Kat Kibben: Revolutionizing Recruitment Through Listening

Katrina “Kat” Kibben’s Three Ears Media: Listening as a Recruitment Superpower

When Katrina “Kat” Kibben launched Three Ears Media in 2017, she took a radical stance: from day one, she would build her business around listening. Based in Colorado and now operating with a tight-knit remote team, she flipped traditional recruiting on its head—not by chasing gimmicks—but by refining how companies talk to candidates. Her mission: transform jargon-filled job descriptions into clear, inclusive story-driven opportunities.

From Marketer to Messaging Maverick

Kat’s unconventional journey began with strip-mall tutoring before she earned roles at major HR tech firms like Monster.com, Care.com, and Randstad Worldwide, where she excelled in marketing and writing roles. In watching hiring processes fail time and again due to sterile, alienating language, she realized the real issue wasn’t talent—it was communication. Companies were failing at the first contact: job descriptions.

Her shift from corporate to founder was strategic. She saw writing—not algorithms—as the underestimated lever that could transform recruitment outcomes. Three Ears Media grew from that insight by teaching companies how to speak with candidates, not at them.

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Katrina kibben

Listening, Then Leading

The core of Three Ears Media’s philosophy lies in its name: three ears. The idea is literal and metaphorical—listen deeply to understand roles, cultures, and candidate perspectives. They don’t begin with jargon-laden templates; instead, they dive into research, tone audits, and candidate interviews before shaping each brand voice .

Services span job post rewrites, writing workshops, AI-driven tools like job-title generators and intake templates, and bespoke manager training. They work with companies from startups to Fortune 100s—including Zillow and Instacart—helping clients move past generic posts and embrace human-centric hiring narratives.

Small Team, Big Impact

Despite remaining a boutique firm, the numbers speak volumes: over 75,000 downloads of free resources—templates, guides, e‑books—and a reach that extends far beyond their small team. Their remote-first approach, led by Kat traveling between Colorado and North Carolina—and sometimes working from an RV—demonstrates the company’s flexibility and commitment to the same listening-first mindset they advise clients to adopt.

This nimble structure allows Three Ears Media to maintain high-touch quality without inflating overhead. Their clients benefit from hands-on engagement and rapid optimization, all anchored in empathy and clarity.

Why This Matters for Business Leaders

In today’s labor climate—tight talent pools, remote teams, equity demands—employers need more than job boards. They need narratives. A well-crafted job description isn’t just a hiring tool; it’s a first brand ambassador. It communicates values, cultural fit, and purpose.

Kat positions her firm as the antidote to first-contact failure. By tapping into real-world language, Three Ears Media helps companies shorten time-to-fill, reduce mis-hires, and improve brand perception among candidates. For businesses, that translates to financial efficiency and cultural alignment.

CEO in Command

As CEO, Kat brings equal measures of strategist, storyteller, and advocate. A recognized LinkedIn Top Voice on hiring, keynote speaker, and published author, she balances creative leadership with measurable outcomes. Under her direction, listening isn’t just a service—it’s a transferable methodology applicable across communication and culture.