Building a Skills-First Workforce at Enterprise Scale with Astad Dhunjisha of AT&T

Building talent at enterprise scale requires more than efficient hiring — it demands a long-term commitment to capability, culture and growth. On this episode, host Ryan Dull is joined by Astad Dhunjisha, Vice President Human Resources - Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development at AT&T. They dive into Astad’s career journey, how AT&T hires and develops tens of thousands of employees each year, and why shifting from process-driven recruiting to talent-driven TA is essential for building a future-ready workforce. The episode also explores how skills-based hiring, internal mobility and emerging AI capabilities are reshaping how large organizations think about talent.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction.

02:35 Astad shares how his broad HR background shapes his long-term focus on talent acquisition.

05:47 AT&T’s brand recognition streamlines candidate engagement across roles.

10:07 A leadership vision balances internal expertise with external perspectives.

12:19 A shift in TA to proactive talent hunting and future-facing employer-brand positioning.

15:10 Middle managers often grow internally through mobility and upskilling.

18:39 Skills-based hiring emerges as a key priority.

21:13 A university class dedicated to TA reflects its growing importance.

24:43 A strong eye for talent remains critical, despite AI-driven résumés.

Resources Mentioned: