eLearning Unscripted: Real Talk About Relational Recruiting with Lauren Blood and Cathy Sands

Every conversation I have starts the same way — with genuine curiosity about you. Where have you been? What shaped you? What does your next chapter look like? Because to me, matching talent isn't a transaction — it's one of the most human things I get to do. And I don't take that lightly. I've spent my career learning how to truly listen. Not just to skills and experience, but to the story behind them. The pivot that changed everything. The role that lit you up. The moment you realized what you were actually built for. When someone can articulate how they've grown into the talent they are today, I'm fully in — invested, energized, and wanting to know more. Here's what I know for certain: work is foundational. It shapes our sense of self, our stability, and our ability to show up for the people we love. That's not a small thing. So when I'm working to connect someone with the right opportunity, I carry that weight with me — and I want to. The challenge of finding the right fit is real because we're all human, and our feelings matter. But when it comes together? There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I played a part in someone's growth, their security, and their future. SweetRush feels like home to me because the culture here reflects everything I believe in — encouraging, caring, and being genuinely invested in people. Bringing the right talent into that world, and helping great people do meaningful work in the name of learning, is my privilege every single day. Great work starts with great people, and your journey brought you here for a reason. Whether you're searching for your next role or the perfect partner to build something meaningful, let’s connect. I'm here for it.

I believe that the right opportunity, in the right hands, can change someone's life. As a Talent Consultant at SweetRush, I get to act on that belief every day — connecting talented people with meaningful work, and helping organizations build the kinds of teams where people genuinely thrive. With over a decade of full-cycle recruiting experience, I have partnered with Fortune 500 companies across learning & development, biotech, tech, and financial services — not just to fill roles, but to understand what a team actually needs to grow. I always remember that there's a real person on the other side of every search, and that the way you treat candidates matters just as much as the hire itself. These days, I am part of leading the charge on AI-driven recruiting practices at SweetRush — not because it's trendy, but because I genuinely believe that when people are freed from repetitive tasks, they have more space to do the part of this work that really matters: showing up for people.