RippleMatch is proud to recognize Kayla Woitkowski, Director of Early Career Talent Acquisition at SAS, as an Outstanding Leader in the Campus Recruiting Community! Kayla has spent the majority of her career honing her skills as an early career recruitment specialist in the tech/software industry. She has over a decade of progressive experience, including strategy development for an award-winning intern program, university and diversity outreach strategy development and execution, recruitment technology implementation, data driven decisioning, global UR consulting, and a dedication to developing team members to achieve their full potential.
In addition to her full time role at SAS, Kayla is an active member of the University Recruiting Community, and has served a term on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Her insights have also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, CIO Magazine, and SHRM.
We spoke to Kayla about her team’s accomplishments in the past year, and how she would advise a new leader in the early career talent space:
L: What's something that your team has accomplished in the past year that you're proud of?
The SAS Early Career Team has been so resilient over the past year. I'm most proud of the ways they've supported one another and our students during the uncertainty of the pandemic. We've launched new programs and event formats, hired over 200 individuals, and expanded our program offerings globally — with our intern program being ranked a top program in the U.S. I’m most proud of how they get the work done: always displaying our SAS values of being authentic, accountable, curious, and passionate.
L: Why are you proud to be a leader in the campus recruitment space?
I find it both rewarding and inspiring to lead a team whose ultimate mission is to support students as they embark on the very first steps of their career journey. With every offer, we're changing a student's life and career trajectory forever. The personal impact we make on the lives of our students is my 'why' for being in this space. The work we do in campus recruitment is true heart work, and I'm so grateful for this to be my career.
L: What advice would you give a new leader?
Believe in yourself. It's OK to not have all of the answers. And on the more stressful days, remember: this is HR, not the ER. No one is on the operating table with the work we're so fortunate to do everyday. Lastly, I'd share my favorite quote from Maya Angelou: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Leading in this space is about more than metrics and productivity. It's about making an impact on the lives of others, and allowing our teams and the students we meet to feel seen and heard. Especially with students who have been historically marginalized.
*RippleMatch is recognizing standout individuals in talent acquisition through our D&I Champion, Program Innovator, and Outstanding spotlights. Know any standout individuals who should be recognized? Please submit their info through this survey.