Shibani Peterson
Black Kite
“AI should give us back time. Time to focus on candidate experience, employer brand, and meaningful relationships.”
Shibani Peterson has been named to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, the annual award recognizing the 100 most exceptional leaders and practitioners in talent acquisition. Honorees are selected by the Talent 100 committee from thousands of nominations and candidates across the industry, chosen for the impact of their work, the depth of their craft, and their influence on the future of recruiting. This is Shibani's story.
Shibani Peterson did not set out to build a career in recruiting. Like most talent leaders, she found her way into it by listening closely to what energized her, and having the courage to pivot when something didn't feel right. As Director, Global Talent Acquisition at Acquia, she led with the same instincts that first drew her to the work: curiosity about people, comfort with change, and a conviction that the human side of hiring is the part worth protecting. She has since become Director of Talent at Black Kite.
Her first act after college was finance. She majored in economics and landed a role at an investment firm through a staffing agency, back when agencies still operated face-to-face and invested deeply in understanding candidates before making placements. The role taught her about markets. The process that got her there taught her something more durable about herself. “I really enjoyed the people side of it,” she says.
The clarity came quickly. About a year in, while studying for her Series 7, Peterson recognized that the work wasn't aligned with who she was. She was drawn to people, to conversations, to impact. So she went back to the agency that had placed her and pitched herself for a job. “I had no recruiting experience,” she says. “I just said, ‘I want to work here. What do I need to do?’”
The timing was fortunate: the agency had just launched a contract division, and Peterson joined as one of its first hires. That was where her recruiting career truly began, and where she discovered both her competitive drive and a genuine passion for the work.
Mentorship That Shaped Her Leadership
Peterson's career has been shaped, at nearly every inflection point, by strong female leaders willing to push her beyond her comfort zone. Her first agency manager set the tone for what great leadership looks like: someone who teaches, challenges, and invests deeply in growth. A later leader became instrumental in her move into formal talent leadership, promoting her into her first TA leadership role and advocating for her long-term development. Peterson eventually followed her to another organization, a testament to the trust and respect they had built together.
At the time, she credited her leader, Denise Lam, as a key mentor, someone who consistently expanded her scope, challenged her thinking, and demonstrated deep trust in her ability to lead. “That belief is incredibly impactful,” Peterson says.
Across all of these relationships, one theme stands out: leadership that extends beyond the job description. “They got to know me as a person,” Peterson explains. “My values, my family, what mattered to me. That made all the difference.”
Leveraging AI to Elevate the Candidate Experience
At Acquia, Peterson led talent with a mindset rooted in adaptability. Change, in her view, is not a disruption to be managed but the baseline condition of the job. “If you don't like change, this probably isn't the field for you,” she says.
Over the past year, AI had become a powerful enabler for her team, not as a replacement for recruiters but as a way to help them focus on what matters most. Her team used AI-powered tools like BrightHire to reduce administrative burden and elevate interviews. With automated note-taking and structured interview guidance, recruiters could give their full attention to conversation, connection, and candidate engagement. “We're able to be more present,” she says. “Less focused on note-taking, more focused on really getting to know the person.”
The same logic extended across the funnel. AI supported outreach, reference checks, interview design, and employment branding, helping the team reduce friction while improving consistency and personalization throughout the hiring journey. For Peterson, the value proposition is clear: technology that ultimately frees the team for more meaningful, human-centric work. “AI should give us back time,” she explains. “Time to focus on candidate experience, employer brand, and meaningful relationships.”
Advice for Talent Leaders in 2026
As the talent landscape continues to evolve, Peterson believes the most important asset any TA leader has is not a tool or a tech stack but the people they can call. “You're only as good as your network,” she says.
Rather than gatekeeping tools or strategies, she encourages open sharing: what's working, what isn't, and why. With new platforms emerging constantly, no one can credibly claim expertise in everything. “It's changing hour to hour,” she explains. “What worked last month might already be outdated.”
Her advice, then, is to stay curious, stay connected, and stay comfortable with uncertainty. “TA leaders are naturally good at pivoting,” Peterson says. “Lean into the discomfort. Be willing to learn as you go.” It is the same instinct that took her from an investment firm to a brand-new contract division with no recruiting experience, and it has served her well ever since.
The Talent 100 exists to celebrate the people shaping the future of how the world hires, and few embody that better than Shibani. We are honored to welcome Shibani Peterson to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, and grateful for the experience, perspective, and craft they bring to this community. Congratulations, Shibani. Welcome to the Talent 100.
About the Talent 100
The Talent 100 is an annual list spotlighting the leaders who push HR and talent acquisition forward, organized by Noon AI. Honorees are selected through peer nominations and independent selection committees. Selection is entirely merit-based, with no fees or pay-to-play requirements.
