Summary
In this episode of HRIS Careers we sit down with Rebecca Volpano, the Vice President of Product Marketing at Cielo Talent. With a background rooted in retail operations, Rebecca shares how she transitioned into HR technology, evolved through roles in consulting and product, and now drives product marketing strategies for Cielo’s HR tech and services.
She discusses what makes HRIS such a unique field, the value of curiosity in today’s AI-driven environment, and the tools her team is developing to improve talent acquisition. This conversation is packed with insights on leadership, change management, and the future of recruiting technology.
🎧 Listen On
📚 Mentions
Products & Technologies
- Taleo – Rebecca’s first ATS experience
- SuccessFactors – Certification and early HRIS work
- iCIMS – Used in client implementations
- SmartRecruiters – Part of Cielo Talent Cloud stack
- Paradox – Conversational AI used in Cielo’s tech offerings
- Oracle Recruiting Cloud – Referenced by Troy in consulting work
Other Podcast Episodes Referenced
- Cheese and Chad Podcast – Rebecca was previously a guest
- Tim Sackett HR Famous Podcast– Featuring Jason Roberts, Rebecca’s colleague
- HRIS Careers: Taleo Exit Strategy Episode – Hosted by Troy Wallace
- HRIS Careers: Change Management Episode – Discussed managing organizational resistance
🧰 Resources Mentioned
- Cielo Talent Career Page – Explore open roles
- Cielo Talent – Learn about their solutions and services
- Safe House Milwaukee – A spy-themed restaurant Rebecca and Troy joked about
- Rebecca Volpano on LinkedIn – Connect with Rebecca
⏱️ Chapter Timestamps
00:00 – Opening teaser: Market intelligence & AI tools
00:50 – Intro to the HRIS Careers podcast and guest intro
03:41 – Rebecca joins: Purple socks & first impressions
04:30 – How Rebecca got into HR Tech by “happy accident”
05:57 – Milwaukee roots & Cielo’s North American HQ
06:44 – Taleo, SuccessFactors, iCIMS: Early tech exposure
08:02 – Thoughts on different HRIS platforms
09:00 – The move toward conversational recruiting tech
10:19 – Cielo’s evolution beyond RPO
12:23 – Cielo’s HR tech consulting approach
14:16 – Rebecca’s path from ops to product marketing
16:14 – Her retail beginnings at L Brands
18:04 – Transferrable skills: From retail to HR tech
20:15 – What makes client transformations challenging
22:29 – When leadership wants change, but the team doesn’t
23:52 – Lightning round begins 🧨
24:09 – The Safe House bar in Milwaukee
25:17 – Tech buzzword that makes Rebecca cringe
26:20 – Wisconsin comfort food: Pierogis
26:44 – Dream tool: AI assistant that updates ATS statuses
28:15 – Rebecca on Cielo’s next 18 months of AI offerings
31:05 – Bespoke tech stacks with GenAI
32:32 – The enduring value of HRIS expertise in AI era
34:08 – Tech recommendations for companies with no stack
35:18 – Cielo’s talent needs & the value of curiosity
38:07 – Why AI knowledge is the new differentiator
39:02 – Closing thoughts & invitation to connect on LinkedIn
39:32 – Post-show blooper: Volcano or Volpano?
