For twenty years, Talent Connections has had its own gravitational pull—an energy that draws exceptional HR leaders into orbit. At the center is Teela Jackson: the brilliant, steady, unstoppable force our team calls “The HR Talent Magnet.”
As SVP of Talent Delivery, Teela’s instinct for people, culture, and possibility has shaped thousands of careers and helped transform organizations from the inside out. Long before HR was widely recognized as a strategic engine, Teela was helping organizations see talent as their greatest differentiator. That’s why nearly three decades later, she’s become a trusted partner to the C-suite, a builder of high-performing HR teams, and a catalyst for meaningful business transformation.
Teela’s influence also extends into the broader ecosystem of HR and HR professionals. As the first African American female President of SHRM-Atlanta, Teela championed the next generation of HR leaders—from founding the Rising Leaders Community to launching the SHRM-Atlanta Scholarship Fund. She continues to pour into the profession through SHRM, ATAP, and other HR communities.
To celebrate her 20-year milestone, we sat down with Teela for a special Q&A. Read on for an inside look at the lessons, wisdom, and defining moments that shaped her journey as well as her hopes for the future of recruiting and the HR community she continues to elevate.
1. Looking back over the past 20 years, what originally drew you to recruiting—and what’s kept you passionate about it for two decades? Teela: “My Mom was a College Recruiter when I was a kid. I went to work with her all the time – taking tours, engaging with prospective students and their families. I knew I wanted to do something similar on the corporate side. It’s truly what I was placed on this earth to do. The fire and passion will always be there!”
2. What would you say is the biggest change you’ve seen in the recruiting space since you started? Teela: “The evolution of recruiting from a transactional function to a true strategic partner. Talent Acquisition shapes culture, drives business outcomes, and enables transformation. Recruiters today are expected to be advisors, market analysts, and brand ambassadors, not just paper pushers.”
3. Is there a particular moment or milestone in your career that you’re especially proud of? Teela: “Helping build and elevate the HR Search Practice at Talent Connections over the past two decades. Seeing the impact we’ve had on companies, leaders and the careers we’ve helped shape has been incredibly meaningful. It’s not just about placements–it’s about long-term relationships, trust, and lifelong friendships made.”
4. What’s a piece of advice or wisdom someone gave you early in your career that still sticks with you today? Teela: “A mentor once told me, ‘Listen for what people don’t say.’ It taught me to look beyond what’s right in front of me and to truly understand motivations, values, and see potential watch outs. That insight has shaped how I assess and connect with people.”
5. What has been the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned over the years? Teela: “How essential it is to get comfortable with ambiguity. Learning to stay steady, ask the right questions, and move forward without having every answer has become one of my biggest strengths.”
6. You’re known for being active beyond your day-to-day role as SVP, Talent Delivery—what motivates you to stay involved in the HR community? Teela: “What motivates me is simple: this community helped shape my career, and I want to pour back into it. The HR community is full of smart, generous, purpose-driven people, and being part of that energy has always been meaningful to me.”
7. What community initiatives or professional organizations have had the biggest impact on you personally and professionally? Teela: “Years ago, I was tapped to lead the 11Alive and SHRM-Atlanta Career Expo, which was a job assistance telethon. 100 SHRM-Atlanta members served as volunteers on live TV for this two-day event, answering questions from Atlanta-area job seekers in a phone bank setting. It was an incredible give back to the community that I’ll never forget.”
8. How do you see your role in supporting the broader HR community evolving in the next few years? Teela: “That’s a simple yet complex answer. I see myself continuing to lift the HR Community nationally and right here at home in Atlanta. HR professionals need each other. We are better together!”
9. How has the company’s culture influenced the way you approach your work? Teela: “We have a heart to serve. We lift as we climb. We treat people the way we’d like to be treated. White glove, quality over quantity, and engagement is key.”
10. What advice would you give someone just starting out in recruiting today? Teela: “Relationships first. Understand the business. Talent leadership is a marathon and a sprint. Always trust your gut.”
11. What trends do you think will define the future of recruiting over the next decade? Teela: “AI Enablement & Automation, recruiting will continue to become more strategic, more data driven and more human all at once.”
12. If you could go back and talk to yourself on your first day 20 years ago, what would you say? Teela: “Do the right thing and the rest will come!”
