Podcast
Talent Titans
Hosted by Suky Sodhi · EN
High performance staffing industry mastermind leader, Suky Sodhi has always felt strongly about allowing the sales team within organizations to have a voice at the boardroom table. She has been working with global recruitment companies for almost 3 decades, helping them align their focus on both the bottom line and their people.
President and Founder of Professional Selection, a leading rec2rec agency, and Founder of Elite Global Recruiters, a community of staffing industry professionals from around the globe, she is helping recruitment businesses scale like never before.
Her podcast, Talent Titans serves as a platform to share her research and findings with us, including best tips and practices to take your business to the next level.
If you enjoyed this episode, please tell us what you think so that we can create more content around this topic. Your feedback is key to help us grow!
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Episodes
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Episode 132 - Your ATS Contract Is Trapping Your Recruitment Agency
1w ago00:43:45Tap to summarizeIf your ATS needs a 24-month contract to keep you, that's not a partnership — that's a trap. In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky Sodhi sits down with Karen Somal , CEO and Founder of Athena CRM, who's disrupting the recruitment software industry with a radical promise: full customizability, month-to-month contracts, and zero migration costs. After 15 years in recruitment tech, Karen has seen it all — from directors building systems that treat recruiters like "data entry clerks" to agencies trapped in "bad marriages" with their ATS providers. She breaks down: • Why legacy ATS platforms force YOU to adapt YOUR workflow to THEIR software • The hidden cost of poor recruiter adoption (and why it's killing your placements) • How data migration horror stories are keeping agencies stuck in broken systems • Why Athena covers migration costs — and buys clients out of existing contracts • The "director-led vs. recruiter-led" design philosophy that's changing the game Karen's message to agency founders: "If you need a 24-month contract to keep someone, you're admitting that the product can't retain them on merit." This is real talk for recruitment leaders who are tired of software that works against them instead of for them. 🔑 Chapters 00:00 — The ATS Trap: Why Your Software Is Working Against You 02:15 — Director-Led vs. Recruiter-Led: The Design Philosophy Shift 08:30 — The 24-Month Contract Problem 14:00 — Data Migration Horror Stories 22:45 — "We're Unsellable Right Now": When Bad Data Kills Acquisitions 28:30 — Athena's Radical Approach: No Migration Fees, Monthly Contracts 35:00 — Why Recruiter Adoption Is Never About Features 42:00 — Word-of-Mouth Growth: From Canada to Dubai 47:30 — What's Next for Recruitment Tech Connect with Karen: I'm Karen Somal, a recruitment technology specialist with years of experience helping agencies improve their systems, processes, and use of technology. I've worked on CRM implementations, automation projects, data transformation, and business process improvement across the recruitment sector. I'm also the founder of Athena CRM, a platform created to give recruitment businesses a more flexible and configurable approach to managing their operations. I'm passionate about using technology to solve real business challenges while keeping people and relationships at the heart of what I do. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-somal-35569117/ Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 131 - Canada Is Not One Market: The Recruitment Truth Nobody Tells You
2w ago00:13:32Tap to summarizeCanada is NOT one single hiring market — and if you're treating it like one, you're already losing top talent. In this episode, we break down why a one-size-fits-all recruitment strategy fails across Canada's five distinct regional markets. From the boomerang talent strategy in Atlantic Canada to Bill 96 compliance in Quebec, from Alberta's affordability edge pulling talent away from Ontario to British Columbia's "Pacific premium" battle with US tech giants — we cover 5,000 kilometers of talent landscape in one episode. If you're a staffing agency founder, recruitment leader, or talent acquisition professional hiring across Canadian provinces, this is your playbook for thinking globally and acting locally. ⏱️ Key Moments: 00:00 - Why Canada is NOT one hiring market 02:15 - Atlantic Canada: The boomerang talent strategy 04:30 - Quebec: Bill 96, language laws, and cultural identity 06:45 - Ontario: The Toronto-Waterloo corridor under threat 09:00 - Alberta: The affordability advantage changing the game 11:15 - British Columbia: The Pacific premium and US tech competition Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 130 - The AI Automation Trap Staffing Agencies Aren't Seeing
4w ago00:19:51Tap to summarize🎙️ Is AI making recruitment more efficient—or are we automating away the very thing that makes recruiters valuable? In this episode, we explore the growing tension between automation and human connection in recruitment. From AI bias and legal risks to candidate backlash and commoditization, we discuss why the future belongs to agencies that are tech-enabled but human-driven. Learn what should be automated, what must stay human, and how recruiters can use technology to strengthen relationships instead of replace them. ⏱️ Key Moments: 00:00 The Friction of Automation vs. Human Connection 03:02 Why Clients Pay for Human Judgment 05:54 The Illusion of Bias-Free AI 09:48 The Legal Risks of Over-Automation 15:39 Tech-Enabled, Human-Driven Recruitment 18:20 What AI Should Automate 20:08 What Must Stay Human 22:04 The Future of Recruitment Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 129 - Your Recruitment Content Doesn't Need More Reach — It Needs the Right Decision-Makers
May 2600:17:02Tap to summarizeIf your LinkedIn posts get likes from other recruiters but zero DMs from decision-makers, you're not building a business — you're building a fan club. In this episode, Suky Sodhi dismantles the biggest lie sold to recruitment professionals: that "reach is king." She breaks down why chasing vanity metrics (follower counts, likes, shares) keeps you trapped in a dopamine loop that feels productive but generates zero revenue. The truth? The people you most want in front of — CEOs, VPs, CTOs — are the quietest people on LinkedIn. They're lurkers. They don't like, they don't comment, but they're watching. And if your content is designed to go viral instead of speaking directly to them, you're pushing them away. What you'll learn: • Why a post with 10 CTO likes is worth more than 1,000 likes from people who'll never hire you • The LinkedIn algorithm trap: how generic content miscategorizes you and buries your posts for the audience that matters • How to escape the "work bestie" engagement loop and attract the right lurkers • Why being boring to the masses is essential to being essential to your ideal client • The real metric that matters: high-value DMs and emails, not crowded threads This is real talk for recruitment founders, staffing leaders, and agency owners who are tired of posting into the void and ready to reach the people who actually move their business forward. ⏱️ Key Moments: 00:00 - The Reach Illusion: Why More Isn't Better 02:16 - Why Your Follower Count Is Lying to You 05:24 - 10 CTOs vs 1,000 Strangers 08:20 - Quality Engagement Beats Quantity Every Time 11:43 - The Vanity-to-Value Shift 14:24 - Finding Partners That Actually Move Revenue Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 128 - 90% of Staffing Agencies Will Never Sell for What They're Worth — Here's Why
May 1900:12:16Tap to summarizeIs your staffing agency actually sellable — or are you just building a bigger cage? In this solo episode, Suky Sodhi breaks down the single most important shift staffing founders need to make if they ever want a high-value exit: margin over revenue. Most agency owners chase headcount and top-line growth, not realizing their low-margin book of business is quietly destroying their valuation. Suky walks through the brutal math that separates a $8M exit from a $16M exit — with the same profit — and gives you a three-step blueprint to flip your valuation before it's too late. In this episode: Why revenue is a vanity metric and EBITDA is everything The "Valuation Chasm" — why low-margin agencies get 3-5x and high-margin agencies get 7-10x Client concentration risk: if one client is >20% of your revenue, you're a high-risk gamble Keyman risk: why being indispensable makes you unsellable The three-step blueprint: Strike Teams, Dolphin Clients, and the High-Margin Pod How to build a business where you're the least important person in the building The bottom line: The path to that sandy beach is a maths problem. Let's solve it. Key Moments 00:00 – Welcome to Talent Titans & Ascen Sponsorship 00:41 – The Big Contract Myth That's Keeping You Trapped 01:36 – The Only Number That Matters: Your Exit Multiplier 02:00 – The Valuation Chasm: 3-5x vs. 7-10x EBITDA 03:00 – Owner A vs. Owner B — The $8M vs. $16M Exit 03:48 – The Real Cost of Chasing Low-Margin Business 04:14 – The Poison Pill: Client Concentration Risk 05:00 – How Buyers See You (And Why They'll Lowball You) 05:48 – The Low-Margin Treadmill: Stuck as Chief Everything Officer 06:12 – Keyman Risk: Why Being Indispensable Makes You Unsellable 07:04 – Vanity Revenue vs. Real Wealth — The Choice 08:00 – The 3-Step Blueprint to Flip Your Valuation 08:39 – Step 1: Strike Team + Dolphin Clients 09:27 – Step 2: Grow the High-Margin Pod 09:52 – Step 3: Move from Supplier to Specialist 10:52 – The 3-Part Exit Formula (Your Sandy Beach) 11:29 – Thanks for Listening + Follow & Share Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 127 - Your Staffing Model Is Broken — Why the 'Unemployable' Are Your Best Hire
May 1300:43:02Tap to summarizeWhat if the people your competitors are screening out are actually your best hire? Marcia Nozick didn't come from the world of HR or corporate recruiting. She came from community economic development — and she built a multi-million dollar staffing company out of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside by betting on the people everyone else wrote off: those with addiction histories, criminal records, and experience with homelessness. Embers Staffing is a fully self-funded social enterprise that reinvests 100% of its profits back into its workers. And in this episode, Marcia makes a compelling, data-backed case that the traditional staffing model is extractive by design — and that the agencies clinging to it are leaving both talent and margin on the table. This is real talk about what resilience actually looks like in a workforce, why construction is opening doors that corporate HR won't, and what it takes to build a staffing company around loyalty instead of just labour. In this episode, we cover: Why the "unemployable" label is a competitive blind spot — not a hiring signal The bottom-up financial model that outperforms traditional margins in a downturn How Embers builds worker loyalty through community, not just compensation Client reactions to placing workers with criminal records — and where the industry is genuinely open Removing real barriers: PPE lending libraries, counseling, housing support, and more Why screening for resiliency beats screening for risk every time The tech adoption balance — automating without excluding your workforce Embers' expansion plans from BC into Alberta and Ontario Key Moments 00:00 Introduction & Sponsor Welcome 00:30 Meet Marcia Nozick & Embers Staffing 01:52 Why Not-For-Profit? The Origin Story 04:25 The Bottom-Up Financial Model 06:57 Building Trust & Community With Workers 09:07 Client Reactions to Non-Traditional Hires 11:09 The Hidden ROI: Embers' Competitive Advantage 14:00 Removing Barriers: PPE, Food & Support Programs 17:46 Is the Staffing Industry Leaving Money on the Table? 20:18 Managing Risk & Overcoming Prejudice 29:51 Hiring Internal Staff & Workplace Safety 33:56 Self-Funding & Technology Adoption 38:33 Expansion Plans: Alberta, Ontario & Beyond 39:53 The Alternative Staffing Association 41:00 Closing Remarks Connect with Marcia Nozick: Marcia Nozick founded EMBERS (Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) in 2001 to create economic and employment opportunities for low-income residents in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Over the past 23 years, her leadership has helped thousands overcome barriers through self-employment education, training, job placements, and ongoing support. In 2008, she launched EMBERS Staffing Solutions (ESS), a self-sustaining social enterprise that reinvests profits into the community. In 2024 alone, ESS paid $10.9 million in wages & benefits and employed more than 1,600 people in flexible, short-term roles. Marcia's work has earned national recognition, including the Governor General's Innovation Award (2020), the BC CEO Lifetime Achievement Award (2021), and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award (2016). She holds a Master's in City Planning and is the author of No Place Like Home: Building Sustainable Communities, praised by David Suzuki as "a must read." LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcianozick/ Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 126 - The Truth About DEI in Canada That Nobody's Talking About with Angelina Brathwaite
May 600:43:56Tap to summarizeEpisode 126 - The Truth About DEI in Canada That Nobody's Talking About with Angelina Brathwaite What does it take to build a 20-year career in staffing — and still love what you do? Angelina Brathwaite, Director of Life Sciences at Brunel Canada, has the answer.In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky Sodhi sits down with one of Canada's most respected voices in talent acquisition for a raw, honest conversation about purpose-driven leadership, the evolution of the staffing industry, and why relationships will always outperform technology. Angelina shares the real story behind her 20-year journey at Brunel — from clearing ATMs at Royal Bank to leading Life Sciences recruitment across Canada. She opens up about the autocratic managers who shaped her empathetic leadership style, the hustle of building a recruitment desk before LinkedIn existed, and why she chose purpose over success — and how that decision changed everything. 🎯 In this episode, you'll learn: How to lead with empathy, integrity, and team buy-in (without losing results) Why networking isn't something you start — it's something you are The truth about DEI in the staffing world: "Sometimes the language changes, but the purpose doesn't" How to overcome fear of cold calls using the discipline of an athlete What it really means to build your personal brand inside an organization Whether you're a recruiter, staffing leader, or talent acquisition professional, this conversation is packed with hard-won insight from someone who's been in the trenches — and thrived. Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction & Award Recognition 02:00 Angelina's Personal Philosophy: "A Human in Training" 03:00 Her Diverse Career Before Recruitment 07:00 How the Staffing Industry Has Changed 12:00 How Bad Management Shaped Her Leadership Style 17:00 Building a Hustle Culture Without the Old-School Pressure 19:00 From 360 Desk to Director of Life Sciences 23:00 DEI Leadership & Community Involvement 28:00 Why Relationships Still Win in Recruitment 30:00 Overcoming the Fear of Cold Calls 35:00 Future Plans: Board Certification & Consulting 39:00 Advice for Career Growth & The Power of Teamwork Favorite Quote: "I always thought — do I want success or purpose? And for me, purpose drives success." Connect with Angelina: Angelina Brathwaite has been a dedicated member of Brunel Canada Limited for the past 18 years, where she currently serves as Director of Life Sciences and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Leader for North America. In 2006, Angelina founded Brunel's Life Sciences practice in Canada, building it from a single client relationship into a trusted national business line supporting leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and emerging startup organizations. Under her leadership, the practice has expanded to include the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors—solidifying Brunel's presence as a comprehensive partner across the life sciences value chain. Angelina is recognized for her inclusive leadership style, her ability to elevate talent, and her commitment to shaping a high-performance culture rooted in collaboration, confidence, and accountability. She has a proven track record of developing long-standing client partnerships, driving strategic growth, and empowering teams to deliver exceptional results. Passionate about industry advancement and community impact, Angelina actively contributes to several organizations. She serves on the boards of Women Leaders in Pharma, Advancing Black Talent in Pharma, and the Clinical Research Association of Canada, and is a member of the Advisory Board for The Mina Project under the Learning Enrichment Foundation. Angelina's dedication to creating opportunities for others, championing diverse perspectives, and strengthening Canada's life sciences ecosystem has established her as a respected leader within Brunel and across the broader industry. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelina-brathwaite-4173914/ Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 124 - How to Build A High-Performing Staffing Team Without A Toxic Sales Culture with Corie Begley
Apr 2100:43:07Tap to summarizeEpisode 124 - How to Build A High-Performing Staffing Team Without A Toxic Sales Culture with Corie Begley The staffing industry thrives on performance...but at what cost? In this episode of Talent Titans, Suki is joined by Corie Begley, Senior Vice President at Vertical Staffing Resources, to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in recruitment: the rise of the "lone wolf" biller and how it silently erodes team culture, client growth, and long-term success. Corie shares how her organization transformed from siloed, individual-driven performance into a collaborative, high-impact model, without sacrificing results. From navigating client demands, AI in recruitment and protecting margins to knowing when to walk away from bad business, this conversation delivers valuable leadership lessons for anyone in staffing or sales. If you're leading a team, scaling an agency, or trying to survive in a high-pressure sales environment, this episode will challenge how you think about performance, culture, and growth. Key Moments: 00:00 Intro and Message from Ascen 00:40 Meet Corie Begley 01:37 The Lone Wolf Culture 03:41 Building Collaboration 16:19 Upgrading Candidate Quality 22:59 Walking Away from Risk and Over Terms 26:44 Honesty Builds Partnerships! 28:49 An AI Hype Reality Check 39:18 We're in The People Business Favorite Quote: "We're in the people business. If everything becomes manufactured, you lose the relationship—and that's everything." Connect with Corie: Corie is an accomplished executive with a diverse leadership skill set that spans sales, marketing, operation strategic planning, and finances. For the past 10 years she has leveraged these experiences to ensure best-in-class client service delivery, building and maintaining key partnerships as well as driving sales, profit, and market shares in the staffing industry. As the Senior Vice President at Vertical Staffing Resources Inc, one of Canada's fastest growing staffing companies, Corie oversees the success of 5 regional operational teams, a national sales team, and a successful direct hire division. She has been instrumental navigating two acquisitions in under four years setting the standards for creating a collaborative, inclusive, empowering working environment while striving to ensure Vertical remains a trusted, respected business partner to their many clients across Canada. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coriebegley/ Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 123 - How Top Staffing Leaders Are Reinventing Growth in 2026 (AI, Culture & Risk)
Apr 1400:53:33Tap to summarizeEpisode 123 - How Top Staffing Leaders Are Reinventing Growth in 2026 (AI, Culture & Risk) The staffing industry is changing faster than ever...shrinking margins, rising compliance risks, AI disruption, and talent shortages. The firms that adapt now will dominate the next decade. In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with top industry leaders to break down what's actually working right now, from self-managed organizations and AI-driven workflows to compliance strategies and global workforce trends. You'll learn how leading agencies are eliminating operational friction, leveraging global workforce trends, and turning uncertainty into growth while smaller firms discover how to compete without massive resources. If you run or are scaling a staffing agency, this is a must-watch. Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now Key Moments: 00:40 Summit Updates and Giveaways 02:27 Meet The Panelists 11:34 Differentiation, Fear, and Collaboration 20:54 Compliance Risk Subvendors 28:58 Why You Need to Modernize Agency Processes 30:04 Missing Out on Gen Z 30:49 Automate Shifts and Workforce Tools 32:43 Eliminate Friction, Improve Flow 33:30 Scaling Tech For Small Firms 34:45 How Global Trends Reshape Canada 39:35 Employee Expectations Flexibility 41:26 Canada's Opportunity In Chaos 45:25 Finding Opportunity In Downturns 50:25 Enterprise Risk Management Future 51:32 Get Your Tickets for the Summit! Favorite Quote: "When people truly understand the business and feel ownership, that's when innovation accelerates." Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
Transcribe →Episode 122 - AI Interview Agents Are Replacing Recruiters? The Truth No One's Talking About
Apr 700:17:06Tap to summarizeEpisode 122 - AI Interview Agents Are Replacing Recruiters? The Truth No One's Talking About AI is transforming hiring faster than ever...78% of candidates now prefer AI interviews, but could this shift be costing you top talent without you even realizing it? In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky breaks down the real impact of AI in recruitment, from massive cost savings and faster hiring times to the hidden risks most agencies aren't talking about. With 88% of companies already using AI in hiring and agencies reporting up to 87% cost reductions in screening, the pressure to adopt AI is undeniable. But is this technology actually improving hiring quality, or just rewarding candidates who know how to game the system? Suky dives into the groundbreaking data, including a study of 70,000 applicants where 78% chose AI interviews over humans, and explores why candidates feel less bias, more flexibility, and greater control. At the same time, she raises critical concerns about the 22% who opt out—and whether companies are unintentionally shrinking their talent pool. This episode challenges recruiters, agency owners, and hiring leaders to rethink where AI fits in the hiring process and how to balance efficiency with the human touch that truly drives long-term success. Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now Key Moments: 00:00 Intro and Sponsor Message 00:39 Why AI Interview Agents? 02:17 Traditional vs Generative AI 03:23 Recruiting Pressures and Data 05:22 78% of Candidates Prefer AI 06:56 Risks and the 22% 07:58 Client ROI and Case Studies 10:37 Cost Savings for Agencies 11:19 Regulation and Transparency 12:27 CVs Are Becoming Useless 15:22 What's Your Opinion? Favorite Quote: "You're not hiring from the best talent pool—you're hiring from the pool willing to do AI interviews." Suky Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
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