At the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary brought together two HR pros who had never met—Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston—and uncovered an instant connection. From their shared commitment to servant leadership to their passion for helping others thrive, the conversation quickly turned into a lively, heartfelt exchange.
Ashantae, a Bronx-born talent whisperer now shaping purpose-driven careers, shared how empathy fuels her recruiting. Tiana, a Southern connector with a mission to uplift young professionals, reflected on the moment she helped a student land a dream job after months of mentorship. They both lit up when talking about superpowers—and both pointed to human connection as the key to lasting impact in HR.
With jokes about Atlanta strip clubs, regional rivalries, and zodiac signs mixed in, the episode never loses its sense of realness. But beneath the laughs sits a core truth: the best HR leaders show up not just with skills, but with heart.
Timestamps
00:00 — Two HR pros meet for the first time—instant vibes
00:44 — From Harlem to Atlanta—backgrounds, accents, and favorite local spots
02:21 — Strip club recommendations and airport celebrity sightings
03:34 — What makes a “people hero” in HR?
04:31 — Ashantae sees her role as servant leadership through talent conversations
05:25 — Tiana surprises everyone—servant leadership is in her bio
06:05 — SEC pride and southern hospitality decoded
07:40 — Bless your heart—Southern slang gets personal
08:00 — Tiana shares her proudest HR moment: an intern gets the job
08:35 — Ashantae almost passed on a candidate—until he blew her away
10:11 — Superpowers revealed: empathy, connection, and Olivia Pope energy
11:27 — Why talent acquisition means helping people find work they believe in
12:56 — No sugarcoating—honesty as a hiring asset
13:15 — Active vs passive candidates: does it matter if the fit and mission align?
14:16 — Would you turn down a dream job in the Caymans? Probably not.
15:19 — Final thoughts and big thanks to two new people heroes
This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.
The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.
Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/
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