Julie Tomasik
Julie Tomasik
Senior Leader, Talent Acquisition - AAA Mountain West Group
Like many talent leaders, Julie Tomasik’s path into talent acquisition did not begin in recruiting.
Instead, her career started in branch operations and sales leadership, where she spent years leading teams, developing employees, and driving business performance.
Throughout those experiences, one theme consistently stood out: people.
For Julie, leadership was never simply about operations, metrics, or business outcomes. It was about helping people grow, supporting their development, and creating environments where individuals could thrive.
That people-first mindset ultimately led her into talent acquisition approximately three and a half years ago.
“I’m just a people-first leader, first and foremost,” she explained.
The transition felt natural.
Rather than viewing recruiting as a completely different discipline, Julie saw it as an extension of what she had always enjoyed most—connecting with people, developing talent, and helping organizations build strong teams.
Since making the move into talent acquisition, she has fully embraced the profession and continues to play an active role in helping organizations navigate a rapidly evolving hiring landscape.
A Leadership Philosophy Centered on People
At the core of Julie’s approach is a belief that talent acquisition is ultimately about people.
While technology, processes, and strategies continue to evolve, she believes lasting success comes from understanding individuals, building relationships, and helping others reach their potential.
That philosophy influences both how she leads teams and how she approaches hiring.
Whether working with candidates, business leaders, or fellow talent professionals, Julie emphasizes trust, development, and authentic partnership.
For her, talent acquisition is not simply about filling roles—it is about helping people and organizations succeed together.
Finding Energy in an Evolving Industry
One of the aspects of her work that excites Julie most today is the pace of change occurring throughout talent acquisition.
Few industries are experiencing as much transformation as recruiting, particularly with the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence and new technologies.
Rather than viewing these developments with uncertainty, Julie sees tremendous opportunity.
She is energized by the possibilities AI can create for recruiters and talent teams, while also recognizing the responsibility that comes with adopting new technologies.
“I don’t think it’s AI versus humans,” she explained. “It’s humans who know how to utilize AI with empathy and impact.”
That perspective has become a guiding principle for how she views the future of recruiting.
While AI can create efficiencies and unlock new capabilities, she believes the human side of talent acquisition must remain at the center of every hiring process.
For Julie, the future belongs to organizations that successfully combine technological innovation with empathy, emotional intelligence, and meaningful human connection.
Navigating a Shifting Recruiting Landscape
Over the past year, Julie has observed significant changes in both candidate expectations and business needs.
She notes that talent acquisition teams are operating in an environment where priorities continue to shift rapidly.
Candidates are seeking different experiences, organizations are facing new workforce challenges, and business units often have highly specialized hiring needs.
Within large organizations, those needs can vary significantly across departments, functions, and lines of business.
As a result, talent acquisition leaders must be more adaptable than ever before.
Julie believes success today requires recruiters to move beyond traditional hiring approaches and embrace a more consultative role.
Recruiters must act as strategic partners who understand both the needs of the business and the motivations of candidates.
That means staying innovative, remaining flexible, and continuously building trust with internal and external stakeholders.
In her view, strong partnerships have become one of the most important differentiators for talent teams navigating today's hiring environment.
The Human Side of AI
While many discussions about AI focus on automation and efficiency, Julie consistently returns to the importance of preserving humanity within recruiting.
She believes AI should serve as a tool that enhances recruiter effectiveness rather than replacing the human judgment, empathy, and relationship-building that define great talent acquisition.
As organizations continue experimenting with AI-powered solutions, she sees an opportunity for recruiters to elevate their strategic impact.
By allowing technology to handle repetitive tasks and administrative processes, recruiters can spend more time focusing on relationship-building, candidate experience, and leadership partnership.
The key, according to Julie, is ensuring that technology supports human connection rather than diminishing it.
Recognizing Leadership in the Talent Community
Julie also values the importance of collaboration and learning from fellow talent leaders.
When asked to nominate another professional making an impact in the industry, she highlighted Paul Tang.
Having served alongside him on an advisory council, Julie described him as a strong thought partner whose insights and leadership have contributed meaningfully to talent acquisition discussions and strategy.
For Julie, these professional relationships represent an important part of continued growth and innovation within the talent community.
Advice for Talent Leaders in 2026
As talent acquisition continues evolving, Julie encourages leaders to remain adaptable, innovative, and people-focused.
Her advice includes:
Embracing AI as a tool that enhances recruiter effectiveness
Preserving empathy and human connection throughout the hiring process
Staying adaptable as candidate expectations continue to evolve
Building strong partnerships with both business leaders and candidates
Maintaining a strategic and consultative approach to talent acquisition
Investing in leadership development and team growth
Leveraging technology while keeping people at the center of decision-making
For Julie Tomasik, the future of recruiting will not be defined by technology alone.
It will be shaped by talent leaders who successfully combine innovation, adaptability, empathy, and human-centered leadership to create meaningful experiences for candidates, teams, and organizations alike.
