Månefisken, a popular venue in Oslo, was the setting for a momentous occasion as the trio behind Talent Society – Line Westergaard from NoA Ignite, Ole Kristian Jonsrud, and Ingrid Bexrud from Fremtind Forsikring – walked away with the prestigious honor at the Magnet Awards.
The trio expressed their surprise and joy at winning the award, stating, „This is absolutely amazing. We are surprised, happy, and very proud, but at the same time humble in the face of the encouraging recognition,“ in an interview with KOM24.
Talent Society, a user-owned professional network founded by the three in March last year, aims to create a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration across competing recruitment agencies. Westergaard explained, „We felt the need for this ourselves. There has been a lot of secrecy in the industry, with closed agency environments and limited sharing of experiences. We wanted to build bridges and break down barriers.“
Since its inception, over 500 members have joined Talent Society’s LinkedIn community. The attendance at the five gatherings they have held so far has ranged from 60 to over 100 participants from the entire recruitment industry. Jonsrud added, „At the meetings, we invite talented individuals and encourage everyone to be there as professionals, not representatives of their employers.“
Bexrud emphasized the importance of the open environment and willingness to share within Talent Society. She said, „We see a lot of cases and creative outputs from agencies, but here we get to hear about the process behind it – the strategic work and everything you don’t see in the end result.“
Bexrud, who oversees the professionalization and standardization of Talent Acquisition at Fremtind, and Jonsrud, who is responsible for recruitment processes and advisory recruitment for Fremtind’s 130 leaders, bring a wealth of experience to the network. Westergaard, with 15 years of experience in the recruitment industry, currently serves as the Head of People and Process at NoA Ignite.
„We have created a safe space where people can discuss their profession across companies. Even though we are competitors outside of these meetings, the goal is to share knowledge and learn from each other,“ Westergaard reiterated.
The network’s next gathering on August 27 will focus on the practical use of AI in employer branding and recruitment. The trio credits the success of their initiative to the contributions of other industry experts who openly share their knowledge at their meetings.
The recognition they have received indicates that they have tapped into a genuine need within the industry and are moving in the right direction. As the winners concluded, „Our initiative would not have been possible without all the other talented minds from the entire industry who contribute and share so openly at our gatherings.“
In conclusion, the trio’s dedication to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the recruitment industry through Talent Society has not only earned them a prestigious award but also highlighted the importance of breaking down barriers and building a supportive community for professionals in the field.