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Gen Z hiring expert & speaker

Sophie O'Brien

Generational

Workplace Culture

Business Strategy

Transform recruitment practices with Sophie O'Brien, speaker on Gen Z talent acquisition and values-based hiring. Sophie works with startups and SMEs to eliminate CV bias and identify purpose-driven candidates, leveraging insights from her 5,000+ diverse talent community.

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Sophie O'Brien

London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£2k–5k

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London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£2k–5k

Send an email

loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

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No upfront fee

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Sophie O'Brien's biography

Innovator

Podcast

Professional Development

Business Consulting

Entrepreneur

Thought Leader

Gen Z

Business Leader

Women in Business

Founder

Start-up

At a glance

Founder of innovative recruitment platform Pollen
Leading voice in Gen Z workplace trends
Advisor on value-based hiring practices

Sophie O'Brien is the founder of Pollen, a recruitment platform that is reshaping how young people access meaningful employment by eliminating traditional CVs and focusing on potential. With a background in media and advertising, Sophie has navigated her own challenges within conventional education and employment systems, which fuels her commitment to democratising career opportunities for Gen Z and beyond. Her work centres on innovative hiring practices, diversity in the workplace, and empowering the next generation. Sophie addresses the persistent difficulties startups and SMEs face in attracting the right talent, particularly in a landscape where hiring experienced candidates can be costly and reactive hiring cycles are common. By adopting a values, behaviours, and skills-based approach, she helps leaders identify candidates who align with their business ethos rather than merely their experience. Sophie taps into a community of over 5,000 motivated and diverse job seekers, enabling businesses to reach hidden talent beyond their usual networks. Her decade-long experience in hiring within small companies has equipped her with the insights needed to bridge the gap between young job seekers and employers. In addition to her entrepreneurial efforts, Sophie speaks at business festivals and SME events, sharing her expertise on engaging the Gen Z workforce. Her workshops focus on aligning work with purpose and understanding the values that drive Gen Z, emphasising the importance of meaningful work over financial incentives. Sophie’s insights into the emerging Gen Z leadership crisis highlight the need for organisations to adapt their engagement strategies to meet the expectations of a new generation prioritising balance, purpose, and ethical practices. Her contributions have resonated with audiences, prompting them to rethink their hiring strategies and ensuring they are prepared for the future of work.

Sophie's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Gen Z and the New World of Work

Sophie O’Brien explores how Gen Z is reshaping workplace culture, challenging outdated structures, and demanding greater alignment between values and career choices. She examines the implications for businesses, from rethinking incentives to fostering inclusive work environments. Attendees gain insights into adapting to these shifts and leveraging Gen Z’s priorities to build more sustainable and equitable organisations.

Access and Opportunity

The job market remains stacked against young people, perpetuating a diversity crisis that limits business growth and innovation. Sophie O’Brien examines the systemic barriers that restrict access to employment and how businesses can rethink hiring to create fairer, more dynamic workplaces. She offers practical strategies to open up opportunities, improve retention, and cultivate talent beyond the usual networks.

Bridging Generations

Multigenerational teams are the future of work, but without understanding different expectations and communication styles, businesses risk disengagement and high turnover. Sophie O’Brien shares strategies to foster collaboration between generations, improving team motivation and workplace culture. By addressing generational differences and highlighting shared goals, she equips organisations with the tools to build more cohesive and productive teams.

Beyond the CV

The CV is no longer a reliable measure of potential, yet many businesses still rely on it as the main hiring filter. Sophie O’Brien examines why this outdated approach fails both companies and candidates, offering alternative strategies to assess talent more effectively. She provides a framework for values-based hiring, helping organisations make smarter recruitment decisions that align with long-term success.

The AI Conundrum

AI promises recruitment efficiency, but when used poorly, it often creates barriers, reduces diversity, and harms employer branding. Sophie O’Brien breaks down the common pitfalls of AI-driven hiring and how businesses can integrate technology without losing the human element. She provides insights into balancing automation with a personalised approach to improve hiring outcomes and candidate experience.

Why we recommend booking Sophie

Transform your hiring with Sophie O'Brien, founder of Pollen. With a decade of experience, she helps startups and SMEs attract and retain Gen Z talent through innovative, values-based strategies. Book now to improve your recruitment and drive sustainable growth.

Check Sophie's availability

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What topics does Sophie O'Brien specialise in?

Sophie O'Brien specialises in discussing recruitment innovation, diversity in hiring, empowering gen Z and more.

What is Sophie O'Brien's speaking style like?

Sophie delivers insightful, practical sessions focused on values-driven hiring and Gen Z engagement. Her approachable style encourages leaders to rethink recruitment, prioritising purpose, diversity, and meaningful work for lasting business impact.

How can I book Sophie O'Brien for my next event?

Email sophie.obrien@getapeptalk.com or call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Sophie O'Brien for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Sophie O'Brien's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Sophie O'Brien directly.

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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

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