into the Human Resources field in 2005 as a trainee at Deutsche Bahn Fernverkehr AG. Over the next few years he pushed for more social media coverage of talent acquisition at DB, which brought his passion for HR Marketing and Recruiting into focus. Most recently, he served as Head of Employer Branding and HR Communication at VOITH GmbH and oversaw global recruitment. Robindro rounds out his professional profile as an author, blogger, and speaker in the German HR scene. His session talk will look at creative ways to combine recruiting strategies with marketing and social media best practices to amplify TA efforts.

Natalie Mellin – Mellin Consulting

Strategic and hands-on. That’s how we would describe Natalie Mellin, a globetrotting diversity and inclusion specialist, and founder of Mellin Consulting, a consultancy that advises global companies how to convert well wishes to real programs. Behavioral economy is her game, and if you are fuzzy on what that means then your attendance at the Path to Gender Parity session is mandatory. As part of our Inclusion track, this panel will delve into femme experiences of the workplace in the wake of movements like #metoo.

Tracey Allison – Avery Dennison Co

Tracey Allison began her career in recruitment in 1990, and has built a reputation as an HR leader throughout the EMEA region and beyond. She is the Director of Global Talent at Avery Dennison Corporation, where she oversees Talent Acquisition teams covering all of EMEA, as well as head up the leadership program for the largest business division of Avery Dennison. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, Tracey worked at major tech and telecom firms, including Microsoft and Vodafone.

Tracey’s session will focus on the fundamental skills that elevate recruiters to “rock star” level, and share insights that only a Hiring Success veteran and a self-made, global TA leader with decades of experience can offer.