Hi, I’m Mel, Founder & Director of MK Talent Advisory.
I help organisations design recruitment functions that work in practice, build internal capability and support sustainable, long-term growth.
What inspired me to start MKTA
Over the years, I worked with a lot of capable people who cared deeply about doing recruitment well.
What I saw again and again was recruitment operating within an environment that had developed under pressure , with more and more processes being layered on top of each other, causing confusion and complexity. As businesses scaled, technology was introduced to solve immediate problems and ways of working were shaped by urgency rather than thoughtful design.
Over time, this made recruitment harder than it needed to be. Teams were busy, decisions were slower and outcomes were inconsistent, even when everyone was doing their best.
I started MK Talent Advisory to help organisations step back and look at recruitment properly. To understand what was working, what wasn’t and what could be done better.
My focus is on designing recruitment functions that are clear, sustainable and built to support growth, while leaving organisations stronger, more confident and more capable than when I arrived.
My journey
I began my career in operational recruitment delivery, working hands-on in high-volume and fast-paced environments. Starting on the ground gave me a deep understanding of how recruitment works day to day and where systems, processes and decision-making can either enable or hinder performance.
At TUI Group, I worked across multiple travel businesses, driving recruitment fulfilment, setting hiring strategies, designing assessment approaches and leading teams through periods of change and growth.
At the Royal Automobile Club, I designed and operationalised their first in-house recruitment function. This involved building structure, capability and confidence internally, significantly reducing reliance on external agencies and delivering meaningful cost savings.
My most recent role was at PwC, where I spent 6.5 years progressing from Manager to Senior Manager. I led a large experienced-hire recruitment team for the Business Solutions line of service across the UK, balancing complex stakeholder needs, delivery pressure and governance requirements.
Alongside this, I spent two years within PwC’s Deal Consulting team, advising FTSE 100 organisations undergoing high-profile mergers and acquisitions. My focus was recruitment readiness, including hiring strategy and execution, risk identification and mitigation, training and upskilling, employer branding and EVP alignment.
This blend of operational delivery and strategic consulting reinforced the importance of designing recruitment as a system, not a series of disconnected activities.
Why MK?
If you’re looking for someone who really understands how to unlock the potential and value of your talent acquisition function, who will collaborate with you to find solutions that are authentic to your business then MK Talent Advisory is for you.
Please reach out to me directly if you would like to discuss anything in more detail.
I look forward to connecting with you soon!
What do I stand for?
My Mission
I build end-to-end recruitment strategies for internal teams seeking to improve their hiring processes and strengthen their employer brand. My approach is inclusive, I.M.P.A.C.Tful, and aligned with commercial goals — replacing bottlenecks with efficiencies and delivering measurable ROI. With tailored technology, structure and support, I help teams cut hiring time and recruitment costs, creating lasting improvements in how organisations attract and retain talent.
My Vision
I believe strategic recruitment should be a growth enabler, not a bottleneck. My vision is to empower internal teams, embed diversity in recruitment, and harness innovation for smarter, faster hiring. I see a future where every business — powered by technology, data-led hiring, and seamless recruitment — has the confidence and capability to attract and retain the right talent.
My Values
I only make recommendations based on what is right for each client. All my advice is based on lived experiences, detailed research and in line with each client’s goals
I believe in challenging the status quo, not just doing the same thing because of how it’s always been done. I am committed to finding ways forward that redefine the way recruitment is executed.
I hold myself to the highest of standards, taking full accountability for the quality of work I deliver. I believe in transparency, collaboration and hard work to achieve successful outcomes.
I advocate for fair, inclusive & equitable hiring processes. Inclusivity is a critical pillar of recruitment success and is at the core of all my advice and recommendations.
I am on a mission to empower internal talent acquisition teams to deliver the best possible recruitment process for their business. One that works with the business and not against it. Where individuals have the tools, resources and training to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.