329 - Why Match is tripling down on Gen Z talent: D.V. Williams (Chief People Officer, Match Group)

<p>D.V. Williams, Chief People Officer from Match Group joined us on The Modern People Leader. </p><p>We talked about why Match is betting on Gen Z talent, how skills are replacing titles as the new currency of work, and how Match is thinking about flexible mentorship and early-career programs.</p><p>----  </p><p><strong>Sponsor Links:</strong></p><p>🔗 Learn more about Beqom at <a href="https://www.beqom.com/mpl"><u>beqom.com/mpl</u></a></p><p>🔗 Learn more about Tilt at<a href="https://hellotilt.com/mpl"><u> </u></a><a href="http://hellotilt.com/mpl"><u>hellotilt.com/mpl</u></a></p><p><strong>MPL Links:</strong></p><p>🔗 <a href="https://mplbuild.com"><u>Go sign up for MPL Build</u></a>.</p><p>----  </p><p>(10:45) Why Match Is Betting on Gen Z Talent</p><p>(12:00) Why Product and People Strategy Need to Align</p><p>(15:20) How Gen Z Thinks About Work Differently</p><p>(17:00) How Tinder Improved Engagement and Shifted the Internal Culture</p><p>(18:20) Becoming Product-Led and Consumer-Focused</p><p>(19:00) Flattening the Org and Getting Doers Closer to Decisions</p><p>(23:45) Why Tenure and Title Are Outdated Proxies for Value</p><p>(24:20) Skills as the New Currency of Work</p><p>(24:45) Rebuilding Mentorship Around Skill Acquisition</p><p>(25:20) Flexible Mentorship and the “Tinder for Skill Acquisition” Idea</p><p>(30:15) How Match Is Approaching AI Internally</p><p>(31:00) Equipping Employees With AI Without Framing It as Headcount Reduction</p><p>(31:20) Match’s AI Day and Employee-Led Experimentation</p><p>(34:00) How Dating Apps Are Evolving With AI and IRL Experiences</p><p>(35:00) Using AI to Help People Show Up More Authentically on Dating Apps</p><p>(40:15) Match’s Cross-Functional Rotational Program</p><p>(41:30) Match’s Internship Program: 20,000 Applicants for 26 Roles</p><p>(43:35) How the 2026 Rotational Program Is Different From Traditional Programs</p><p>(45:35) Why Curiosity Beyond the Job Description Matters</p><p>(48:05) Focusing Development on Skill Acquisition, Not the Next Title</p><p>---- </p><p><strong>📬 </strong><a href="https://www.modernpeopleleader.com/newsletter"><strong>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps</strong></a></p><p><strong>💡 </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-modern-people-leader/"><strong>Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn</strong></a></p><p><strong>😊 </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-huerta-mpl/"><strong>Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn</st