The pathway to become a Talent Director

We asked Nina Pollard, head of P&C – Corporate Functions at Coles, 3 quick questions and she came back with 3 quick (and insightful!) answers. 


How did you get started in Talent?

Like many, I started my talent journey as an agency recruiter for Diversiti: an Accenture business, hiring tech contractors for EDS.

What was the tipping point in your career that really escalated your journey into a senior leadership position?

Taking on the Chief of Staff role about 10 years ago; that was intense! But it was also where I had some of my biggest on the job learning and development. Getting exposure to the CEO, Executive team and Board day to day in my work was a fantastic opportunity  to grow and learn from some very impressive leaders.

Any hot tips for anyone aspiring to become a Talent Director?

One of keys is to ensure you’ve got both breadth and depth in your experience to ensure you can ‘join the dots’ when you’re a leader in Talent.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Melbourne?

It’s hard to choose just 1 activity – but I’d say get on a tram! Go to one of the cool neighbourhoods in Melbourne where there are small, interesting bars, restaurants and shops. Try Tram No. 96 go one way to St. Kilda Beach or the other way to check out Brunswick St, Fitzroy.


Want to hear more from Nina? She’s speaking at ATC2024 this year – get your tickets now!

Article By

Get more articles direct to your inbox

Upcoming Events

AI Uplift Workshop: Play Ball with AI

30 July 2026

Annual Conference: ATC2026 UPLIFT

13 & 14 October 2026

WEBINAR: Unpacking the State of TA 2026

2-Part Series: 21 July + 28 July 2026

You may also enjoy reading...

Recruiters assess candidates every day. We review CVs, LinkedIn profiles, communication style, credibility, attention to detail, career progression and professional judgement. But candidates are assessing recruiters in exactly the same way.
A Talent Partner can mean many things across different organisations. When structured (and labelled!) correctly, Talent Advisors are a Commercial Hiring Coach offering high-value consulting and strategic decision support: helping leaders make informed workforce choices, challenge traditional and sometimes outdated hiring practices, and align talent decisions with business reality.
Is the candidate you’re interviewing a deepfake or a real person? Do you have an AI governance policy in your organisation? Will AI make your skills and ultimately your career obsolete? Will AI replace recruiters? Do you still think AI is just like any other revolution?