The mantras that built a 25-year career in talent

Spotlight is our series on the people shaping the future of hiring and talent. We ask them how they work, what they believe, and where AI actually helps.

This time we spoke with Megan McCann. Most people talk about changing the industry. She actually did it.

CEO of McCann Partners. Co-founder of ARA Mentors. Board of directors at TechServe Alliance. More than twenty-five years connecting talent, championing women in tech, and proving that hiring done right is anything but transactional.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in hiring or talent?

I've developed mantras that guide both my life and the advice I'd offer anyone starting out in hiring or talent: adapt, because change is the only constant and can become positive momentum; ask, because if you don't, you never give someone the chance to say yes; be confident in yourself and your abilities, and others will follow; collaborate, because working together always takes us further than going it alone; don't compare, because comparison steals joy; find allies who are in your corner and know how to lean on their advice; inspire others by using your gifts to give back, not just consume; keep perspective, because focusing too much on pleasing others can cause you to lose yourself; know your superpower, because recognizing it is empowering; love what you do, because passion makes work meaningful; make mistakes, because lessons come from defeats as much as victories; take risks, because the ones you don't take are often the ones you regret; and work hard, because success is shaped by attitude and effort.

What's the most rewarding part of the work you do today?

The most rewarding part for me is making meaningful connections, whether helping find their next career adventure or matching candidates to support client hiring needs and business objectives.

What's one thing you hope never changes about how we hire people?

No matter how we leverage AI, I hope we never lose sight of the importance of human connection and the necessity for some interaction between individuals during the hiring process.

What skill has mattered more than you expected in this line of work?

Empathy is one that immediately comes to mind. Kindness would be a close second.

What is a hiring belief you hold that most people would challenge?

Preparation matters, for both the candidate and the hiring team. For candidates, an interview can feel like a high-pressure moment where you have one chance to make an impression. The people who stand out are rarely relying on instinct alone; they prepare to show their best selves. The organizations that stand out do the same. The interview process isn't just an evaluation of talent; it's a reflection of how a company operates. Preparation behind the scenes can make all the difference.