Kayla Woitkowsk
Kayla Woitkowsk
Director, Global Emerging Talent - Nutanix
Kayla Woitkowski’s journey into talent acquisition is one of the rare cases where intention met opportunity—and turned into long-term impact.
Unlike many in recruiting who “fall into” the profession, Kayla’s path was shaped through exploration within the broader field of human resources. She began her academic journey at North Carolina State University as an accounting major, only to quickly realize it wasn’t the right fit. With guidance from mentors, she pivoted into HR—where she discovered a field that aligned far more closely with her strengths.
Through a series of internships across training, leadership development, and HR operations, Kayla built a strong foundation. But it was a moment of initiative during her time at BMW Manufacturing that changed everything.
With extra time on her hands, she approached the recruiter who had hired her and asked how she could help. That simple step led her to support interview days for interns and co-ops—an experience that immediately clicked.
She found herself energized by connecting people to opportunities, drawn to the energy of candidate interactions, and inspired by the impact of helping others take the next step in their careers.
From that point on, her path was clear.
Kayla focused her career on university recruiting, where she has now spent over 15 years shaping early talent strategies and helping organizations build strong pipelines for the future.
Today, she stands as a leading voice in emerging talent—bringing both strategic insight and deep passion to one of the most critical areas of talent acquisition.
What Energizes Her Most
For Kayla, energy comes from impact—specifically, the impact of unlocking potential.
She is deeply motivated by the opportunity to connect early-career talent with meaningful opportunities, helping individuals take their first steps into the workforce while simultaneously shaping the future of organizations.
She also draws energy from developing others.
Whether it’s mentoring candidates, supporting teams, or influencing hiring strategies, Kayla thrives in environments where growth is constant and where people are encouraged to stretch beyond what they thought possible.
At her core, she is driven by the belief that recruiting is not just about filling roles—it’s about creating pathways for people to grow, succeed, and make lasting contributions.
How Recruiting Is Changing
Kayla sees the current shift in recruiting—particularly with the rise of AI—as both transformative and misunderstood.
In her view, one of the biggest changes is happening within early career hiring.
Many organizations are beginning to question whether they should reduce investment in entry-level talent due to advancements in AI. Kayla challenges this thinking directly, viewing it as a short-sighted approach that risks long-term consequences.
She points out that reducing entry-level hiring disrupts the entire talent pipeline. Without early-career hires today, there are no mid-level or senior leaders tomorrow.
At the same time, she highlights a critical advantage: today’s graduates are AI-native.
Students are already being trained to use AI tools to enhance productivity, meaning organizations that invest in early talent are gaining individuals who can operate faster, smarter, and more efficiently from day one.
For Kayla, AI should not replace talent—it should amplify it.
She believes the real opportunity lies in combining technology with human capability, using AI to improve efficiency while doubling down on skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and systems thinking.
Kayla’s Advice for 2026
Looking ahead, Kayla encourages talent leaders to take a long-term view—especially when it comes to early career hiring.
Her advice is clear: don’t cut off your future pipeline.
Organizations that deprioritize entry-level talent in favor of short-term efficiency risk losing their ability to develop future leaders from within. Instead, leaders should invest in early talent while leveraging AI to enhance—not replace—their contributions.
She also emphasizes the importance of empathy.
With growing uncertainty around AI and job security, early-career candidates are entering the workforce with heightened anxiety. Companies that acknowledge these concerns, support skill development, and create clear pathways for growth will stand out.
Finally, she encourages stronger partnerships with educational institutions.
Universities are already evolving their curricula to include AI and emerging technologies. Organizations that collaborate with them will be better positioned to access highly skilled, future-ready talent.
For Kayla, the future of recruiting isn’t about choosing between people and technology—it’s about building a workforce where both work together seamlessly.
That forward-thinking mindset, combined with her deep commitment to developing the next generation of talent, makes Kayla Woitkowski a standout leader in the evolving world of talent acquisition—and a well-deserving member of the Talent 100.
