Taryn Louise Bonugli

As a seasoned Talent Acquisition and People Operations leader with over 20 years’ experience, I’ve driven business growth through strategic talent management across various high-growth industries, primarily in the technology sector. My career spans the UK, USA, Germany, Spain, and global remote roles, providing a broad international perspective.

​I’ve worked extensively in tech, including e-commerce (Zalando, Just Eat), fintech (SumUp), social media (Meta), and web hosting (Kinsta). My experience encompasses both established tech giants and rapidly scaling start-ups, developing a versatile skill set adaptable to different organisational needs and growth stages.

​I’ve played crucial roles in establishing and expanding engineering presence for companies like Meta and Yahoo in Europe, honing my ability to attract elite global talent in competitive markets. My expertise lies in technical recruitment, particularly in mobile development, backend engineering, data science, and AI/ML.

​Throughout my career, I’ve leveraged data-driven approaches and innovative sourcing strategies to penetrate niche talent pools. My experience spans the full talent lifecycle – from employer branding and recruitment to development, engagement, and retention.

​I’ve consistently demonstrated the ability to build and lead high-performance teams, optimise processes, and implement cutting-edge people technologies. In my current consultancy role, I’m partnering with companies across various industries, helping them build sustainable competitive advantage through strategic talent management.

Having recently returned to South Africa, I am passionate about sharing my global experience to help local startups scale effectively. As someone who understands both international best practices and local market dynamics. I’m keen to contribute to Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, and I believe I could add significant value to the South African startup scene.

Having spent over two decades at the forefront of talent acquisition (recruitment/ growth) and People Operations/ HR in Europe’s most dynamic tech hubs, I’ve returned to South Africa with a clear purpose: to help bridge the gap between global tech excellence and our country’s immense potential. My journey has given me invaluable insights into scaling technical teams and building sustainable talent pipelines. Now, I’m deeply motivated to share what I have learned with South African startups. As someone who understands international best practices and local challenges, I’m passionate about mentoring the next generation of South African tech leaders, helping them avoid common pitfalls, and accelerating their growth trajectories. My experience in building diverse, high-performing teams and implementing structured hiring processes can help South African startups compete more effectively in the global market while developing local talent. This isn’t just about sharing knowledge – it’s about actively contributing to South Africa’s tech ecosystem and helping create opportunities for our abundant local talent.