Can I Ask You Something? Vol. 6

Jessye Kass Karlin, Riverwalker Talent

If you know me, you know that I love thinking about what it means to build organizations where people can do their best work. How do those talented people find the organizations? How can the process begin?

Jessye Kass Karlin runs Riverwalker Talent, a nonprofit search firm built on the premise that recruitment can be psychologically safe, values-aligned, and genuinely human. Her answers here are a good reminder that the way we treat people in that process matters as much as the outcome.

Jessye Kass Karlin of Riverwalker Talent

Hi Jessye! Tell us a bit about your organization.

Riverwalker Talent is a purpose-driven nonprofit recruitment firm that offers customized talent solutions to values-aligned organizations. We provide psychologically safe recruitment processes for mission-oriented work that makes the world a better place - while making sure candidates are treated with respect and care every step of the way.

What’s one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?
There is no "A+" in life; being human is making mistakes, growing, learning and finding joy in the every day. What you're searching for comes from within, not accolades.

What’s something bringing you joy in your life right now?
Partnering with grassroots immigration and domestic violence agencies that are doing incredible work supporting and saving lives daily.

What’s one boundary you’re holding right now?
We only take contracts that are deeply values-aligned, including a belief in supporting transpeople.

What does equity look like in your day-to-day work?
Psychologically safe recruitment processes with multiple ways of accessibility and an understanding of transferable skills, sliding scale costs for clients especially those in grassroots work

What’s something that happened today that stayed with you?
A person I interviewed many months ago reached out to say that after 10 months job searching, I was the only recruiter who was responsive and made her feel comfortable in the interview.

Thank you again, Jessye! You can find out more about Riverwalker Talent here.

Riverwalker Talent logo

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