AN INTERVIEW WITH
CoSandra Dent
VP, Global Talent Acquisition | Atlanta | Georgia, USA
AN INTERVIEW WITH
CoSandra Dent
VP, Global Talent Acquisition | Atlanta | Georgia, USA
Tell us a little about your career journey. What is your role at NCR?
I’ve been a recruiter for my entire career, starting in social services as a foster - care recruiter.
That job entailed finding families to foster or adopt children who had a behavior diagnosis. After several years, I decided to take the concept of recruiting into a different area.
From there, I landed my first corporate job at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a technical recruiter. I had the pleasure of working for several Fortune 500 companies as a technical recruiter, including NCR from 2008-2011. In 2011, I decided to join Fiserv as a corporate recruiter, and over a span of 10 years, became their VP, Talent Acquisition.
What brought you to NCR most recently? Why did you consider coming back to NCR after leaving?
NCR reached out to me, actually. I wasn’t in the market, but since it was where I had worked previously, I wanted to hear more.
I initially thought NCR was continuing to focus on hardware services since it was a focus when I was there previously.
After taking a look at the website and seeing the transformation that had occurred over the past 10 years, I was amazed at the growth in software services, and other innovations that were driving branch transformation, digital banking and service delivery across retail and hospitality industries.
Outside of the job description, what other important questions were you trying to get answered, prior to making your decision?
Since the pandemic, most companies have developed their own ideas about how to best resume business.
I wanted to find out what NCR envisioned for the future. I asked questions around flexibility and expectations of in-office vs. remote working. The hiring manager and recruiter provided insight around NCR’s hybrid and flexible workstyle – this played a huge role in my decision to return.
Additionally, the hiring manger was transparent about the current state of the talent acquisition department I would be joining and leading. This included not only the department’s current condition, but its current success and areas for opportunity. This type of transparency got me excited for this role and the work I’d be doing to help NCR in its transformation to an innovative software company.
“Now, innovation is the first word that comes to mind when I think about NCR. It’s very different than the company I worked for 10+ years ago.”
How do you describe NCR now? Is it different than how you described NCR previously?
Innovation. Now, innovation is the first word that comes to mind when I think about NCR.
It’s very different than the company I worked for 10+ years ago.
Our solutions and services focus heavily on our customers,’ business and consumer, to make everyday banking transactions easy and convenient, not to mention the cutting-edge retail and hospitality self-checkout and payment systems software.
What should NCR highlight to new/returning employees to ignite interest?
We should better highlight what’s new around innovation and talk more around the current culture.
For example, more employee spotlights, like this!
"Every day, our employees choose to be part of #NCRLife – to care for our customers, care for each other and give back to our communities around the world."
What’s your favorite part about working at NCR?
Being part of the continued growth and transformation.
And of course, seeing the NCR emblem on products my family and I use daily!
"Employees are the lifeline of a business, and when they return to an organization, it speaks volumes. We’d like to shine a spotlight on a valued employee and share their story on how they realized the grass is greener at NCR."
What’s been your favorite project you’ve worked on, or the one you are most proud of?
Being responsible for merging two talent acquisition (TA) teams together after an acquisition.
Peeling back the layers of TA processes, structure, tools, identifying synergies and cost savings. All of this really allowed me to assess, make recommendations, provide solutions and stand up a best-in-class global TA function.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
I enjoy traveling, reading and shopping.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates?
Candidates shouldn’t only determine if NCR is the right technical fit.
They should ask the right questions around culture to ensure it’s the right team fit as well.