Susan Burns    

As the founder of Talent Synchronicity Susan develops strategic talent solutions through an integrated alignment with core business functions and processes. By weaving together technology, social media, branding, P & L experience, and alignment with strategic business directives, intrinsic value is created across recruitment and talent initiatives. With a keen focus on adaptive and sustainable solutions, Susan facilitates establishing a foundation for talent functions to deliver enhanced value across the organization in today's and tomorrow's business environments. Susan is a strong advocate of integrating social media to enhance engagement of prospective talent and advance a company's brand equity and competitive positioning.

Susan also serve as Executive Director for The Future of Talent - a community of senior talent leaders influencing the future of talent, founded in 2004 by Kevin Wheeler. Through an annual retreat, practitioners come together to design guiding forecasts and strategies in the areas of talent acquisition, branding, knowledge management, employee development, and leadership.

Previously, Susan was Worldwide Talent Acquisition Leader with Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, the second largest privately held global PR agency. Susan was responsible for leading and developing a global talent attraction and acquisition function, a workforce planning model, and Agency Executive Board guidance. Enabling success in these areas further enhanced the essential relationship between business and talent to advantage this leading strategic communications agency in time-to-fill and talent planning methodologies.

Prior to Waggener Edstrom, Susan was Operating Vice President of Employment Initiatives and College Relations for Federated Department Stores (Macy's Inc). Her contributions included selection, development, deployment and utilization of recruitment technologies, employment brand development, SEO, marketing, change management, and talent-centric initiatives to further educate and align key constituents. Susan established a platform for continued growth and expansion of talent attraction and acquisition strategies through her leadership in creating the Recruitment Leaders Conference and developing the company's employment platform Retailology.com, which included macysJOBS.com and bloomingdalesJOBS.com, among others. Through Susan's leadership contribution to Federated's college relations program the company was recognized by Business Week as one of the Top 50 employers for new college graduates.