Tanya Runholt

Tanya Runholt

Managing Partner , iRecruit.co

For many talent leaders, recruiting is a career they discover unexpectedly. For Tanya Runholt, that couldn't be more true.

While some professionals enter talent acquisition with a clear plan, Tanya's original ambitions were in an entirely different field. Her passion was music, and she pursued studies in music production and engineering with the goal of building a career in the industry.

"It was by accident. It wasn't, 'Hey, I'm going to pursue talent acquisition because I'm passionate about it.'"

After spending several years pursuing music, Tanya began looking for a career path that offered greater long-term stability and predictability. Through her professional network, she was presented with an opportunity to join a staffing firm as a recruiter despite having no previous recruiting experience.

Armed with a background in sales, operations, and customer-facing roles, she quickly realized that recruiting combined many of the things she already loved—building relationships, asking questions, and learning about people.

"I like talking with people. I like asking questions and learning about people."

That opportunity launched a career that would eventually take her from agency recruiting to corporate talent acquisition leadership and ultimately entrepreneurship.

Building a Career Through Curiosity and Connection

Tanya began her recruiting career at a boutique staffing firm where she unexpectedly found her niche in construction recruiting.

While construction wasn't initially part of her plan, she quickly discovered a strong connection with the industry and the people within it.

"The construction industry is very much a people industry."

Her authentic and relationship-driven approach aligned naturally with an industry built on trust, collaboration, and strong personal connections.

After spending two years in agency recruiting, Tanya transitioned into an internal recruiting role with construction consultancy and project management firm Currie & Brown. There, she advanced into a Senior Recruiter position while helping scale teams and support projects across the United States and Canada.

Seeking new challenges and greater leadership opportunities, she later joined Linesight, where she rapidly progressed into management. During her tenure, she played a key role in building and developing the recruiting team, helping grow the function from just a few recruiters to a larger, high-performing talent acquisition organization.

"I never thought I would be a manager or a leader, but I embraced it."

One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership, she says, was helping others grow and watching team members achieve success in their own careers.

Those experiences eventually inspired her next step: entrepreneurship.

Having always wanted to build and run her own business, Tanya partnered with industry professionals in her network to launch iRecruit, where she combines the best elements of agency recruiting, talent consulting, and business leadership.

Solving Complex Hiring Challenges

Today, what energizes Tanya most is helping organizations solve difficult hiring problems.

Whether a company is struggling to scale, facing talent shortages, or simply unsure how to structure its hiring strategy, she enjoys stepping in with fresh perspectives and practical solutions.

"If you've not worked in talent acquisition and you're trying to grow and scale a company, it can be overwhelming."

Drawing on years of recruiting experience, Tanya helps organizations navigate those challenges while minimizing costly hiring mistakes and building stronger talent strategies.

At the same time, she remains equally passionate about the candidate side of recruiting.

One of her favorite aspects of the profession is the opportunity to learn from the professionals she interviews every day.

Project managers, cost managers, construction executives, and technical specialists all bring unique experiences and expertise. By asking thoughtful questions and listening carefully, Tanya continually expands her own understanding of industries, projects, and leadership challenges.

"I can learn so much from people just by asking the right questions."

A Global Perspective on Talent

Throughout her career, Tanya has worked with professionals from around the world, including candidates and hiring managers across North America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Those experiences have reinforced one of her core beliefs: while cultures, communication styles, and business practices may differ, people are fundamentally connected by shared goals and experiences.

"It's fascinating to understand different cultural nuances and communication styles."

The opportunity to engage with people from diverse backgrounds continues to fuel her curiosity and passion for recruiting.

For Tanya, every conversation presents an opportunity to learn something new, gain a different perspective, or deepen her understanding of the world.

Leading Through Relationships

As recruiting continues to evolve, Tanya remains focused on the human side of talent acquisition.

Technology, automation, and AI may continue to transform how organizations source and engage talent, but relationships remain at the heart of successful hiring.

Whether she is helping organizations solve complex workforce challenges, supporting candidates through career transitions, or building her own business, Tanya approaches every interaction with curiosity, authenticity, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

Her journey from music production student to recruiting entrepreneur demonstrates the power of embracing unexpected opportunities and building a career around relationships, continuous learning, and service to others.

Those qualities make Tanya Runholt a deserving member of the Talent 100 Awards.