Top 10 new recruiter influencers to follow in 2026
Chris Allen
TL;DR
Since the founding of Happlicant, one of the most energizing aspects has been the people. Not just the teams behind the product, but the broader community of recruiters, talent acquisition professionals, HR innovators, and thought leaders who exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and continuously push the industry forward.
Staying connected to the right voices goes far beyond scrolling LinkedIn — it’s about expanding perspective and staying ahead of shifts in hiring, technology, candidate experience, and leadership.
In a world where digital transformation and talent expectations evolve daily, following thoughtful, practical, and human-centered voices can make a real difference.
Below is a curated list of 10 recruiter and HR influencers to watch heading into 2026 — individuals whose insights are shaping modern hiring strategies and redefining what great talent acquisition looks like.
1. Hung Lee: Founder, Recruiting Brainfood
Hung Lee doesn’t just curate weekly insights on talent acquisition and the future of work. He weaves context, data, and trends into digestible commentary that helps you actually think about what’s next.
If every recruiter had one newsletter in their inbox, it should be Recruiting Brainfood.
Why follow: sharp analysis + forward-looking recruitment trends.
2. Vanessa Raath: Talent Sourcing & AI in Recruiting
Vanessa has become a go-to voice for integrating modern tech (including AI) into recruiting workflows without losing the human touch.
Whether it’s sourcing strategies, multichannel outreach, or practical use cases for automation, her perspectives bridge the gap between tools and real, everyday recruiter work.
Why follow: practical, tech-informed recruiter insights.
3. William Tincup: Analyst, Advisor & HR Tech Veteran
William’s voice is one of those that consistently moves beyond buzzwords. Founder of RecruitingDaily and a respected analyst, his discussions span candidate experience, HR tech strategy, and how recruiting intersects with broader business outcomes.
If you want to level up your understanding of why systems and processes matter, start here.
Why follow: depth + strategic HR tech insight.
4. Jim Stroud: “Recruit Smarter” Host & Sourcing Specialist
Jim brings decades of recruiting experience to the table, and he teaches it generously.
As host of the The Jim Stroud Podcast and a consistent LinkedIn voice, Jim breaks down sourcing, automation, and candidate engagement in ways both practical and actionable.
Why follow: smart sourcing and practical recruiting career advice.
5. Bonnie Dilber: Recruiting Leader & Talent Advocate
In LinkedIn’s own Top Content in Digital Recruitment Trends, Bonnie stands out for practical posts that blend candidate experience with modern recruitment challenges, including fairness, diversity, and tech adoption.
Why follow: people-centered recruiting insights with a modern edge.
6. Joel Lalgee: Recruitment Influencer & Thought Curator
Joel’s voice has been gaining traction in the space for a reason: he blends humor, grounded career insights, and real recruiter experiences into content that feels real.
Whether he’s analyzing hiring psychology or calling out common pitfalls in agency life, his voice adds nuance most of us need.
Why follow: grounded, relatable recruiting commentary.
7. Natalie Stones: Community Builder & Talent Activist
Natalie is doing something a bit different: building a global talent network with a mission to connect, support, and empower recruiters, with a strong focus on women in the industry.
Her leadership inside Talent Collective speaks to a shift: recruiting isn’t just about filling jobs, it’s about community.
Why follow: community-driven recruiter perspectives.
8. Adam Posner: TA Strategist & Storyteller
Adam uses storytelling as a lens into talent strategy, employer brand, and the emotional side of recruiting work.
With his podcast The POZcast, he digs into what makes recruiting tick; from leadership conversations to the human elements of candidate engagement.
Why follow: strategy + storytelling for TA leaders.
9. Katrina Collier: Candidate Experience & Ethical Recruiting Voice
Katrina Collier has built her reputation around human-first recruiting and ethical candidate engagement, long before it became trendy.
She’s a global keynote speaker, author of The Robot-Proof Recruiter, and a consistent voice challenging lazy sourcing, ghosting, and transactional hiring.
Why follow: ethical recruiting in an AI-heavy era.
10. Sharlyn Lauby: “HR Bartender” & Workplace Humanist
Sharlyn has been sharing practical HR and people management insights for years through HR Bartender.
Beyond recruiting, she explores what it means to create workplaces where people thrive: a perfect anchor for recruiters thinking holistically about candidate experience through to retention.
Why follow: the human side of workplace culture and hiring.
Why influencer insights still matter
We’re in a moment where data and technology change how talent moves, but human connection remains the foundation of great hiring.
LinkedIn’s content trends (including voices highlighted under digital recruitment trends) show that real insights rise above the noise when they’re grounded in lived experience and practical value.
Beyond inspiration, following these influencers can:
Keep you ahead of emerging recruitment trends (like AI readiness, changing expectations, and candidate experience shifts).
Help you deepen your recruiting strategy with fresh perspectives.
Build empathy into your TA work by learning from voices who center people first.
A parting thought
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from watching this space grow and from building tools like Happlicant, it’s that recruiting is about people first.
Systems, workflows, and tech will change over time, but the core challenge remains: how do we connect great people with great opportunities in ways that feel respectful, thoughtful, and effective?
These voices help us do just that, by reminding us that every hire is a conversation, not a transaction.
If you’re building a recruiting playbook for 2026 and beyond, following the right network of thinkers is essential.
And these folks? They’re voices worth bookmarking.
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