Employee Spotlight: Kayla Dabbs

At Tandym, we know that success is a team sport, and every month, we take a moment to recognize one standout player who goes above and beyond. Our Teammate of the Month isn’t just someone who gets the job done; they embody our values, uplift those around them, and make a lasting impact. Get to know Kayla Dabbs, one of Tandym’s Directors on the Tech Delivery team and Tandym’s Teammate of the Month for June 2026!

Who are you?

I grew up in a small town just outside of High Point, North Carolina. My mom was a teacher before retiring, my dad owns a rubber roller company, and I have one younger sister.

I attended Trinity High School, where I graduated with a class of about 130 students. Growing up, dancing was a huge part of my life. I danced competitively for years and spent most afternoons and evenings at the studio. During my junior and senior years, I decided to switch things up and joined the golf team. It was a brand-new program, and somehow, I ended up being team captain, even though I definitely wasn’t the best golfer.

After high school, I attended UNC Charlotte, where I continued dancing on the university’s dance team. Fun fact, my parents, my sister, and I all ended up attending Charlotte, so we’re a true 49ers family. We still have season tickets to the football games and make it to just about every home game, even if the team doesn’t always make it easy on us.

Today, I live in Charlotte’s Lower South End with my boyfriend. We actually knew each other in college but reconnected years later, which makes for a pretty great full-circle story.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at Pilates or doing a little retail therapy. Whether it’s shopping in person or online, I’m always happy to browse.

Life has been especially exciting lately because my younger sister is getting married this September. I’m her maid of honor, so I’m currently in full planning mode between her bridal shower and bachelorette trip. I don’t have any pets of my own, but I’m completely obsessed with my sister’s dachshund. He’s basically my nephew, and I’ll happily show anyone pictures of him if you ask.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what’s the first ridiculous purchase you’d make?

Honestly? A dachshund.

I know people usually answer this with a private jet or a mansion, but all I want is a wiener dog. Actually, I’d probably buy the dog and a really good training package because that’s honestly the biggest thing holding me back right now. I want a puppy, but I also want to make sure it grows up to be a well-behaved dog.
I grew up with dachshunds, so I’ve always loved them and have always been a part of my life. They’re the best, but they’re also incredibly stubborn. If it’s raining outside, good luck convincing them to go potty.

I’d also probably become my veterinarian’s favorite customer because I’d be the person bringing my dog in every time something seemed even slightly off. If I won the lottery, at least I wouldn’t have to worry about the vet bills.

So no sports car or luxury yacht, just a very spoiled dachshund living its best life.

Growing up, who were your role models, inspirations, and people you looked up to?

This was actually a hard question because I’ve always had so many people in my life that I looked up to. I have a big extended family, and I grew up really close to a lot of my cousins, so I was lucky to have a lot of great role models.

If I had to narrow it down, though, I’d say my biggest role models were my parents and my dance teacher, Miss B.

I spent so much of my childhood at the dance studio, so Miss B taught me a lot about discipline, respect, and working hard toward something you love. She had a huge influence on me during those years.

My parents have always inspired me in different ways. My mom somehow managed to do it all, and I honestly don’t know how she balanced everything. My dad is incredibly smart and has such a great business mindset. Even today, I feel like I can call him with just about any question, and he’ll know the answer. They’re also both incredibly level-headed, which is something I’ve always admired because I’m definitely the one who gets anxious or stressed.

As for my hero, that would have to be my GG, my mom’s mom. She lived right next door to us while I was growing up, so she was always there whenever I needed her. Even when I went away to college, we’d spend hours talking on the phone. She’s always been one of my biggest supporters, and she’s someone I’ll always look up to.

If your personality were a chain restaurant, what would it be?

I’d definitely be a Margaritaville. I’m social, a little sassy, and just the right amount of extra. I love the beach, themed events, and any excuse to have a good time. Throw in a solid happy hour, a great margarita, and the occasional Jell-O shot, and I’m pretty much in my element. So yeah, Margaritaville just feels right.

What artist is permanently on your Spotify Wrapped?

Well, first of all, I have Apple Music, so I guess technically it’s not Spotify Wrapped. I’m an Apple Music girl.

If we’re talking consistency, I’d have to say Tate McRae. She’s been one of my most-played artists for the past few years because she’s always putting out new music, and I never seem to get tired of it.

I still love going back to older music, and there are definitely artists like Justin Bieber who have been on repeat for years. But if I had to pick one artist who’s consistently at the top of my playlist, it’s Tate.

I also have a soft spot for her because I knew who she was before she became a huge star. As a former dancer, I remember seeing her compete around the same time as the dancers from Dance Moms, so it’s been really cool watching her career take off.

Do you have any hidden talents or fun facts about yourself?

I don’t know if these are hidden talents since my Charlotte coworkers probably already know them, but I love organizing. I genuinely find it therapeutic. If you’ve ever noticed how organized the snack drawers are in the Charlotte office, there’s a good chance I had something to do with it.

I’m also the person who loves planning. Whether it’s a party, a trip, or my sister’s upcoming bachelorette weekend, I really enjoy putting all the details together. There’s something so rewarding about seeing people have a great time because of something you planned. I also love doing makeup, so if anyone ever needs a glam squad, I’m happy to volunteer.

For those of us who aren’t from Charlotte, what would your ideal Saturday in the Queen City look like?

We’d have to start the day with a matcha from Wildroots. Then we’d take a walk along the Greenway because it’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy the city. After that, we’d grab brunch at 300 East before heading over to Atherton to do a little shopping. I love to shop, so that’s definitely making the itinerary

The afternoon would be pretty low-key. We’d spend some time relaxing by the pool before getting ready for dinner. We’d also have to make a stop at Waterman’s at some point for oysters For dinner, I’d probably take you to Uchi. The sushi is incredible, and the rooftop is the perfect spot for cocktails.

To me, that’s a pretty perfect Charlotte Saturday. It has a little bit of everything: good food, good drinks, a little shopping, and plenty of time to enjoy the city.

What are some of the most memorable interactions you’ve had with candidates?

One of my favorites happened when I was brand new and still in training. It was right around Christmas, hiring had slowed down, and I needed one more offer to graduate from training. I found a candidate who couldn’t figure out how to send me a digital copy of her résumé. She only had a picture of it on her phone, so I sat there and typed her entire résumé from scratch so I could submit her to the client. She ended up interviewing, getting the offer, and officially getting me out of training… only to quit after two days. So technically, she helped launch my recruiting career, even if it was a very short-lived placement.

Another memorable one involved a candidate whose résumé and LinkedIn profile didn’t match at all. I called to clarify the discrepancies, but every conversation seemed to end with chaos in the background before the call disconnected. When I finally reached her, she broke down crying and admitted she had fabricated parts of her experience.

And then there are the interactions that just make you laugh. I’ve had a candidate politely decline a job opportunity but made sure to tell me I was “very beautiful” before hanging up. Another candidate simply replied to my email with a middle finger emoji. After a while, you learn that no two days in recruiting are ever the same, and that’s part of what makes the job so entertaining.

Did you find Tandym, or did Tandym find you?

Technically, Tandym found me through the MetroSystems acquisition. Before joining Tandym, I started as a technical recruiter but eventually became the company’s only corporate recruiter. I also handled marketing and social media, so I was really a team of one. While I learned a lot, I didn’t have anyone else doing the same work that I could bounce ideas off of or collaborate with.

Joining Tandym completely changed that. I suddenly became part of a recruiting team of about seven people, and it made such a difference. It was so refreshing to have teammates who understood exactly what I was doing every day and who were always willing to support one another. I also loved joining a larger organization because it opened the door to recruiting for a much wider variety of roles. Every day became a little different, which made the work even more exciting.

Rumor has it you’re the queen of sushi. Build me your ideal order.

First of all, we’re going to Sushi San in Nashville because it’s my favorite sushi spot. I’m starting with the bluefin tuna sashimi. They serve it with ponzu and watermelon, and it is so good. Then I’m ordering the spicy yellowtail crispy rice because that’s a non-negotiable.

Next comes a nigiri assortment with salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, which are easily my favorite types of fish. After that, we’re ordering a few specialty rolls, especially anything topped with otoro. We’ll probably throw in some charred edamame with extra salt for the table, and if we’re really doing it right, we’re adding the togarashi cauliflower too.

Honestly, I love trying different rolls, but if you put fresh sashimi, nigiri, and crispy rice in front of me, I’m a very happy person.

What was it like to hear you won Teammate of the Month?

My heart immediately started beating really fast, and I could feel my face turning bright red. I was honestly just shocked. Once it started to sink in, I was overwhelmed in the best way. Seeing that I had been nominated by different people and hearing all the kind things they had to say was really special.

It’s one thing to work hard every day, but it’s another to know that people notice and appreciate it. That recognition meant a lot to me.

I won’t lie, though, having your picture up on the screen while the entire company is looking at you is a little overwhelming. But overall, it was such an incredible honor, and I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate me and say such kind things.

You’re having an incredible year. What’s the secret?

Honestly, I wish I had some groundbreaking answer, but I really don’t think I’ve changed much. If anything, I’ve just become more confident in trusting my instincts. The longer you recruit, the more you develop a feel for who is genuinely the right fit for a role and who isn’t.

I’ve never been someone who submits candidates just to fill a pipeline. I want every submission to be someone I’m genuinely excited about and someone I believe has a real chance of getting the job. If I’m sending a candidate to a client, I want to feel confident that if they get the interview, they have a great shot at getting the offer.

The same goes for sourcing. I’m not blasting messages out to hundreds of people. I take the time to look at profiles and be intentional about who I reach out to because I want those conversations to be meaningful. At the end of the day, your name is attached to every candidate you submit. I take a lot of pride in that, and I think being thoughtful, consistent, and trusting my gut has made all the difference.

What’s your goal for 2026 with Tandym and beyond?

My biggest goal is pretty simple. I always want to be better than I was yesterday. Of course, it’s fun to glance at the leaderboards and see how everyone is doing because there is a healthy competitive side to recruiting. But I’ve never really measured my success against anyone else. I measure it against myself.

I always want to outperform the previous month, the previous quarter, or the previous year. If I can keep growing, improving, and finding ways to be better than I was before, then I feel like I’m moving in the right direction. This year has definitely set the bar pretty high, so I think Kayla 2027 is going to have some big shoes to fill. But honestly, that’s a challenge I’m excited about.

If every placement earned you airline miles, where would you be flying this year?

The Amalfi Coast, without a doubt. I’ve never been to Europe, so Italy has been at the top of my travel bucket list for a long time. Between the beautiful coastline, amazing seafood, incredible food, and all those little towns along the water, it just looks like the perfect vacation. I’d also love to spend a day sailing along the coast because that’s been on my bucket list for years. Honestly, what’s not to love? Beautiful scenery, great food, and being on the water. It sounds pretty perfect to me.