Stop Waiting for Employer Brand Buy-In: How Shannon Proved the Power of Action at Bechtel

Sometimes progress in employer branding starts with one person deciding to move. Shannon Taylor, Talent Acquisition and University Relations Specialist at Bechtel Corporation, saw a chance to make early careers communication stronger and decided not to wait for approval.

In this episode of the VMJPod’s Employer Brand Series – Brisbane Edition, Shannon joins David Macciocca and Will Innes to share how she brought new ideas to life through persistence, data and creativity. Her story is a practical reminder that momentum is built through action, not permission.

Action Over Approval

When Shannon began exploring ways to lift Bechtel’s employer brand, there was no official playbook or big launch plan. She simply started experimenting with ideas that could help attract and engage the right talent.

“You will not always have full approval or a big budget,” she says. “Sometimes you just need to try something small and see where it goes.”

Her first steps focused on graduate recruitment and early careers content — creating small projects that demonstrated value and sparked interest across the business.

“Once people saw the results, they wanted to know what else was possible,” she recalls.

Proving Value Through Data

To get leaders on board, Shannon turned outcomes into evidence.

“If you can show impact, people listen,” she says. “Data turns a good idea into something people can believe in.”

Tracking engagement, applications and event results gave her the proof she needed to keep building. Each small success opened the door to larger initiatives and deeper collaboration across teams.

Creating Advocates Through Storytelling

As the work grew, Shannon made storytelling a priority.

“Employer branding works best when the people closest to the experience are the ones sharing it,” she says. “Graduates and leaders bring the story to life in a way that feels real.”

By encouraging employees to share their own journeys, she helped others see themselves in the Bechtel story and inspired them to contribute to the brand’s growth.

Visibility That Builds Momentum

Shannon also knew the importance of celebrating wins. Sharing updates through internal channels helped colleagues see the tangible outcomes of the work and inspired new advocates.

“When people can see what you are doing and the results it delivers, they start to see it as part of the business, not a side project,” she explains.

That visibility helped employer branding gain credibility as a business driver rather than a creative experiment.

Key Takeaway

Shannon’s experience proves that the fastest way to earn trust is to take action. Start small, measure what matters and share the wins that make people believe.

“You do not need to wait for a perfect plan,” she says. “Just start and show people the difference you can make.”

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