Stéphane Zola

Bilingual Talent Specialist driving growth across Africa and Europe through innovative recruitment strategies and community engagement. Optimized talent pipelines and enhanced candidate experiences while collaborating with hiring managers to support business growth through team effectiveness and talent performance.

FIELD RECRUITER at TapTap Send (2026-01 – Present)

Driving growth by recruiting top talents and expanding TTS operations across African markets. Partnered with hiring managers to understand recruitment needs and optimize team performance, growth, and effectiveness.

• Sourced candidates online & offline through various online platforms, events and community networks.
• Cultivated relationships with potential candidates and community partners to strengthen talent pipeline.
• Traveled in target countries to maintain candidates engagement, build network & communities for referrals
• Participated in events across Africa to promote employer brand, network & connect with candidates.
• Conducted execs interviews to assess candidate qualifications and cultural fit.
• Managed applicant tracking system to optimize candidate workflow and ensure accurate documentation.

HEAD OF TALENT ACQUISITION at Mstudio (2024-05 – 2026-12)

Venture studio building, scaling & optimizing African startups' teams

• Led talent strategy for sourcing co-founders to launch startups.
• Partnered with founders to enhance team performance and operational effectiveness, driving startup growth.
• Built tech operations and sales teams around founders to optimize and accelerate venture growth.
• Designed recruitment processes and talent pipelines for local and diaspora markets, improving candidate sourcing.
• Activated partnerships with tech hubs and universities to access hidden talent pools, expanding recruitment reach.
• Established communities and organized recruiting events to address future talent demands.
• Guided hiring managers on recruitment best practices and strategies.
• Participated in events to enhance brand visibility and foster trust.

IT TALENT ACQUISITION LEAD at Comet (2022-11 – 2024-05)

Defined sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill tech roles (tech lead, managers, data, cloud, cybersecurity, product). Led recruitment startup connecting companies with top tech freelancers, fostering relationships that meet specific hiring needs.

• Collaborated with hiring managers to align expectations and elevate quality of hires.
• Cultivated and nurtured talent communities reducing time-to-hire by 50%.
• Built and led a team of five recruiters; implemented hiring processes and KPIs.
• Developed recruitment tools and referral programs to enhance candidate engagement in Paris.

IT RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST (RPO) at Self-Employed (2020-09 – 2022-11)

• Achieved strong results in fast-scaling environments through strategic direct sourcing and targeted outreach.
• Managed recruitment cycles end-to-end: sourcing, qualification, interviews, offers, onboarding support.
• Designed recruitment processes and talent pools tailored to client needs.
• Supported startups and SMEs in rapidly scaling by sourcing hard-to-find tech, sales, and managerial talent.

DATA CLASSIFICATION SPECIALIST at eBay UK (2019-09 – 2020-09)

• Led data design and localization for French market, ensuring adherence to quality standards
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to refine data taxonomy, enhancing clarity and consistency
• Analyzed product listings for accuracy and compliance with eBay policies.
• Reviewed and classified items based on established categorization standards.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to improve classification processes.

RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST & MARKET EXPANSION MANAGER at CommissionCrowd (2016-09 – 2020-09)

Led expansion into the French market; built and managed a cross-functional team (sales, marketing, support).

• Developed go-to-market plan, localized operations, and secured first major clients.
• Executed brand awareness initiatives — including targeted campaigns, events, and partnerships — to build trust and establish market presence in France.
• Established connections between companies and independent sales experts, enhancing collaboration in a SaaS startup environment.
• Managed client relationships, contracts, and performance tracking.
• Gained experience in building credibility in new markets while hiring and managing multicultural teams.

Professional Training in Embracing the Manager Role – Actinuum

Bachelor Degree in International Business – London Metropolitan University