Episodes

Tom Kelly hands over the two frameworks that explain how EVONA runs a 30-person team at the revenue of an 80-person team. The first is a sales segmentation that exposes the bracket quietly sinking most agencies — the middle 60% who measure themselves against the bottom 10% instead of the top. The second is the 25-interview rolling 4-week benchmark that defines elite at EVONA, reverse-engineered from a 12-to-1 interview-to-placement ratio. Tom also unpacks why he'd hate to be running a big recruitment firm right now, the AI governance problem coming for scaled agencies, the LinkedIn spam wave about to wash through, and why recruitment is now IQ over EQ. He closes with the stutter that built his career, the books that shaped him, and the one piece of advice for every recruiter facing the next 18 months.

Welcome to another episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this powerful two-part interview, Benjamin Mena sits down with Tom Kelly, a founder who took his recruitment firm from four founders all the way up to 80 team members—only to make the bold decision to cut back to 30, resulting in net revenue per head doubling while overall revenue remained steady. Tom Kelly shares hard-won lessons about scaling too fast, the pitfalls of chasing headcount over profitability, and why authentic relationships—not cold emailing—are the true intellectual property in recruitment today. You’ll get an inside look at the cultural, operational, and financial realities of going through explosive growth, the painful choices of downsizing, and how focusing on brand, marketing, and people-first values helped Tom Kelly build a resilient, purpose-driven business. Whether you’re running your own desk or leading an agency, this is an unmissable episode packed with actionable insights and stories you won’t hea…

Welcome to another episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! Today’s guest is Riece Keck, a recruiter and agency owner who built an astonishing $800k in billings in a single year—after nearly losing his business twice. In this episode, Benjamin Mena sits down with Riece Keck to unpack a rollercoaster journey: from the heights of the recruiting boom, through financial pitfalls and a massive market downturn, to an inspiring rebuild fueled by AI-driven business development. Benjamin Mena and Riece Keck dive into the frameworks and low-to-no-code tech stacks Riece Keck used to automate outreach and scale his recruiting practice far beyond what’s possible with traditional tools. You’ll hear actionable insights about systematizing business development, building strategic partnerships, and crafting messaging that actually gets responses. Plus, Riece Keck shares his candid advice for recruiters facing lean times—and his predictions for how AI will reshape the industry by 2028. Whether you…

Episode Introduction Welcome back to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Dawson Henis, the founder of Hennis Group, a search and staffing firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. At just 24, Dawson Henis made the bold leap into entrepreneurship, launching his own firm after cutting his teeth in the high-pressure world of staffing at a major player. Now, three years later, he's expanded Hennis Group from a one-person search desk to a thriving business with a newly launched staffing division and a team to support that vision. Together, they dig into the gritty realities of starting and scaling a recruiting company as a young entrepreneur—from cold-calling and walking into factories unannounced, to building a "lead gen machine" fueled by automated outreach and business development smarts. Dawson Henis gets real about the lonely moments, the adrenaline of first wins, the mindset shifts required to grow, and why understanding your personal “why” is …

In this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Steve Anderson, CEO of Optigy, to unpack an extraordinary journey from milkman to leading a $19 million healthcare staffing company. After being laid off with a mortgage, five daughters, and no plan B, Steve Anderson shares how he leveraged resilience, relationship-building, and relentless optimism to create a recruiting powerhouse in just three years. Together, they discuss the critical distinction between vendors and partners, the lessons learned from early setbacks, and the mindset required to not only survive but thrive in the recruiting industry. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your agency, this episode offers tactical advice, real-world stories, and the kind of motivation that comes from someone who has truly set himself—and his business—on fire to find out what's possible.

Welcome back to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Lauren Lehman, a dynamic recruiter who skyrocketed her solo firm from zero to $120,000 in billings within just six weeks—armed with nothing more than relentless determination, a well-organized spreadsheet, and a passion for building real relationships. Tune in as Lauren Lehman shares her unique journey, from her beginnings in healthcare recruiting to mastering accounting and finance placements, and ultimately taking the leap to launch her own firm. We’ll dig into the practical strategies that fueled her explosive start: the power of disciplined time blocking, business development every single day, mushrooming accounts, and why trust, human connection, and personal branding are more critical than ever in today’s recruiting landscape. Whether you’re thinking about starting your own desk or want to become a more trusted partner in recruiting, this conversation is packed with actionable a…

Episode Introduction Welcome to another standout episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with industry legend scott love for a deep dive into why 99% of recruiters fail at business development—and what sets the top 1% apart. Drawing from decades of experience, hard-won lessons, and thousands of conversations with recruiters worldwide, scott love shares insights on the crucial mindsets, habits, and strategies that drive high performance in recruiting. From mastering self-discipline and niching deep, to building true authority and embracing the power of creative business development, scott love doesn’t hold back. You’ll learn why most recruiters default to the same old tactics, how to stand out by becoming truly distinct in your niche, and why building a thought leadership platform is essential for long-term success. Whether you’re struggling with call reluctance, facing distractions, or just looking for ways to scale your billing i…

What does it take to design a life and a recruiting business truly on your own terms? In this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Tony O'Neill—an executive search founder who traded Midwest winters for surfing in Costa Rica, defined his own metrics of success, and built a thriving brand in the outdoor sporting goods niche. Tony O'Neill shares how he reverse-engineered his career and lifestyle, the pivotal moments and sacrifices along the way, and why discipline, specialization, and relentless focus on client value are the real keys to long-term freedom in recruitment. Whether you’re struggling to define your own success or want to take your search business to the next level, this episode is packed with personal stories, practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you build the life—and business—you actually want.

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In today's episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Catiana I. Ibarra Aponte, CEO and brand manager of Peoplelift, to share an incredible journey of resilience, leadership, and breaking barriers. From being repeatedly told "no"—whether by family, professors, or employers—Catiana I. Ibarra Aponte transformed obstacles into fuel for growth, ultimately rising to lead a thriving HR staffing and AI consultancy. Listen as Catiana I. Ibarra Aponte recounts how overcoming cultural expectations, a devastating hurricane, and pandemic layoffs shaped her perspective on leadership, perseverance, and building a business that changes lives—not just fills jobs. This is a must-hear story for anyone seeking inspiration to turn rejection into triumph and to master their craft in the world of recruiting.

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with powerhouse recruiter Nick Pelloni for an unfiltered and eye-opening conversation about redefining success in the world of recruiting. Nick Pelloni has already surpassed $720k in billings for the quarter—without making a single cold call and using only three tools—PIN, an ATS, and a note taker. Growing up in a recruiting family and carrying a passion for both old-school grit and new-school tech, Nick Pelloni reveals how he’s merged classic recruitment fundamentals with AI-driven efficiency to become one of the industry’s top performers. From working his way up in the family business (insisting on no handouts) to building a reputation where word-of-mouth drives inbound business, Nick Pelloni shares the systems, mindset, and hard-earned lessons that transformed him from a reluctant high school data entry temp to a leader at the helm of a thriving agency. Whether you want insights on leveraging A…

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Seb Sharpe, a former million-dollar biller turned entrepreneur, to dive deep into the realities behind top-performing recruiters and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Seb Sharpe shares his candid insights on why relying solely on AI may actually accelerate a recruiter's irrelevance, the crucial difference between speed and quality in recruitment, and what it really takes—behind the scenes—to build a multi-million dollar book of business. Together, they explore practical strategies, hard-earned lessons, and the mindset shifts necessary to compete and thrive as the future of recruiting rapidly changes. Whether you're a seasoned recruiter or just getting started, this episode is packed with actionable advice and a peek into the relentless work ethic that sets elite performers apart.

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Amanda Hendrix, head of growth at Ember Hiring and a seasoned healthcare staffing executive, to unravel the story behind scaling a staffing agency from $2.2 million to $11 million in revenue—all within a whirlwind 18 months. Together, they explore the dramatic shifts in the recruiting landscape before, during, and after the COVID-19 boom and dive into the challenges agencies face as the market normalizes. Amanda Hendrix reveals the critical role AI is playing in the industry, why agencies must adapt quickly or risk extinction, and what practical steps both recruiters and agency owners need to take right now to future-proof their businesses as consolidation sweeps the sector. If you’re serious about elevating your recruiting game and getting ahead in the age of AI, you won’t want to miss this insightful discussion.

Welcome to this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! Today, Benjamin Mena sits down with Luke Marquardt, a former NFL player whose journey is the ultimate story of perseverance, grit, and reinvention. From enduring a series of devastating injuries and setbacks in his athletic career—including four broken feet—to building a $700K recruiting desk in the commercial construction space, Luke Marquardt's experience is a masterclass in chasing dreams, embracing new opportunities, and learning to thrive when life takes unexpected turns. Tune in as we dive into Luke Marquardt's transformation from the football field to the world of recruiting, explore the mindset and habits that propelled his explosive growth, and uncover actionable insights you can use to elevate your own desk—no matter what doors have closed or opened along the way.

Diane Prince walked into staffing with zero recruiting experience and one specific intention: build a business she could scale and sell. Six years later, she sold her staffing agency for $28 million. 🚀 Diane is speaking again at the This Is Your Year Recruiter Summit 2026 — which is exactly why this episode is back in rotation. Don't miss her live session. Register free: https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com/ Most recruiting agency owners will never have an exit like Diane's....

Welcome to another transformative episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! This week, Benjamin Mena sits down with Norman Volsky, Managing Partner at Direct Recruiters and founder of MVP Growth Partners, to reveal the blueprint for turning your recruiting niche into a $6 million practice—and potentially even launching your own venture fund. Discover how Norman Volsky went from starting as an intern to becoming the go-to recruiter and investor in the digital health and employee benefits space. You’ll learn how to differentiate yourself in a crowded market, leverage your existing network for exponential growth, and how mastering your niche can unlock new revenue streams far beyond traditional recruiting. If you aspire to dominate your niche, build a high-performing team, and think bigger about what’s possible in recruiting, get ready—this is the episode that will expand your horizon.

Episode Introduction Welcome to another episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In today’s episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Andrea (Annie) Colabella, founder of Cardea Group and a leading voice in executive recruitment for investment management legal and compliance roles. Andrea (Annie) Colabella shares her career journey from Wall Street trading to building a niche powerhouse recruiting firm, revealing how a focus on specialization—and the bold shift from contingency to fully retained search—transformed her business. Listen in as she unpacks the challenges and rewards of narrowing your niche, building real relationships, and structuring a retained practice without losing clients. If you’re aiming to level up your recruiting game, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration for making lasting pivots in your search business.

Welcome to a powerhouse episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with industry legend Dave Veres, who’s helped scale teams and orchestrate explosive growth—from $300 million to a staggering $12 billion in staffing revenue. Together, they dive deep into the art of "diagnosis-based selling," a method that goes beyond transactional recruiting to offer true partnership and predictive value for clients. Dave Veres candidly shares career stories—from the front lines of massive automotive and government contracts, to personal moments where his team’s ability to deliver was literally a matter of life and death. This conversation explores the real difference between asking questions and truly diagnosing a client’s pain points, the importance of relationships over metrics, and how the right culture and leadership can rocket any recruiter’s growth. If you want actionable insights on scaling relationships, landing whale accounts, and building res…

Episode Introduction Welcome back to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Jake Frazer, co-founder of Precision Talent Solutions and a true industry insider in the government contracting (GovCon) executive search space. Jake Frazer shares his unconventional journey from the Army and running major operations with KBR to revolutionizing talent acquisition in GovCon, not as a traditional recruiter, but as a passionate connector dedicated to getting the right people in the right seats. You'll hear how Jake Frazer and his team leverage technology, psychometrics, and AI to deliver unmatched results for their clients, plus innovative approaches like their Virtual Assessment Center and fractional flag officer program supporting senior leaders from government and military backgrounds. The conversation explores why empathy, market knowledge, and industry expertise are the future differentiators for recruiters, and how Jake Frazer is preparing his …

Most recruiting firms measure success by offers accepted. Jake Frazer watched that metric send unqualified people into a war zone. That was the moment he decided the industry was broken — and spent the next decade building something different. Frazer is not a recruiter. He is a government contracting operator who watched from the inside as one of the largest defense contractors in the world staffed programs the wrong way and paid for it in the field. He served in the Army, ran logistics at KBR ...

Most recruiting firms measure success by offers accepted. Jake Frazer watched that metric send unqualified people into a war zone. That was the moment he decided the industry was broken — and spent the next decade building something different. Frazer is not a recruiter. He is a government contracting operator who watched from the inside as one of the largest defense contractors in the world staffed programs the wrong way and paid for it in the field. He served in the Army, ran logistics at KBR ...

Introduction Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Augusta Mirchandani, founder and CEO of a global recruiting organization spanning five countries. Together, they tackle a critical and persistent issue in the recruitment industry: why the best women recruiters keep leaving their firms—even when they consistently outperform their peers. Drawing on 13+ years of experience in the quant and discretionary finance space, Augusta Mirchandani shares her perspective on how outdated structures and "laddish" cultures hinder women's long-term success, why high-performing women often feel unsupported or sidelined, and what needs to change to build inclusive, high-impact recruitment environments. She offers actionable advice for male founders who want to truly empower women on their teams, insights into the habits of million-dollar billers, and discusses how her own leadership evolved after becoming a mother. Whether you’re a leader loo…

Welcome to another episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In today’s show, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Jean-Louis-Philip Girardet, one of France’s top billers turned recruiting team leader. From luxury hospitality in Los Angeles and London to crushing €500,000 billing years—and now coaching new recruiters—Jean-Louis-Philip Girardet shares his unique path, insights, and strategies for building lasting relationships and delivering high-quality results. They dive into what sets top billers apart, the challenges and opportunities within the French recruiting market, and how lessons from a career in hospitality have shaped Jean-Louis-Philip Girardet's distinctive approach to recruitment. Plus, you'll hear actionable advice for recruiters at every stage—from those just entering the industry, to veterans aiming to reach elite status. Tune in for a conversation packed with inspiration, practical advice, and a fresh perspective on what it takes to succeed and lead in today’s recruiti…

On this powerful episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Stephanie Loewenstern for a raw and inspiring conversation that goes well beyond the highlight reels of LinkedIn. Stephanie Loewenstern shares her journey from humble beginnings in call center recruiting to launching her own successful tech recruitment business—while navigating some of life’s most brutal challenges. Just days after giving birth and enduring a painful breakup, Stephanie Loewenstern found herself a single mom forced to keep her business afloat under immense pressure. Through vulnerable storytelling, she reveals how recruiting became her lifeline during trauma, and how relationships, resilience, and relentless self-improvement took her from “just surviving” to thriving. You’ll hear practical insights about building a desk from scratch, the true power of authentic relationships, why saving for a rainy day is crucial, and the mindset shifts necessary to weather the storms of en…

Welcome to another episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast! Today, host Benjamin Mena digs into the fast-evolving world of go-to-market (GTM) strategy and what it means for recruiters with special guest Reyhan Khan , a systems and operations expert transforming how recruiting firms scale and succeed. In this episode, Reyhan Khan pulls back the curtain on why your next hire shouldn’t necessarily be another recruiter—but a GTM specialist who can implement the technical, systems-driven side of sales and marketing. Together, Benjamin Mena and Reyhan Khan break down what GTM actually means, why it’s showing up more and more in the recruiting industry, and how leveraging these strategies can move the needle faster than traditional methods. They cover actionable ways recruiters can tap into automation, intent-based outreach, mapping markets, and building personal brands that stand out—all while avoiding common pitfalls and empty promises often found in the GTM “hype” cycle. If you’re a rec…