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ZeShaan Shamsi

ZeShaan Shamsi

People and talent leader, helping founders build scalable teams

zeshaan-shamsi
London, United Kingdom
Joined May 2026
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Summary

ZeShaan Shamsi is a seasoned leader in people and talent, with over 16 years of experience spanning recruitment agencies, public service (BBC, GDS), tech scale-ups (Onfido), and consulting. He specializes in helping founders and leaders recruit, develop, and retain top talent, providing strategic guidance for businesses undergoing change, scaling, or transformation. usewaggle+2
He is a proponent of the 'people debt' concept, co-created with Matt Bradburn of The People Collective. This concept highlights the negative impact on companies that fail to build essential people infrastructure, leading to issues like lack of clarity in growth plans, insufficient interview training, and poor managerial support. Shamsi advocates for holistic HR strategies, transparent communication, and clear definitions of performance and potential to prevent and manage this debt effectively. lattice+2
ZeShaan has significant experience in scaling organizations, notably growing Onfido from 50 to 350 employees across seven global locations. His expertise includes strategic workforce planning, employer branding, interviewing, inclusivity, and data analysis in recruitment, which he shares through articles and training modules. usewaggle+1
His leadership philosophy emphasizes building trust, fostering open communication, and treating employees as adults by providing context and clarity. He aims to empower teams and create environments where individuals can thrive and grow, rather than becoming indispensable bottlenecks. usewaggle
As an author on the Government Digital Service (GDS) blog, ZeShaan has shared his insights on transforming recruitment processes within the public sector. His writings cover topics such as advertising jobs effectively, defining employee value propositions, and structuring successful recruitment strategies. gov

Work

Education

Writing

15 years in the making but I'm finally going to do it. Introducing....

January 16, 2023

A personal reflection on his 15-year career in recruitment, sharing lessons learned and expertise in building and maintaining successful companies.

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What People-related KPIs should we measure at Onfido?

August 22, 2017

Discusses key performance indicators relevant to people and talent acquisition within the context of Onfido.

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Advertising jobs effectively

March 11, 2015

Discusses strategies to attract potential candidates to job opportunities.

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The employee value proposition, employer branding and ambassadors

March 5, 2015

Explores how to attract candidates by highlighting the value proposition and employer branding.

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Turning vacancies into opportunities

February 23, 2015

Details the planning and preparation stages of recruitment, emphasizing why using certain approaches is effective.

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The elements of a successful recruitment strategy

February 9, 2015

Provides a brief look at building a recruitment strategy, following up on the basics of the recruitment process.

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The basics of the recruitment process

January 21, 2014

Outlines the fundamental elements of effective recruitment, selection, and induction for a successful organization.

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Back to back virtual meetings are causing me stress!

An article reflecting on the challenges of virtual meetings and offering support during challenging times.

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