Kerri Smith
Kerri Smith
Senior Director, Global Commercial Recruiting Operations - Syneos Health
Kerri Smith’s journey into talent acquisition is a story of curiosity, risk-taking, and discovering passion through experience.
Like many in the field, Kerri didn’t set out to build a career in recruiting. After graduating college, she made a bold move from New Jersey to Florida—seeking something new and different. That leap of faith led her to an opportunity with a recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) organization in Tampa, where she entered the industry with no prior experience.
What started as a chance quickly became a calling.
Through hands-on training and exposure to sourcing, Kerri found herself drawn to the fast-paced, people-driven nature of recruiting. She embraced the learning curve, developed her skills, and steadily grew into leadership roles—building a career grounded in both operational excellence and a deep understanding of talent strategy.
Over time, her path evolved beyond traditional recruiting.
While she began in sourcing and recruiting roles, Kerri discovered a passion for the operational side of talent acquisition—focusing on systems, processes, and technologies that enable teams to perform at their best. Today, her work centers on optimizing the recruiting function itself, ensuring both recruiters and candidates have a more effective and seamless experience.
What Energizes Her Most
For Kerri, energy comes from building better systems—and empowering the people behind them.
She is deeply motivated by the opportunity to improve how recruiting functions operate, from refining processes to introducing new technologies that enhance efficiency and impact. Her work is focused not just on outcomes, but on enabling others to succeed in their roles.
She also finds fulfillment in developing talent within her teams.
Early in her career, Kerri benefited from leaders who created space for growth, experimentation, and even failure. That experience shaped her leadership philosophy, and today she is committed to providing that same environment for others—one where individuals feel supported, challenged, and empowered to grow.
At the core, she is driven by continuous improvement—both in systems and in people.
How Recruiting Is Changing
Kerri sees the recruiting landscape at a pivotal moment, driven largely by the rapid evolution of AI and technology.
In the past year, talent acquisition has moved from experimentation to real adoption. While many tools previously labeled as “AI” were closer to automation, today’s advancements are delivering more meaningful capabilities that can genuinely transform how teams operate.
However, she emphasizes that technology alone is not a solution.
Organizations must navigate a complex balance—between what technology can do, what businesses are ready to adopt, and what candidates expect. AI has the power to significantly enhance recruiting, but only when implemented thoughtfully and aligned with the broader hiring strategy.
For Kerri, the most important shift is not just technological—it’s philosophical.
AI should not replace the human element in recruiting. Instead, it should enhance it—freeing up time for recruiters to focus on what truly matters: relationships, decision-making, and delivering meaningful candidate experiences.
Kerri’s Advice for 2026
Looking ahead, Kerri’s advice is clear: embrace AI—but do so intentionally.
She emphasizes that AI is here to stay, and talent leaders must actively engage with it rather than resist it. However, success depends on how it is implemented. One of the biggest pitfalls she sees is applying AI to broken processes.
Technology will not fix inefficiencies—it will only amplify them.
Before adopting new tools, organizations must first evaluate and refine their existing processes. Once a strong foundation is in place, AI can then be layered in to drive real impact.
She also encourages leaders to experiment.
Not every solution will work perfectly, and that’s okay. Trying, learning, and iterating are essential to staying ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.
Finally, she highlights the importance of governance and responsibility.
AI should support decision-making—not replace it. Maintaining human oversight is critical, especially in talent acquisition, where decisions have a direct impact on people’s careers and lives.
For Kerri, the future of recruiting lies in balance—leveraging technology to enhance efficiency while preserving the human connection at the heart of hiring.
That thoughtful, systems-driven, and people-first approach is what makes Kerri Smith a standout leader in modern talent acquisition—and a deserving member of the Talent 100.
