# Snowflakes and Fingerprints

Original source: https://erictermuende.com/keynotes/snowflakes-and-fingerprints/
Source updated: 2026-09-22T23:30:55+00:00

> The best organizations don't try to appeal to everyone. They plant a flag in the ground and attract the people who belong there.

> Talent shortages are hitting nearly every industry, and the competition for great people is only getting fiercer.

> But the answer isn't a longer list of perks or a careers page that sounds like everyone else's. Like snowflakes and fingerprints, it comes down to uniqueness: the organizations that win the talent they need are the ones that can clearly say what makes them different, and tell that story in a way the right people can't ignore. Snowflakes and Fingerprints shows audiences how.

## keynote description

> Regardless of where we look, talent shortages are impacting nearly every industry, and competition is fierce. With an entire generation on the precipice of retirement, and not enough workers ready to replace them, the situation is only going to get intensify. More than ever before, we need to do whatever we can to attract and retain top talent. But what does that look like?

## keynote description

> After a decade of research on the world's greatest places to work, workplace culture and leadership expert Eric Termuende has the answer. Like snowflakes and fingerprints, it all comes down to uniqueness. The days of job listings demanding an extensive list of skills and attributes from potential employees are gone. Instead, we need to talk about the larger workplace experience and the difference our organizations are making in the world. To attract the right talent in today's environment, we must plant our metaphorical flag in the ground and emphasize what makes us, as employers, different from the rest.