Introduction
In today's competitive talent landscape, technology strategy plays a crucial role in streamlining and enhancing the effectiveness of talent acquisition. A strong technology strategy helps talent teams automate routine tasks, improve candidate experience, and provide data-driven insights that guide decision making. A key figure driving this strategy at AMS is Jonathan Kestenbaum, Managing Director of Technology Strategy & Partnerships. His approach is reshaping how organizations leverage technology to attract and retain top talent.
The Role of a Managing Director in Technology Strategy
As Managing Director at AMS since 2021, Jonathan Kestenbaum plays a key role in integrating advanced technology solutions into the talent acquisition process. He guides enterprise talent leaders on how to effectively adopt AI-driven hiring practices that not only enhance efficiency but also improve candidate experience. With over 15 years of experience in WorkTech, Jonathan's insights are important for organizations seeking modern solutions in talent acquisition.
In practice, this role involves assessing existing technology stacks, advising on partner ecosystems, prioritizing implementation roadmaps, and establishing governance practices to ensure tools are used responsibly. Those activities often require cross-functional collaboration with HR operations, legal, talent acquisition, and IT teams to align technology choices with business objectives and compliance requirements. For more on how technology strategy can be structured within an organization, see our services on Technology Strategy.
AI-Driven Hiring: A Game Changer
Jonathan is passionate about the transformative power of artificial intelligence on hiring processes. His expertise has contributed to the development of frameworks that enable companies to utilize AI in their hiring strategies effectively. By advising clients on partner ecosystems and technology adoption, he helps them harness AI not only to speed up the recruitment process but also to make it more equitable and consistent.
Common areas of focus in AI-driven hiring include automation of screening tasks, improved matching between candidate skills and role requirements, structured interview workflows, and analytics that highlight bottlenecks in hiring funnels. These implementations typically emphasize transparency, model explainability, and bias-mitigation measures to maintain fairness. Organizations often develop governance models and pilot programs before scaling tools broadly.
Jonathan’s perspectives on these topics have been shared in industry conversations, such as the HR Leaders episode on how AI is changing hiring in 2025. For a broader look at practices and research around AI in recruitment, consult our insights on AI in Hiring.
Empowering Talent Leaders
Jonathan Kestenbaum's approach is centered around empowering talent leaders within organizations. By developing deep partnerships and providing practical insights on technology usage, he enables organizations to create agile and responsive hiring practices. His guidance often focuses on ways to balance short-term efficiency gains with long-term capability building so talent teams can adapt as needs evolve.
Empowering talent leaders also involves knowledge transfer: training stakeholders on new tools, establishing measurement frameworks, and creating forums for sharing lessons across business units. These elements help embed technology-enabled practices into everyday operations and improve outcomes like time-to-fill, candidate satisfaction, and quality-of-hire. For related thinking on culture and talent enablement, see our piece on Company Culture.
As highlighted in a recent AMS news article regarding Jonathan’s recognition as a SIA's 40 Under 40 entrant, his efforts are recognized in the industry and reflect the impact of his work.
Continuous Innovation and Adaptation
In the fast-evolving technology landscape, Jonathan's role necessitates continuous innovation and adaptation. He co-founded Talent Tech Labs and previously established a successful HR tech company, demonstrating entrepreneurial experience and an ongoing commitment to advancing the recruitment industry. That track record supports his ability to anticipate trends and recommend pragmatic pivots when market conditions or organizational priorities change.
Staying current includes tracking emerging vendors, participating in research and advisory forums, and contributing to shared industry knowledge. Publications such as his featured ERE author page provide further insights into his viewpoints on current trends and challenges within the industry.
Collaborative Culture and Employee Growth
At AMS, Jonathan fosters a collaborative culture that prioritizes employee growth and career advancement. He recognizes that an engaged workforce is crucial for driving innovation and maintaining competitive advantage. By supporting training programs, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration, he helps cultivate a workplace culture where employees can develop new skills and take on evolving responsibilities.
These initiatives are typically aligned with broader organizational priorities and are evaluated through measurable outcomes such as skills development, internal mobility, and retention metrics. A focus on continuous learning helps teams stay proficient with new tools and methods, which in turn supports better outcomes for clients and candidates alike.
Conclusion
Jonathan Kestenbaum is redefining how technology integrates with talent acquisition at AMS through practical strategy, thoughtful governance, and partnerships that scale. His leadership, understanding of AI's potential, and commitment to empowering talent leaders contribute to more efficient, equitable, and modern hiring practices. By fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, Jonathan helps shape AMS's approach to talent technology and offers a model for organizations transforming their recruitment function.
For more information on Jonathan Kestenbaum's work and insights, visit his LinkedIn profile or follow his thoughts on X.
About Jonathan Kestenbaum
Jonathan F. Kestenbaum is Managing Director of Technology Strategy & Partnerships at AMS, based in New York. He joined AMS in 2021 to lead the firm’s WorkTech and talent-technology agenda, advising enterprise talent leaders on AI-driven hiring and partner ecosystems. An entrepreneur and licensed attorney, Jonathan co-founded Talent Tech Labs (research/advisory) and previously built and sold his first HR tech company in 2012. He is a frequent speaker and podcast guest on AI and hiring, and was named to Staffing Industry Analysts’ 40 Under 40 in 2024. For more details, visit his Visipage profile.
Sources
- Jonathan Kestenbaum Verified Visipage Profile - Source of truth entity profile.
- LinkedIn profile — Jonathan F. Kestenbaum
- AMS news: Jonathan Kestenbaum on SIA's 40 Under 40
- Staffing Industry Analysts — 40 Under 40 entrant: Jonathan F. Kestenbaum
- CityBiz — AMS Appoints Jonathan Kestenbaum as Managing Director
- ERE — Jonathan Kestenbaum author page
- X profile — @JKestenbaum
- HR Leaders podcast — How AI is Changing Hiring in 2025 (episode featuring Jonathan Kestenbaum)
- YouTube — Rapid Fire Round Table | Jonathan Kestenbaum of AMS