Hi, I’m Ryan Valenzuela, born and raised in San Francisco. 👋 Over a decade ago, my career began far from home in Spain and Italy. With a Sociology degree and a deep interest in labor economics, I researched migration trends and their impact on local economies and policies. Along the way, I had my own Eat, Pray, Love chapter: leading history based food and wine tours and training as a sommelier in Italy (a story for another time).
The Journey: Startups to Big Tech
I eventually returned to San Francisco and dove headfirst into talent acquisition — building hiring systems across health-tech, two-sided marketplaces, computer vision, and cloud computing, at companies like Google Cloud Platform, Hinge Health, Thumbtack, Included Health (formerly Grand Rounds).
Things I’ve done through my companies:
- Led recruiting across all funding stages, from Seed to Series H
- Specialized in sourcing talent markets within Computer Vision, AI/ML, AR/VR, NLP, AI Research, Product, Design, UX Research, Hardware, Data Centers, GTM, Mobile Engineering
- Interviewed 15,000+ professionals across Product, Design, Engineering (hardware/software), GTM, and Sales
- Built recruiting analytics, operations, and talent intelligence functions from scratch
- Designed full recruiting tech stacks for startups, from ATS, sourcing tools, to HRIS systems
- Launched people programs across flat and matrixed orgs: mentorships, job architecture, intern/apprentice tracks, L&D, global ERGs, recruiting events, and employer brand campaigns
- Deployed global startup training programs for 12k recruiting teams
- Advised early-stage AI founders
- Led research & talent intelligence initiatives
- Currently learning programing languages and building out this website for you all
Life After Tech
Now, my focus has shifted: after years serving hiring managers, I’m on a mission to demystify talent intelligence and make human capital insights open and accessible.
Why I Do This
With layoffs, AI disruption, and shifting labor markets, job seekers and early-stage startups need more than quick fixes — they need the skills and insights to navigate change for a lifetime.
That’s why I’ve built Atlas Talent Intelligence — offering:
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Transparent insights into the talent & people experience (HR) industry
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Talent solutions for launching startups
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Education in talent development and career strategy
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Tools for navigating industries in flux
Rather than handing you a fish, I’d rather show you how to chart your own course — and feed your ambitions for years to come.