Behind the SHOW - Madalene Walston on Finding Flexibility and Inclusivity at MGM Resorts
Behind the Show - Madalene Walston on Finding Flexibility and Inclusivity at MGM Resorts
Recently hired, Talent Acquisition Specialist Madalene Walston discusses the benefits of flexibility and inclusivity at MGM Resorts while also being a working mother. Her journey into talent acquisition - or the strategic approach to assessing and bringing in new talent into the company - made complete sense while leveraging many of her strengths. After joining MGM, Madalene explores the ways her work environment and the people have positively impacted her experience in shaping her into a SHOW-stopping member of the company as well as a stronger professional.
When asked about her most recent role prior to MGM, Madalene shared her experience working at a small tax services business as their HR Partner doing full-cycle recruiting for 2 years. Career-wise, she has an impressive background of 10+ years in customer service experience under her belt, which has facilitated building her brand and interpersonal relationships prior to entering the talent acquisition sphere. As both a mother and a working professional, Madalene credits her children as the ultimate motivation. "They have pushed me to be my very best self - to want more from my life and my career to give them the very best." In her free time, Madalene enjoys reading, writing, and doing DIY projects with her children. Above all else, family activities and trips are the most fulfilling for her. She is also a huge Marvel and Disney fan, making time to go to Disneyland whenever she can!
Upon joining MGM Resorts in July 2022, Madalene describes some of the benefits of her day and her job as a TA Specialist. "No two days are ever the same. Today, I can be at corporate sending emails, talking to candidates. Tomorrow, I can be at New York New York interacting firsthand with candidates and my hiring managers. I'm never bored - I love that." An integral part of Madalene's job is cultivating relationships with people, ensuring that anyone interacting with MGM is greeted with a positive experience. "Whether it's making sure any candidate gets through the funnel or being available to my managers for questions, I take ownership of any situation. Overall, I want to be seen as a person that is helpful and is there to assist - that's what a recruiter is."
Outside of her daily responsibilities, we also discussed what Madalene loves most about working for MGM Resorts. Without hesitation, she credits the inclusive work environment, a flexible workflow, and respect from everyone on the team. "I honestly love the family feel of MGM - everyone is included, everyone is welcome. My management is always looking for my input, and that's very rare to have. Overall, I feel heard and valuable as an employee because of the flexibility I am given to choose how I do my job." With endless opportunities for growth an advancement, many employees, like Madalene, know they have found a place that provides the ideal mix of company culture and values to align with. There's no telling what the future holds, but an exciting career in the heart of one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world is not a bad place to start!
Pictured Below - Madalene Walston:
