The Talent Initiative

You don’t need to write code to connect the people who do.

I don’t come from a technical background. I’ve never written a line of code, compiled a program, or regression tested a thing in my life. But after nearly 30 years in recruitment, and more than a decade specialising in IT, I’ve come to realise that what makes me different is exactly what makes me effective.

Let’s rewind.

Way back when computers were still new to the world and we needed special classes to figure out how to use I attended my first ever computer class circa 1987 (don’t do the maths!). This was an unmitigated disaster. I somehow managed to format my teacher’s favourite floppy disk (accidentally, I promise), and wasn’t welcomed back to class for a while. Fast forward to today, and I’ve been invited to speak at an Australian Computer Society event and I talk IT every single day (and I still can’t code! or do any of those IT type jobs). Life has a sense of humour.

So how does someone like me thrive in a field where technical expertise is often seen as the price of entry?

Simple: I’ve honed my craft where it counts, in recruitment.

1. I Know My Market

I’ve spent years listening, observing, and engaging with the IT community. I don’t need to know every function or framework to understand what makes this industry tick.

My strength lies in recognising patterns, industry shifts, people movements, hiring trends, people and responding with speed and precision. I see the forest when others are stuck in the trees.

Recruitment, at its best, is about foresight and fit. It’s about understanding the pain points of a business and matching them with people who solve them, not just with skill, but with synergy.

2. I Learn From the Best

I’ve never claimed to be the smartest in the room but I’ve made a career of sitting beside those who are.

Over the years, I’ve built trust with engineers, architects, founders and product managers. I ask questions. I listen carefully. And I always take notes (legible or not, they’re still taken). I’ve sat at the feet of some of the worlds most respected Recruiters and absorbed their mastery and feeding my Recruitment addiction.

I’ve never stopped learning, because every conversation, every placement is a chance to sharpen the tools of my trade. Recruitment isn’t static. Neither am I.

3. I Bridge the Gap

Where others see a communication barrier between hiring managers and tech candidates, I see an opportunity.

My non-technical background means I speak business and human. I help translate the high-level goals of an organisation into tangible role requirements, and then work with candidates to understand the problems they’ll be solving—not just the tech stack they’ll be using.

The result? Better alignment, clearer expectations, and more meaningful outcomes for everyone.

4. I Focus on What Matters Most: People

We often talk about “hard” skills like they’re the whole story. But as any seasoned recruiter will tell you, success in a role is rarely about technical ability alone.

Adaptability. Culture fit. Communication. These things matter just as much and sometimes more.

I take the time to understand the person behind the CV. What drives them. What challenges they’ve overcome. Where they want to go next.

That insight is what separates a rushed placement from a real partnership.

5. I Stay Curious

Tech evolves fast and I’ve learnt to evolve with it.

I stay connected to the community, ask questions, read widely, and stay humble. I don’t need to master every new framework. But I do need to understand how those frameworks shape the market, impact hiring, and affect the people I work with every day.

Curiosity builds credibility. And credibility builds trust.

The Takeaway

I may not be technical, but I’m deeply human. And that’s my superpower.

Because at the end of the day, recruitment is about people, not platforms.

It’s about understanding what businesses really need, and what candidates truly want. It’s about relationships, not transactions. And that’s where I’ve built my reputation one conversation at a time.

Let’s Start a Conversation

I’m always keen to connect with others who bring a unique perspective to their work.

Has your background shaped your career in surprising ways?
What strengths have you leaned into even if they weren’t “typical” for your industry?

Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just say hello