Episode 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.

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.