The New Model for Talent Acquisition Teams | Szymon Kubicki

Szymon Kubicki is a former Head of Talent at Spendesk and Docplanner. Today he works with startups through a VC lens, helping them build lean, tech-enabled recruiting functions.In this episode, Szymon shares how the best talent teams are being built in 2025 — smaller, smarter, and driven by impact, not headcount. We break down how AI is changing team design, what tools actually make a difference, and the new skills every recruiter needs to stay relevant.Whether you lead a TA team or want to future-proof your career, this one’s full of practical advice.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:10 The new talent game04:20 Output over Headcount07:30 Building lean teams 10:00 Internal vs third-party automations13:10 Skills recruiters still need 16:40 How AI changes early-stage hiring19:00 Tool recommendations22:00 Advice for recruiters early in careerConnect on LinkedIn:Szymon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/szymonkubicki/Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-atkinson1Episode LinksSzymon's Newsletter: https://szymonkubicki.substack.com/Joe’s Newsletter: https://newsletter.gopurpl.io/Key Concepts & Tools Mentioned in This Video• Designing lean talent teams• Talent density vs headcount growth• AI’s role in recruiting workflows• LinkedIn’s future (and its challengers)• Internal TA tooling vs vendor tools• Practical AI tools: PeopleGPT, HeroHunt, Granola, Zapier• Custom GPTs for internal use• Scaling without adding recruiters• Business-aligned recruiting• Hands-on TA leadership in the AI age• Skills future recruiters need (data, tech, empathy)