SocialTalent Supper Club 2026
A room of peers, not a panel of strangers.
You are warmly invited to an exclusive, invite-only gathering of the industry’s leading Heads of Talent Acquisition and CHROs at SocialTalent’s Summer Supper Club.
The event will take place on June 17th in West San Jose, at Augustine Restaurant, Santana Row
Join fellow senior talent leaders for a high-trust space to learn, connect, and swap real insights on the challenges you’re facing right now — and the trends reshaping the future of talent. Expect thoughtful discussion with world-class experts, fresh perspectives from peers, and plenty of ideas you can bring straight back to your team.
Alongside the sessions, you’ll enjoy exceptional food, drinks, and relaxed, meaningful networking in an intimate setting designed for genuine conversation.
- ◆Three curated sessionsPlus facilitated breakouts
- ◆Lunch & dinnerDrinks reception included
- ◆Peer networkingSmall group, intimate setting
You just need to bring your intellect, curiosity, and a willingness to connect.
Register Now
A taste of the supper club.
Three minutes inside Barcelona ’26 — the venue, the conversations, the people you’ll meet.
Meet our speakers.
More to be announced.
Johnny Campbell
CEO & Co-Founder
SocialTalent
Scott McGuckin
VP, Global TA
Cisco
Jason Smith
Head of Global Recruiting
Western Digital
Laura Gillham
Senior Director and Chief of Staff
ServiceNow
John Vlastelica
CEO & Founder
Recruiting Toolbox
Ryan Cook
Head of Talent Acquisition
GALLO
Linda Waste
Senior Director, Global Talent Acquisition Strategy
Electronic Arts
To be announced
More speakers joining
Stay tuned
A single, unhurried day.
Why attend
Expect thoughtful discussion with world-class experts, fresh perspectives from peers, and plenty of ideas you can bring straight back to your team.
You’ll have a chance to participate in small, facilitated breakout groups for deeper insights, then continue the conversation over an evening dinner.
- ①Three curated sessions on the trends reshaping talent
- ②Facilitated breakouts in groups of 6–8 peers
- ③An evening of food, drinks, and unguarded conversation
Agenda
- 11:15amGuests arrive & registration
- 11:30amBig Swing vs. Marginal Gains: How Cisco Is Applying AI Across Recruiting with Scott McGuckin Scott will share Cisco’s perspective on the evolving role of AI in talent acquisition, exploring how organizations are balancing bold transformation ambitions with practical, real-world applications. Drawing on Cisco’s experience, he’ll discuss the opportunities, challenges, and considerations shaping AI adoption across the recruiting lifecycle.
- 1:00pmLunch
- 1:45pmTo Sell Is Recruiting: Winning Talent Against the Odds with Jason Smith Jason Smith will explore why selling remains one of the most important—and often overlooked—skills in recruiting. Drawing on Western Digital’s success competing for top talent against higher-paying tech giants, he’ll share what great recruiting salesmanship looks like and why human influence, persuasion, and storytelling matter more than ever in an AI-powered hiring landscape.
- 3:15pmBreak
- 3:30pmAlignment Before Automation: EA’s Recruiting AI Journey with Linda WasteLinda Waste will share how Electronic Arts rethought its AI strategy after discovering that sourcing, screening, and selection weren’t the biggest opportunities for improvement. Instead, EA turned its attention to one of recruiting’s most overlooked challenges—stakeholder alignment—and will explore how AI and better hiring practices can help teams make smarter decisions before a search even begins.
- 5:00pmBreak
- 5:15pmThe Red Thread: Lessons, Patterns, and Priorities for the Year Ahead (Panel Discussion)& To close us out before dinner, Johnny Campbell is joined by John Vlastelica, Laura Gilliam, and Ryan Cook for a candid discussion on the themes, tensions, and insights that emerged throughout the event. Together, they’ll connect the dots across AI, recruiting excellence, stakeholder alignment, and human skills to explore what talent leaders should prioritize as they prepare for 2026 and beyond.
- 6:00pmDrinks reception
- 6:30pmDinnerAn evening of long-table conversation
Discover San Jose.
San Jose, California sits at the heart of Silicon Valley, blending innovation with a laid-back Californian vibe.
It’s a city where cutting-edge tech meets cultural depth — from the interactive exhibits of The Tech Interactive to the rich history of the Winchester Mystery House. Wander through the vibrant streets of downtown, explore the food scene in San Pedro Square Market, or take in art and performances at the SoFA District. With easy access to nearby redwood forests, hiking trails, and the wider Bay Area, San Jose offers a mix of city energy and outdoor escape.
- Climate in June26 °C · sunny
- Nearest airportSJC · 15 min
- From SFO~ 50 min drive