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GDC Festival of Gaming
March 1-4, 2027
Moscone CenterSan Francisco, CA
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All Sessions Speakers

Talent Acquisition Leadership 2.0: From Recruiter to Strategic Workforce Leader

Christina Drake  (Head of Global Talent Acquisition, Side)
Vivian Enos  (Sr. Director & Head of Talent Acquisition, Activision Publishing, Corporate, & Employer Brand)
Dan Lowery  (Sr. Manager of Talent Acquisition, PlayStation Studios)
Pass Type: Academic Pass, Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass, Indie Pass, Start-Up Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Career, Culture & Sustainability
Audience Level: Intermediate
Format: Forum
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: Intermediate
Christina Drake
Vivian Enos
Dan Lowery

Talent acquisition is no longer just about filling vacancies. As the games industry adapts to AI, global hiring, changing workforce expectations and economic uncertainty, talent acquisition leaders are increasingly expected to shape workforce strategy, advise executives and build resilient organization.

In this interactive 90-minute forum, Christina Drake brings together Talent Acquisition professionals and industry leaders to challenge traditional definitions of leadership success. Through facilitated discussion and shared experiences, participants explore what distinguishes a great recruiter from a great TA manager, how leadership responsibilities are evolving, and whether organisations are equipping managers with the skills and support they need.

Takeaway

Participants explore what defines effective Talent Acquisition leadership today, challenge traditional management expectations and share practical approaches to developing recruiter capability, strengthening business partnerships and measuring leadership success beyond recruitment delivery.

Intended Audience

This session is intended for talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers, studio leaders, HR business partners and aspiring recruitment leaders. No prior leadership experience is required, although familiarity with hiring within game development or tech organisations will help attendees relate the concepts.