Influential Woman · Recruiting
Shayna Steinfeld Sevett
Manager, Global Recruiting Operations, Roblox
San Mateo, CA 94403
Her Story
About Shayna
Shayna Steinfeld Sevett is Manager of Recruiting Operations at Roblox, where she oversees a global team of approximately 15 people and helps drive the organization's talent strategy on both an operational and strategic level. Over the course of a decade in the recruiting field, she has built a career centered on structuring hiring processes that are fair, transparent, and genuinely welcoming to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds. Before stepping into recruiting, she gained a diverse range of experience working in education, warehouse operations, and the food and customer service industries — a background that continues to inform the people-first philosophy she brings to her current role. She is also an ICF-certified career coach and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation, and through her own practice, Shayna Steinfeld Coaching, she partners with clients ranging from entry-level professionals to C-suite executives on career growth and professional reinvention.
Shayna credits much of her professional growth to the mentors who shaped her along the way. Her mother — a teacher who went on to earn her doctorate and become a professor — modeled unwavering dedication by working extensively with under-resourced schools and students facing significant economic hardship, all while showing the same drive and ambition at home. Her first manager after college left an equally lasting impression, teaching her that most limitations people place on themselves are self-imposed and encouraging her early on to seek out stretch assignments rather than shy away from them. These formative relationships continue to inform how Shayna leads her own team today, with an emphasis on mentorship, trust, and giving people room to grow beyond their existing experience.
Guided by a strong sense of integrity, authenticity, and empathy, Shayna strives to bring her full self to her work while maintaining thoughtful boundaries, particularly in balancing her professional life with parenthood. She is a firm believer in taking one's work seriously without losing a sense of levity, and she encourages the next generation of professionals — especially young women entering the recruiting field — to identify the connective thread running through their experiences and to ask thoughtful questions rather than accept established processes without examination. Beyond her day-to-day work, she remains focused on the evolving challenges of her industry, including the responsible integration of AI into recruiting and safeguarding hiring processes against fraudulent activity. Her commitment to community extends into her philanthropic involvement as well, having supported organizations such as Real Options for City Kids, World Central Kitchen, and Environmental Travel Companions, where she previously served as a cross-country ski guide.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shayna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the incredible role models I've had in my life. My mother, a teacher who later became a professor, showed me what it means to dedicate yourself fully to others — she worked in under-resourced schools with students living below the poverty line, and she brought that same ambition into her role as a parent. My first boss out of college also shaped who I am today; he taught me that limitations are often self-imposed, and he mentored me by encouraging me to take on stretch projects and run with new opportunities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Two pieces of advice have stayed with me throughout my career. The first is to focus on one thing at a time rather than trying to do everything at once. The second is to take my work seriously, but not to take myself too seriously — to lead with authenticity and levity, and to stay curious about the connections between different areas of my work and life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd encourage them to find the through line between their past experiences and where they want to go next — and to be able to articulate that story clearly. When applying for roles or reaching out to others, share the "why" behind your interest. Don't be afraid to ask questions and think critically about why processes exist rather than accepting them at face value. And despite the challenges of an evolving workplace, keep pursuing your ambitions.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities I see is integrating AI into recruiting in a way that reduces administrative burden while still preserving the human elements that make candidate experience meaningful. At the same time, we're facing real tactical challenges, including fraudulent applications and impersonation. I try to approach these shifts with optimism, and I focus on helping my clients navigate the rapid changes AI and organizational shifts are bringing to the workplace.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is my most important value — it shows up in how I own my mistakes, communicate clearly, and deliver honest feedback. Authenticity and empathy matter just as much to me; I strive to bring my full, genuine self into my work while still maintaining professional boundaries, especially in my role as a parent.
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