Russell is a seasoned professional with years of experience leading recruitment teams across various industries. His professional achievements and personal values make him a dynamic leader in the talent acquisition space. Hear how the shift from linear media to digital media has transformed the industry, his motivation for pursuing a career in talent acquisition, and what recruitment can learn from outsourcing channels. Discover how increased employee engagement results in better outcomes, why more information is better for candidates, and how Paramount plans to leverage AI to create opportunities in recruitment. He explains the power of collaboration, how skills create a shared language between HR and business, and the evolution of roles in recruitment.    Key Points From This Episode:   Russell provides an overview of the current entertainment landscape. His diverse professional background and path into the media industry. Gaps in the talent acquisition process and where it needs to be improved. The importance of employee engagement and lessons from the referral process. Fostering trust in non-referral channels and the secret to retaining talent. Paramount’s approach to recruitment and the influence of brands on the process. Explore the role of AI in connecting talent to the brand. Why collaborating with other departments is an essential consideration. He unpacks the concept of building a skills-based organization. Foundational skill metrics and why they are vital for job descriptions. How to create and maintain the idea of continuous improvement. Final takeaways about the recruitment industry Russel has for listeners.   Quotes:   “The only constant [in the industry] for the last several years has been change.” —@weaveru [0:02:06]   “There is something fundamentally fractured still with [talent acquisition] processes and technology. I think we have to get back to basics  to make sure we are doing things that allow us to connect to that high-performing talent.” —@weaveru [0:06:35] “If you are not building or maintaining active relationships with the marketing, corporate communications, legal, and tech departments, you are doing yourselves and your organization a disservice.” —@weaveru [0:20:21]   “Demotivated hiring managers are the biggest challenge facing any organization today. If you do not have your hiring managers engaged and locked in, you are going to fail.” —@weaveru [0:34:27]   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Russell Weaver on LinkedIn Paramount Talk Talent to Me Hired