Summit Interview with Tom Colella

1.  How did you get into recruiting? After a few years of working in HR, I decided that I liked recruiting and joined Korn/Ferry in Atlanta.

2.  How many years have you been in recruiting? 25 years.
3.  What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I served in the US Marines for 30 years.
4.  What are your top 3 goals you hope you and your team accomplish in the next year? Identify and recruit world class talent, standardize relevant processes, create a pipeline of diverse talent for the international markets.
5.  What do you like most about your current job?  I like the opportunity to work with our international markets; I wish the communication between International and the markets was better.
Do you have a work pet peeve in yourself or others?
6.  What do you dislike? I think that we can recruit better and smarter.
7.  What is the best thing for you about working for Walmart? I love the culture and positive attitude of our Associates.
8.  When does the day start for you? 5:15 AM
9.  When you are off work how you do relax? Running and reading history.
10. Can you give us a few unchecked items on your Life’s Bucket List: Visiting Verdun and sailing across the Atlantic.
11. Tell us about yourself (home town, residence, family, education, etc.) I grew up in a small town and looking for adventure joined the Navy. I graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned in the Marines. After 5 years of active service with tours in the Far East and Europe, I served in the reserves for 25 years eventually being promoted to Colonel. I graduated with an MBA from Emory University. I have 3 sons and coached baseball and football for 10 years. One is a politician, one is a musician and one is in business.
12. If you could have dinner with some notable person dead or alive – who would it be and why? Winston Churchill who led the fight against Hitler for over a year until the USSR and the Americans joined him.
13. What was your top take-a-way from the 2013 Global Walmart Recruiting Summit? How much talent we have in our recruiting teams.
14. If you had a Magic Genie and one wish; what one project on your plate would you ask for help on? Improved communications
15. Fill in the blank: “I’ve been fortunate to_______” to lead Marines.
16. Where do I spend most of my disposable income: On the politician, the musician and the businessman.
17. What 1 book would you recommend to colleagues to read? "A Message to Garcia"

18. What is your biggest productivity challenge? Staying focused on what is important.

19. One word to sum me up: Optimistic