University of Virginia

William & Mary – Raymond A. Mason School of Business

Global Executive Recruitment at Cognizant

My time at Workday was incredibly rewarding. I gained deep insights into enterprise software and had the opportunity to hire outstanding leaders across product development, GTM, and certain corporate functions. Collaborating with such talented teammates was a highlight, and I look forward to continuing these friendships for years to come.

Since leaving in early June, I’ve taken some time to relax and recharge, enjoying the summer in Myrtle Beach. I’ve also spent considerable time in Alexandria, VA, helping to care for my father-in-law who has Parkinson’s. This time with him has been a true blessing.

Summer Sabbatical

On Leave

Lead executive recruiter and talent partner for Workday’s product development organization.  Also provided back-up support for corporate functions and GTM teams on an as needed basis.  

Sample of successfully completed searches:

•	VP, Product Management (multiple)
•	VP, Software Engineering (multiple)
•	VP, AI & Machine Learning Ambassador
•	VP, Information Security
•	VP, Product Marketing
•	VP, Program Management Office 
•	VP, Enterprise Data & Analytics
•	VP, Head of Global Corporate Strategy
•	VP, Head of Global Corporate Development
•	VP, Head of Global Real Estate
•	VP, GTM Strategy & Transformation

All searches were completed without the assistance of external search firms. 

Workday is a leading enterprise platform that helps organizations manage their most important assets – their people and money. The Workday platform is built with AI at the core to help customers elevate people, supercharge work, and move their business forever forward. Workday is used by more than 10,000 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 50% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

Workday

Principal Executive Talent Acquisition Partner

Built in-house team responsible for VP+ recruitment across NetApp.

NetApp

Director, Global Executive Recruiting

Strategic partner to Cognizant’s most senior business leaders, providing comprehensive in-house executive search services addressing our most important executive leadership needs at the Vice President level and above.  

Sample of successfully completed searches:

• SVP, Total Rewards (direct report to our Chief People Officer)
• SVP, Chief Sales Officer – Digital Systems & Technologies (direct report to President of DS&T)
• SVP, Strategy & Transformation (direct report to President of DS&T)
• SVP, BFS Solutions & Strategy (direct report to Head of Banking & Financial Services business)
• VP, Human Resources – Global Benefits (direct report to SVP, Total Rewards)
• VP, Human Resources – Global M&A (direct report to SVP, Total Rewards)
• Chief of Staff – CEO (direct report to CEO)
• Chief of Staff – Chief People Officer (direct report to CPO)
• Numerous Vice President level client-facing leadership roles in multiple business units in US and UK

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build and run more innovative and efficient businesses.   Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 100 delivery centers worldwide, 280,000+ employees and annual revenue over $16B, Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is ranked 193 on the Fortune 500, was 17 on the 2017 Fortune Future 50 and is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world.

Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: @Cognizant.

Cognizant

Director, Senior Executive Recruiter

From Sept 2015 - February 2017, I provided comprehensive in-house executive search services across HPE.  

From February 2017 - November 2017, I led a geographically dispersed team of over 60 managers, program managers, recruiters and coordinators supporting HPE's US Public Sector business, a multi-$billion business unit delivering IT outsourcing services and business solutions to U.S. federal, state and local government clients.  The US Public Sector business became part of DXC in April 2017 when HPE's Enterprise Services business merged with CSC.  

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is a $50B+ global technology company that enables customers to go further, faster. With one of the industry's most comprehensive portfolios, spanning the cloud to the data center to workplace applications, its technology and services help customers around the world make IT more efficient, more productive and more secure.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Executive Recruiter & US Public Sector Team Leader

Led a globally dispersed team responsible for all executive & senior-level hiring in North America for Cognizant Infrastructure Services (CIS), Banking & Financial Services (BFS) and Information, Media & Entertainment (IME).  

In addition to my team leadership responsibilities, I also partnered with our most senior business leaders across Cognizant to personally execute numerous leadership searches.  

Successful searches included:

•	Chief Security Officer
•	Chief of Staff, CFO (VP level)
•	North American Practice Leader, Energy & Utilities
•	Chief Marketing Officer, Emerging Business Accelerator
•	Commercial Lead, Strategic Pursuits & Large Deals
•	Head of HR, Mergers & Acquisitions COE

Executive Recruiting Team Leader

As a member of the Executive Talent Acquisition team for the Americas from September 2009 - December 2011, my searches involved executive leadership opportunities in engineering, product development, product management, marketing, services, sales, supply chain management, finance and IT...all of which represent roles in the top 1% of our employee population.

From January 2012 - March 2013, my role shifted to sourcing leadership for the greater talent acquisition organization.  In the newly created role of Americas Sourcing Lead, I developed and implemented a strategic sourcing model for the region (North, Central and South America) that supplemented our full life-cycle recruiter model by providing strategic sourcing support for our most difficult and complex hiring challenges. I promoted standardization of sourcing processes & best practice sharing across the region and drove increased utilization and ROI with respect to sourcing tools like LinkedIn.  I also provided strategic sourcing and talent acquisition leadership in support of Dell's mission to transform the federal government for the future.

Dell

Executive Recruiter & Americas Sourcing Lead

Led executive recruitment for several organizations within the company, including the Emerging Technologies Group, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and the Network Management Technology Group. Managed the entire recruitment lifecycle for our most senior business leaders.

From June 2008 - November 2008, my responsibilities also included an interim assignment leading executive recruitment in Cisco’s European and Emerging Markets theatres. With over fifty percent of the company’s growth occurring outside the United States, demand for senior leadership was booming across the globe. My theatre responsibilities included over 150 countries on several continents. Recruiting for leaders in different parts of the world considerably broadened my perspective and helped me better appreciate the challenges of competing in a truly global marketplace.

Received Cisco Achievement Program (CAP) Award in October 2008 - recognized for outstanding personal contribution.

Cisco Systems

Executive Recruiter

As a member of the Strategic Recruiting Team sponsored by the office of the chief technology officer, my mission was to build relationships with the top technical executives in the world and eventually bring them to Microsoft.  I recruited our visionary leaders …deep technologists (architects, distinguished engineers and technical fellows) and executive-level technical managers …who truly affected the future direction of the company as the top 1% of our employee population.

Microsoft

Executive Recruiter, Office of the CTO

Object Systems Group (OSG) specializes in enterprise architecture, software development process mentoring and large-scale application development leveraging object-oriented and emerging technologies for Fortune 500 companies like Fannie Mae, Capital One, General Motors and Harrah's Entertainment.

Paul Jesselson