Jamy Conrad

Jamy Conrad

Director of People, UFCU

J. Conrad did not set out to build a career solely in recruiting. Instead, talent acquisition became a natural extension of a broader career rooted in human resources and business partnership.

Early in their career, J. Conrad worked as an HR generalist, where recruiting and talent strategy were core parts of leading and supporting HR teams. Across multiple roles, they were responsible for helping organizations find the right people at the right time—balancing skills, culture, and business needs. Whether directly leading recruiting functions or partnering closely with other talent leaders, recruiting was always central to the work.

Today, J. Conrad leads Talent Acquisition at UFCU, continuing that journey with a focus on building strong teams that align with both the organization’s values and its long-term goals.

What Energizes the Work

What excites J. Conrad most right now is the rapid evolution of technology across the hiring journey.

From the earliest candidate touchpoints, new tools are changing how organizations present themselves—highlighting values, integrity, and culture before a candidate ever steps through the door. For J. Conrad, this shift has transformed the candidate experience into something far more intentional and transparent.

Equally important is how technology is freeing recruiters from administrative work. Automation allows teams to move faster and operate more efficiently, creating space for what matters most: meaningful human conversations. Rather than replacing recruiters, technology enhances their ability to connect, listen, and build trust.

For J. Conrad, these advances make talent acquisition more human—not less.

How Recruiting Is Changing

Over the past year, J. Conrad has seen significant growth in tools designed to better align candidates with skills and job requirements. Technology now plays a larger role in evaluating fit, experience, and capability earlier in the process.

One especially notable trend is the crossover of sales enablement tools into recruiting. Platforms once designed to support sales teams—such as conversation intelligence and performance insights—are now appearing in applicant tracking systems and sourcing technology. This evolution is helping recruiters better understand candidate interactions and improve hiring outcomes.

While innovation continues at a rapid pace, J. Conrad believes the goal should always remain the same: using technology to support better decisions, not to remove the human element from them.

J. Conrad’s Advice for 2026

As talent leaders look ahead, J. Conrad offers a grounded reminder:

Technology is a tool—not a replacement.

Recruiting will always be about identifying the right skills to support business needs, and no system can fully replace human judgment, context, or connection. As organizations adopt new platforms and AI-driven solutions, personalization must remain a priority.

For J. Conrad, the future of talent acquisition depends on balance—embracing innovation while preserving what makes recruiting meaningful: people helping people find the right opportunities.

And that perspective is exactly what makes J. Conrad a deserving member of this year’s Talent 100.