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Adam Ward says recruiters are blamed for hiring goals without authority

Lenny's Podcast · The playbook for building high talent density teams | Adam Ward, Head of Talent at Cursor · August 9, 2026
Adam Ward says recruiters are blamed for hiring goals without authority
Lenny's Podcast
Lenny's Podcast
The playbook for building high talent density teams | Adam Ward, Head of Talent at Cursor
"I think a lot of companies the recruiting owns the hiring goal. And I've yet to be in a company where recruiters are making hiring decisions. So these things are in conflict."
Adam Ward argues many organisations wrongly hold recruiting teams responsible for hiring targets even though hiring managers or committees make the final decisions. He says this creates structural conflict and lets leaders shift a core management duty onto recruiters.
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Lenny's Podcast
Lenny's Podcast

The playbook for building high talent density teams | Adam Ward, Head of Talent at Cursor

August 10, 2026 · 1h 30m · 6 Egleze moments
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