Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks

Michelle Link, Chief Human Resources Officer of Maximus, leads global HR for a workforce of 40,000 to 50,000 people. Her career includes HR leadership roles at Corning, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, PRA Group, and ADS. At Maximus, she oversaw the hiring of 16,000 people in four weeks for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. We talk with Michelle about what gets sacrificed in emergency-speed hiring, why Maximus pairs AI training with human-centered skills, and her case for hiring for likability. She also shares the interview question that reveals true self-awareness and the career advice she would give her younger self.

Oct 14, 2026
# mins
Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks

Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks

Michelle Link, Chief Human Resources Officer of Maximus, leads global HR for a workforce of 40,000 to 50,000 people. Her career includes HR leadership roles at Corning, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, PRA Group, and ADS. At Maximus, she oversaw the hiring of 16,000 people in four weeks for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. We talk with Michelle about what gets sacrificed in emergency-speed hiring, why Maximus pairs AI training with human-centered skills, and her case for hiring for likability. She also shares the interview question that reveals true self-awareness and the career advice she would give her younger self.

Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks

Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks

Michelle Link, Chief Human Resources Officer of Maximus, leads global HR for a workforce of 40,000 to 50,000 people. Her career includes HR leadership roles at Corning, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, PRA Group, and ADS. At Maximus, she oversaw the hiring of 16,000 people in four weeks for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. We talk with Michelle about what gets sacrificed in emergency-speed hiring, why Maximus pairs AI training with human-centered skills, and her case for hiring for likability. She also shares the interview question that reveals true self-awareness and the career advice she would give her younger self.

Podcast: Michelle Link — 16,000 Hires in Four Weeks
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