Hello, I'm Katrina!
‘Knows her stuff and speaks her mind – expect no punches to be pulled!’ – Neil Amstrong.
That’s me! Speaker of the truth.
How it started…
I fell into recruitment, of course! Enticed by a newspaper advert in 2003. I started in technical hiring in an agency and then went in-house in a start-up, proving to myself that social recruiting worked.
Seeing an opportunity, I started teaching social recruiting and sourcing to recruiters, mostly in tech. Tweeting, blogging, and The #SocialRecruiting Show led to unexpected notoriety, which opened up work with companies of all sizes and with recruiters all around the world. I have even delivered in-person talks on five continents. It still amazes me!
I am featured in publications like Forbes, Inc., SHRM, HR Dive, Personnel Management, and appeared on BBC World News.
How it’s going!
In 2018, I shifted my attention to fixing candidate experience, but I was interrupted by Kogan Page who asked me if I would like to write a book! 😮 Immediately, I knew it would be The Robot-Proof Recruiter. I am awed by how many people love it and the doors it has opened. Edition 2 was published in 2022.
Today, I offer design-thinking workshops, mentoring, and speaking. My second business book, Reboot Hiring: The Key To Managers and Leaders Saving Time, Money and Hassle When Recruiting, was published by Wiley in August 2024. I’ve also just finished writing my memoir, The Damage of Words.
Everything I do aims to end the human-made issues – that AI won’t fix – which ruin talent acquisition and candidate experience. It’s my mission.
Katrina’s keynote topic, ‘Can we Automate Being Human?’ at SourceCon, really brought life back into our industry! Thank you for bringing back the “human” part to HR. Katrina, you’re the real deal and so much more!
Giving Back
Hope for Justice
As an Ambassador for Hope for Justice, part of my services and the royalties from The Robot-Proof Recruiter are donated to the charity, which exists to end modern-day slavery. As a founding member of #ConnectingHRforJustice, I also donate time in-country to support the staff.
Advisor & Judge
I am a judge for the Recruiter Awards and an advisor to HRD Summit.
Carbon Offsetting
To offset travel, I support the World Land Trust and Justdiggit, both are reducing global warming by regreening our planet. All of my suppliers are vetted for their green credentials too. 🌍 🌳
Fun facts
I’m an Aussie Brit, living in London. My pronouns are she/her/hers. #BeHuman 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ ✊🏻
My Instagram tends to be 80% dog snaps to 20% other. Banjo even has his own spot on top of my desk! 🧡
Without discovering Michelle Zelli and her magic healing powers, I wouldn’t be half the human I am today. ✨
I was silly enough to cut my hair off in the middle of a pandemic. But I blame the heat and perimenopause.
When I travel, I say yes to things that scare me. Like swimming to the Devil’s Pools, Victoria Falls, Zambia.
I’VE FOUND THAT WORK IS VERY HEALTHY FOR ME. I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO IT. I SAY PUT YOUR EXPERIENCE TO WORK, TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO OTHER PEOPLE.
– Iris Apfel
Katrina joined the ISG Talent Acquisition team quarterly meeting to facilitate a session on ‘building an outstanding candidate journey’ part of the TA Roadmap in 2020. She was super engaging, passionate and energetic throughout the session. She challenged the team of on all aspects of the candidate journey, which drove a lot of open discussion and an overall plan of enhancements, that were delivered. The team provided very positive feedback, and I would not hesitate to recommend her to other TA teams. Katrina is a true expert and great to partner with.
Where would you like to go?
HM WORKSHOPS
Everything hiring managers need to save time, money & hassle.
TA WORKSHOPS
Everything talent acquisition needs to fix human hiring issues.
MENTORING
For talent acquisition in need of a safe space to think & grow.
SPEAKER
To management or recruiter audiences globally.