4 years of Sunflower Talent Strategies

Four years ago, on April 15, I officially launched Sunflower Talent Strategies. I remember the mix of excitement and terror — leaving the familiar world of corporate talent acquisition to bet on the idea that I could help organizations think differently about how they find and grow their people.

Looking back, the work has taken shapes I didn’t fully anticipate. From helping companies rethink their hiring processes to connecting high school students with healthcare careers they didn’t know existed, the thread that ties it all together is a belief that the status quo isn’t good enough.

The hiring world has moved from newspaper ads to online postings, but the fundamental approach hasn’t changed much. We’re still posting and praying, still screening out more than we’re screening in, and still using degrees as a lazy proxy for capability. Four years in, I’m more convinced than ever that we can — and must — do better.

Thank you to every client, partner, student, teacher, and reader who has been part of this journey. Here’s to year five and the challenges we’ll tackle together.