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Yvette Hansen is redefining talent acquisition and retention strategies by leveraging the resources at her disposal to drive impactful growth. As the director of talent attraction and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH), Hansen joined the organization in 2022 with a clear vision and an unwavering belief in her team’s potential. While she recognized the healthcare industry’s nationwide challenges in finding skilled candidates—especially in nursing—she also knew she had inherited a strong foundation to build upon.
Compared to her previous role, where she had to create a talent acquisition marketing function from scratch, Hansen acknowledges she entered a more favorable environment at BSWH. The recruitment marketing team was already fully functional, but it needed fresh direction and the confidence to embrace innovative ideas.
“The work they were being asked to do felt like status quo,” Hansen explains. “They hadn’t been challenged or given the freedom to explore different ideas. They were talented and had an appetite for it; I could see that.”
Hansen quickly set about unlocking her team’s creativity, introducing initiatives that delivered remarkable results without increasing the recruitment marketing budget. One of her most successful strategies was a TikTok campaign that amplified authentic employee stories. A simple yet compelling video of a team member highlighting his career advancement through BSWH’s tuition reimbursement program became a standout success. Another video featuring a system president sharing his personal journey became the organization’s best-performing content on the platform at that time.
“We were the first healthcare institution to use TikTok as a recruiting platform,” Hansen says. “And the response was overwhelming. We generated hundreds of hires from our campaigns just by reallocating existing marketing resources.”
Hansen’s efforts didn’t stop at social media. Recognizing a lack of partnerships with diverse professional organizations, she spearheaded new collaborations with groups like the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, National Association of Indian Nurses of America and the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association. These relationships led to the establishment of new local chapters, creating opportunities for team members to connect with their communities and gain cultural support.
“We didn’t just want to be a corporate partner for the organizations,” Hansen explains. “We also wanted to sponsor our team members to become active participants of these organizations. That connection has been invaluable.”
The results have been transformative. BSWH was named an employer of choice by Prospanica, and the Dallas chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses awarded the organization the El Viajero Award, citing BSWH’s partnership as key to their membership growth and retention. These partnerships have directly led to over twenty new hires, with senior executives actively involved in these diverse networks.
“We were the first healthcare institution to use TikTok as a recruiting platform. We generated hundreds of hires from our campaigns just by reallocating existing marketing resources.”
Yvette Hansen
Hansen has also led the launch of a pilot that streamlined the hiring process with a “fast track” program for qualified candidates. By bypassing recruiter calls and connecting candidates directly with hiring managers, the program has reduced recruiter and hiring managers’ workloads while improving efficiency.
“There is a sense of urgency in healthcare hiring that has to be respected,” Hansen says. “We’ve gone from interviewing eight people to hire one to only speaking with three, allowing us to focus on finding that especially hard-to-find talent.”
Outside of work, Hansen’s determination is equally impressive. She began running Spartan Obstacle Course races eight years ago and has since completed over two hundred different races. She later took on endurance running, CrossFit, and during our conversation shared about how she was preparing to compete in Chicago’s Hyrox functional fitness competition.
“I don’t ever look to just finish and survive,” Hansen says. “I want to finish and do well. I’m into pushing myself beyond my capabilities. You push out of that pain cave and overcome the moments where you don’t think you can go on. I love it.”
Hansen’s relentless drive to challenge herself—whether professionally or personally—has set a powerful example, inspiring her team and transforming the way BSWH approaches talent acquisition and retention.
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