Episode 277

EP277: Renuka Gundala , Founder & Director at Talent Grader Ltd - Why EMPATHY is your secret sauce as a recruiter

Published on: 26th May, 2025

Renuka Gundala, Founder & Director of Talent Grader LTD. In this episode she shares her, two decade long, journey in recruitment with a focus on executive search and senior roles in the not for profit sector. Starting Talent Grader during the COVID-19 pandemic, she initially provided talent assessments for recruiters and HR professionals then later expanding into executive search services for charities and purpose driven organisations, including B Corps.

Renuka emphasises the thoughtful use of psychometric assessments, deploying them only when they serve a clear client need. She also created an online database to help users find the right assessment tools. Despite their potential, these tools are underused by recruitment businesses in hiring for their own teams.

Her executive search approach is tailored and client focused, involving case studies, scenarios and occasionally psychometric tools. She values transparency and the human element in recruitment & underscores the recruiters ability to positively shape the hiring process. The conversation also explores equality, diversity and inclusion, acknowledging both ongoing efforts and the challenges posed by shifting political climates.

In terms of inclusive hiring, Renuka advocates for empathy and simplicity recommending job descriptions list only 5–6 essential criteria to attract a diverse range of applicants. Her and Lysha stress the importance of designing thoughtful, inclusive recruitment processes that consider the candidate experience.

The discussion concludes with advice for recruiters and business founders on building empathetic, inclusive, and value driven hiring practices, especially in the non profit sector, where diversity and mission alignment are key.

Connect with Renuka here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renukagundala/


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The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger and partners to Needi, Keybridge IT and Diversity and Inclusion .



Our Sponsor:




Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.




Find out more details on Paiger here - https://paiger.co/?utm_source=podcast...




Our Partners:




Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best, local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders, save companies time and money, with their complimentary corporate gifting service . Find out more here -https://needi.co.uk/




Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed anidence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.




Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider - Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers. Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more didence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.

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About the Podcast

The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast
The podcast destination for all levels of recruiters seeking inspiration to become the best in class.
Welcome to The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast!

The Recruiters Recruitment Podcast is listened to from all corners of the globe.
Created in the global lockdown of 2020, Our audience drop in knowing that they are going to listen to a guest who is a knowledgable leader in their industry willingly sharing their professional and often personal journeys to enable YOU, our precious listener, a chance to learn, self-development and above all else, reflect on your own life and experience. A safe place to spend half an hour where we hope to allow you to learn something.

Our host - Lysha Holmes has been in the recruitment industry for almost a quarter of a century and for most of that duration, has championed best practise in the Rec2Rec sphere (placing recruiters themselves). A vocal advocate for well-being, Lysha talks openly about sobriety, and her life as a solo parent all whilst running a recruitment business.

Here we are now in 2025- with Season 5 which will focus on the holistic approach to leadership with more experts and inspiring voices from across the recruitment industry and beyond, sharing their experiences with you- our cherished listener!

The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is for those who are aspiring future leaders, those who want to improve themselves on their recruitment journey and also those who are running companies now to learn from their peers. So we LOVE to hear from you, drop us a DM so we know what you have learned.

Above all else, we hope you find The Recruiters Recruitment Podcast to be a positive inspiring place to be.

One final thing before you press play- please remember to subscribe and review - thank you!

All the episodes are also put on our YouTube channel - so to watch the interviews/discussions visit our channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEiVMynhdhSz4Qzu2gguHG

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This podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger and a partner to Needi, Diversity in Recruitment, and Keybridge IT.

Our Sponsor:
Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.

Find out more details on Paiger here - https://paiger.co/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_campaign=recruiters-recruiter


Needi; Is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best, local independent businesses.
Lou’s team of expert gift finders, save companies time and money, with their complimentary corporate gifting service. From thank-you gifts for small start-ups to well-being events for FTSE 100 companies, Needi helps companies motivate and retain the best staff and clients, through thoughtful, affordable gifting, events and experience days.

Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed and delivered by experienced recruiters, giving your teams the insight, tools, and confidence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.

Keybridge IT Solutions; Providing 24×7 Support to all Customers.
Established in 2010, Keybridge IT Solutions is a London-based Fully Managed IT Support and solutions Provider.
Specialities include Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Security, Internet Connectivity, VoIP, and much more.
They work in many industries, including Recruitment, Finance, Leisure and the Charity Sector.

Don't forget to like and subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our episodes!

About your host

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Lysha Holmes