Last Wednesday morning we welcomed Rick Devine, CEO of TalentSky from California, who gave an interesting talk about his company as part of the Dean’s Speaker Series. The title of this discussion was ‘Picking Up Where LinkedIn Left Off: How a Common Language of Skills Will Shape the Future of Work’.

During his talk Rick explained how TalentSky was formed for Development rather than Recruitment. Although the latter is important, individuals firstly need to be aware of their ability/potential and how relevant their skill sets are in their current environments. The opening statement on the TalentSky website is to ‘navigate the changing world of work’ which is critical in this evolving, fast-paced world that we live in - http://www.talentsky.com/

Rick Devine spoke to Brian Finn on the RTÉ Radio 1 Morning Ireland Business News Programme on Wednesday morning before the event. Listen here.

Biography: Rick Devine - CEO, TalentSky, Inc.

Rick is a true visionary in the talent industry. In his thirty-year career, he's founded a world-class consulting firm, won national recognition for his insights, and recruited executives at the world's top companies, including Tim Cook, current CEO of Apple.

Rick believes that the world works better when people understand what skills they need to develop in order to enhance their careers. But as experience has shown him, oftentimes that doesn't happen, due to a lack of visibility – individuals simply don't know what skills top companies are looking for, which means they can't develop them, which means companies can't find people with the skills they need. That's why Rick founded TalentSky. By leveraging social media to create the world's first professional skills network, Rick's vision is to transform the employment system and create a new paradigm for career development that empowers people to build the skills they need for success.

Rick joined Heidrick & Struggles as a partner in the firm's world-renowned Menlo Park Office, where he not only conducted many high-profile searches but was also recognized for creating many innovative new programs within the firm. In 1999, Rick joined Internet Capital Group (ICG), pre-IPO, and built a global in-house talent acquisition function with 40 professionals in the US, Europe, and Asia, helping ICG emerge as one of the world's largest investors in the business-to-business internet market, with over $2 billion in capital under management. Rick followed that up by founding his own talent consultancy firm, providing strategic talent solutions to top enterprises including many Fortune 500 companies.

Further information/Press Articles:

TalentSky Is Building A Professional Network With A Focus On Verified Skills

TalentSky fights against employee poaching with skills-based talent network

Bloomberg Advantage: Devine on Speaking to Worker’s Skills

As LinkedIn’s Big Shadow Shrinks, TalentSky’s Horizons Brighten