13: From Attraction to Retention: Transforming Early Career Strategy at Visa | Jennifer Gill

Release Date: Aug 5

Unlock the secrets behind impactful early career programs in this dynamic episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast. Host Mickey Fitch Collins, Ph.D., chats with Jennifer Gill, the leader of Visa’s Global Early Careers and Talent Acquisition Programs, to reveal how to strategically attract, develop, and retain the next generation of talent. From building foundational teams to ensuring authentic engagement with underrepresented groups, Jen shares her hard-won lessons from building scalable global initiatives that directly drive business outcomes. Listeners will get an insider’s peek into Visa’s approach, hear actionable tips for engaging Gen Z talent, and discover how authenticity and vulnerability shape transformative leadership. Whether you're at a large enterprise or a small business, this episode is packed with practical strategies to supercharge your early career programming.

‍What You’ll Learn:

• How to build an early career strategy that ties directly to business outcomes, regardless of company size.
• Why listening and consulting with business leaders is essential to matching talent solutions to real needs.
• The pillars of a scalable early career program, from right-fit teams to clear vision and leadership buy-in.
• Visa’s multi-layered approach to early talent: sourcing, attraction, onboarding, and ongoing development.
• Authentic tactics for engaging and supporting underrepresented and underserved talent pools.
• The real reasons Gen Z needs a different recruitment approach—and the common mistakes organizations make.

In This Episode:

• 00:00 – Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast and episode overview
• 00:42 – Introducing guest Jennifer Gill and her role at Visa
• 02:46 – Jen’s early background and passion for talent development
• 03:40 – Building talent strategies connected to business outcomes
• 06:30 – The power of listening and consulting (not just “solutioning”)
• 09:27 – Jen’s path from accounting to HR and the art of business listening
• 09:51 – Scalable core elements of early career programs
• 12:32 – Inside Visa’s early careers program: structure and roles
• 14:47 – Sourcing and attracting diverse early career talent authentically
• 18:36 – How to create belonging for underrepresented groups
• 19:09 – Gen Z in the workforce: tackling myths and mistakes
• 23:20 – The legacy of early career programs at Visa
• 25:24 – Jen’s biggest leadership lesson: authenticity over imitation
• 27:48 – Myths and uncomfortable truths in leadership development
• 29:42 – Action steps for starting or enhancing early career programming
• 31:04 – How to connect with Jen and get support
  

About Jennifer Gill

Jennifer Gill leads Visa’s Global Early Careers and Talent Acquisition and Programs team, where she oversees the recruitment, onboarding, and development of over 1,200 new professionals each year. With over 13 years of previous experience at EY in various talent and professional roles, Jen brings a deep passion for supporting students and early career professionals as they launch and navigate their careers. Her leadership at Visa focuses on strategic alignment with business goals, creating scalable programs, and ensuring authentic, personalized experiences for all talent, especially historically underrepresented groups. Connect with Jennifer Gill Voss on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

Resources Referenced:

• Jennifer Gill on LinkedIn‍
• Gen Z & Technology: Pew Research (additional context on Gen Z communication referenced)
• Connect with host Mickey Fitch Collins, PhD.

Connect with Us:

• Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com
• Email us: podcast@learnit.com
• Follow Learnit on LinkedIn and Instagram

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