SourceCon Webinar

SourceCon Hackathon Fall 2024: Strategies and Lessons from the Finalists

Unlock top strategies, tools, and insights from SourceCon Hackathon finalists to elevate your sourcing game to the next level.

This webinar is over.

Presented by:

Katharine Robinson,

Melissa Shaw,

Justin Mendelsberg,

Rachel Lopez,

Greg Hawkes,

and Susanna Conway

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the minds of some of the top talent sourcing pros who competed in the recent SourceCon Hackathon at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego.

In this engaging panel discussion, moderated by SourceCon Grandmaster Katherine Robinson, our finalists will share the strategies, insights, and lessons that propelled them to the leaderboard. Discover what it takes to thrive under the intense competition of a sourcing hackathon, the tools and methods these sourcing experts relied on, and what they plan to refine for the upcoming SourceCon in Las Vegas.

Whether you’re aiming to compete in the next Hackathon or simply want to sharpen your sourcing skills, this webinar offers practical takeaways and invaluable insights from sourcing’s elite.

Key Takeaways:

Top Competitive Strategies: Uncover the winning tactics and techniques the finalists used to outpace the competition and secure their leaderboard spots.
Lessons Learned in the Heat of Competition: Learn about the unique challenges contestants faced, how they overcame obstacles, and the adjustments they plan to make for future hackathons.
Tools and Resources that Made the Difference: Gain insight into the platforms, tools, and resources finalists used to streamline their sourcing and maximize effectiveness.
What’s Next for Hackathon Competitors: Hear what these finalists are planning to refine or try differently for SourceCon Las Vegas, setting the stage for a new level of competitive sourcing.

Sponsored by

ERE Pro is the world’s largest library of talent acquisition media. ERE Pro features deep dives into the recruiting challenges that real talent acquisition professionals face daily, from practitioners that have already tackled them.

About the speakers

Katharine Robinson

Owner | Sourcer & Sourcing Trainer

Cup & Sourcer

Katharine Robinson is a seasoned Sourcer and Trainer at Cup & Sourcer, specializing in helping recruiters harness the power of Internet sourcing. With over 14 years in recruitment across both agency and in-house teams, she’s recognized for her expertise in sourcing strategy and tools. Notably, Katharine earned the title of Grandmaster Sourcer at SourceCon in 2010. She actively shares her knowledge through the Recruiting Gym and LinkedIn, where she offers weekly tips and sourcing challenges. Katharine also consults on specialized sourcing projects, helping clients tackle complex talent searches with precision and creativity.

Melissa Shaw

Senior Technical Talent Acquisition Specialist

Orion Global Talent

Melissa brings nearly seven years of sourcing expertise, specializing in finding top engineering talent for manufacturing companies. This SourceCon marked her third appearance, showcasing her commitment and experience in the sourcing community.

Justin Mendelsberg

Senior Sourcing Consultant

Objective Paradigm

Justin Mendelsberg is a Senior Sourcing Consultant at Objective Paradigm. With three years of experience, he has sourced talent across the tech spectrum, from small niche firms to a Fortune 50 company, specializing in Boolean search techniques. Passionate about uncovering what others can't, Justin has a special interest in OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), data analysis, and identifying trends. A lifelong Chicagoan and dedicated White Sox fan, Justin enjoys reading Brandon Sanderson novels, scrolling through Reddit, and occasionally venturing outside for a walk. His unique blend of curiosity and analytical skills continually drive his success in the field.

Rachel Lopez

Associate Recruiter

Virta Health

Rachel Lopez is a dynamic talent acquisition specialist having started her career in RecOps, and grown as a TA professional in digital health tech.

With a background in psychology from Rowan University, Rachel combines her understanding of human behavior with her exceptional sourcing skills to connect top-tier talent with meaningful opportunities. Her unique blend of empathy and analytical skills allows her to forge meaningful connections with candidates while precisely aligning their talents with openings.

Greg Hawkes

Principal Sourcing Leader

M&T Bank

Greg Hawkes is a Principal Sourcing Leader and VP, Speaker, Author, and Creator of the SourcingIRL Youtube & TikTok Channels, Founder of the HRSourcingToolbox and the HealthcareSourcingToolbox.

He has worked in technology, engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, manufacturing and many other industries. He is an ongoing contributor to Sourcing Community – with topics ranging from Site Searches and CSEs, to Deep Dives and URL Sourcing. He is a huge fan of emerging technologies and Boolean Syntax and always willing to share a technique or hack to find the elusive purple squirrel.

SourcingIRL started as an Opensource Recruitment project that’s evolved into fully fledged YouTube and TikTok Channels in addition to the tool sites. With the videos, you’ll find recruitment tools, strategies, and 5minHacks that I’ve learned and continue to learn as technology evolves. Whether you are a Sourcer, Recruiter, Jobseeker looking for insider tricks, these channels have the content to help.

Susanna Conway

Lead Technical Recruiter

Western Governors University

Susanna Conway is an accomplished talent acquisition professional with over 14 years of experience in full-cycle recruitment and a proven track record in building high-performing, inclusive teams. Currently serving as Lead Technical Recruiter at Western Governors University, she is recognized for her expertise in data-driven recruitment strategies, diversity sourcing, and operational efficiency. A 3-time SourceCon Hackathon Champion and Walmart Innovation Star Award recipient, Susanna is a thought leader, international speaker, and founder of the Sourcers Who Code community. Her skills span technical recruiting, program management, and talent analytics, making her a dynamic force in the HR and recruitment industry.