Culture
SWEET 16: The 16 Lessons We’ve Learnt In Our 16 Years
It’s been 16 years since Varina Nissen and Natasha Olsson-Seeto launched OnTalent in January 2010, with the goal of connecting
January 13, 2026
A national HR leader in an autonomous role had made the decision to resign. The position reported directly to a US based executive who raised concerns about the potential disruption and risk this would create for the Australian business. With an upcoming visit to Brisbane scheduled for the following week, we were engaged to identify and shortlist strong candidates within five business days to enable in-person interviews.
The challenge: while the role was positioned at a senior level, it offered limited strategic scope and no direct reports, a combination not often attractive to experienced HR professionals.
Providing structured updates every 48 hours helped ensure confidence and alignment, especially with a key stakeholder based internationally. The candidate briefing document gave transparency on role limitations, which supported self selection and avoided wasted time for both client and candidates.
An unsuccessful applicant remarked that the level of communication and professionalism made her keen to work with our team on future hiring needs.
“Working with OnTalent, specifically Donna, on a critical HR search was an exceptional experience. Within two weeks, Donna provided us with qualified, pre-screened candidates who were well-prepared for interviews. She efficiently arranged onsite visits within a tight timeframe, allowing us to extend an offer before my departure from Australia to the States. Donna was an incredible partner, demonstrating responsiveness, a keen understanding of our business structure, and openness to feedback. Thank you, Donna, for your invaluable assistance in closing this search. We are so excited to have our new appointee start with us next month!”
It’s been 16 years since Varina Nissen and Natasha Olsson-Seeto launched OnTalent in January 2010, with the goal of connecting
The holidays are a great time to clarify the needs of your organisation. Maybe it’s new skills or perhaps its
Credit and Interview with: Brett Clemenson, The Lone Recruiter What does it really take to perform at a high level
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