About Me

I’ve spent nearly two decades in the Recruitment Industry (and survived!), working across agency, in-house, and training roles. But before I became obsessed with helping recruiters level up their skills, I had my fair share of adventures—teaching unruly kids in London, operating a ski chairlift in Colorado, USA, and even teaching scuba diving in Southeast Asia and East Africa! 🌍🐠

Launching my own Recruitment Training Business in 2019 was the best move I ever made. Since then, I’ve trained thousands of recruiters worldwide, helping them master talent attraction, career branding, business development, and innovative sourcing techniques. My mission? To raise the global standard of recruitment, ensuring that recruiters don’t just fill roles but become trusted hiring partners who add real value to their organizations.

As an International Recruitment Expert & renowned Keynote Speaker, I’ve had the privilege of delivering Opening Keynote Talks on five continents—from North America to Australasia. Only Asia remains on my list… Do you know any conference organizers who need a high-energy speaker with real-world recruitment insights? Let’s chat! 😉

I’m also a Subject Matter Enthusiast (SME) in AI, having trained recruitment teams since early 2023 on how to use generative AI to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and recruit more effectively. AI isn’t here to replace recruiters—but those who embrace it will leave the others in the dust. 🚀

I live with my husband on the breathtaking Garden Route of South Africa, where we’re lucky to be surrounded by stunning beaches, forests, and mountains. When I’m not training recruiters or speaking at conferences, you’ll find me travelling to new places, camera in hand, capturing the world’s beauty through my lens. Wildlife and landscape photography are my creative escape, and I love sharing glimpses of my adventures along the way.

🔗 Let’s connect! I’d love to chat with fellow Talent Sourcers, Recruiters, TA Leaders, and HR Professionals—find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, & Threads (@Van_Raath), and let’s talk all things recruitment (or swap travel stories over a lekker (vegetarian) braai!).

Some comments from previous clients:

"Reach out to Vanessa she is awesome! Do you want to learn how to Source candidates in today’s climate or would appreciate a refresher? The training I received was spot on, to the point and powerful I felt totally re-energised and armed with new techniques that I immediately put into practice. If you're passionate about Sourcing and want to be the best! then I highly recommend you reach out to Vanessa she will help you get to that next level."

- Fay Ross | Korn Ferry | UK

"Vanessa is a great trainer, bundles of energy, knowledgeable and super passionate about Sourcing. I have been in recruitment & sourcing for 15+ years and still learnt a bunch of new tips and tricks which will add value to my day-to-day work."

- Tim Giles | Anglo American | Australia

"Wow! I would highly recommend working with Vanessa, whether you are new to sourcing or have over 15 years of experience (like me), Vanessa's training will blow your mind. Full of tips, tools, and techniques to proactively reach even the hardest-to-find candidates. Vanessa is clearly highly skilled and ahead of the curve in this space, showing us game-changing tools that even silenced a group of Recruiters! If you're sourcing in a competitive market Vanessa's training is not to be missed."

- Nicola Rogers | Derivco | UK

"Without a doubt, the Talent sourcing Masterclass that Vanessa gave my team well exceeded our expectations. Vanessa has a powerful command and passion when it comes to finding talent. The training has really opened my eyes to under-utilised platforms and tools to find talent. We are actively engaged in implementing these new skills!"

- Andile Nkosi | Nedbank | South Africa

"Vanessa is heartfelt, smart as a whip, humble, and extremely helpful. Her impact goes way beyond the sourcing training she gives. She fosters a true sense of community, a can-do attitude, and positive inclusion. Her keynote speech at the #SOSUV (sourcing summit virtual) on diversity had the entire conference in her spell. I learn from her and am honoured to recommend her - not only for her sourcing and TA competence, but also as a speaker, Emcee, and inclusion champion."

- Elizabeth Lembke | Transforming Talent | Germany

"It was such a delight being trained by Vanessa. Her casual approach and the fact that she's so personable made these early mornings (for me) and late nights (for her) a wonderful experience. I consider her to be an expert in her field and she's generous when it comes to sharing her knowledge. Although we're on different continents, the sessions were insightful, relevant and immediately usable. I'd recommend her for sourcing and headhunting training across the globe."

- Candice Mitchell | Ignite Consulting | USA