Episodes

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…

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena welcomes Jordan Shlosberg, founder of Atlas, to explore the "unfair advantage" that AI is bringing to agency recruiters. Together, they dive deep into the rapidly shifting landscape of recruitment technology, revealing how AI is transforming everything from admin-heavy tasks to business development, and giving proactive recruiters a significant edge. You'll hear Jordan Shlosberg share his journey from expert networking to building a cutting-edge AI-first recruitment platform, and discuss how harnessing conversational data and automating processes isn't just increasing speed—it's redefining what it means to deliver value as a recruiter. They tackle critical questions about the future of recruiting organizations, the widening income gap brought by tech adoption, and what agency leaders should be thinking if they're considering switching systems. Whether you're a solo biller, team leader, or firm owner, thi…

Welcome back to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Josh Volinsky, President and Co-founder of Synergy Search, to unpack the bold strategies and mindset behind building a $5M recruiting firm—without hiring a single traditional recruiter. You’ll hear how Josh Volinsky, a former accountant turned record-breaking biller, walked away from the “cushy” world of corporate America to launch a firm built entirely on training industry pros from scratch. Discover why Synergy Search only hires ex-accountants (many with zero recruiting experience) and how their system propelled multiple team members to $400K+ billings in their very first year. Together, Benjamin Mena and Josh Volinsky share the challenges of taking the leap, the power of partnership, and the culture of obsession with detail and relationship-building that fueled their firm’s explosive growth—even through market downturns and personal loss. If you want actionable insights on hiring, …

Welcome to this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, where host Benjamin Mena sits down with renowned recruiter, author, and entrepreneur Jeff Hyman for an eye-opening conversation about the future of recruiting in an AI-driven world. In this candid and forward-thinking interview, Jeff Hyman shares lessons from his 30-year career, including founding multiple recruiting firms, writing the book "Recruit Rockstars," and learning the power of introspection from his many wins—and mistakes—along the way. Together, Benjamin Mena and Jeff Hyman dive deep into the realities facing recruiters today: why the old way of “fetching” candidates is on its way out, how the smartest firms are using AI and process to stand out, and why being an ultra-specialist is more important than ever. You’ll hear Jeff Hyman’s unfiltered perspective on the danger of ignoring technology, his take on why contingency recruiting is a “road to nowhere,” and concrete strategies for becoming a true trusted advisor to…

Most recruiters are chasing the wrong market, and it's quietly destroying their desk. Will Wegert watched his billings collapse after chasing coastal fees and shiny opportunities he had no business pursuing. So he did something most recruiters won't: he looked at the data, killed the distractions, and went all-in on owning one niche in one city. What happened next took 7 years to build and looked like an overnight success. In this episode, Will breaks down the exact attraction-based market...

If you’re waiting to hear back… you’ve already lost. In Part 2 of this deep dive, Jamie Lupo breaks down why most recruiters don’t have a sales problem — they have a control problem. And that problem is killing desks quietly. After 18 years inside LHH — one of the largest talent solutions organizations in the world — Jamie has trained thousands of recruiters, rebuilt struggling offices, and helped teams turn flat years into record-breaking ones. In this episode, she goes tactical. You’ll he...

Most recruiters think they have a sales problem. Jamie Lupo says they actually have an interview problem — and it’s costing them clients. After 18 years inside LHH, one of the largest talent solutions organizations in the world, Jamie trained teams across the country, rebuilt struggling offices, and watched thousands of recruiters win… or quietly fail. Her diagnosis is blunt: If you’re “waiting to hear back,” you’ve already lost control of the process. This is Part 1 of a 2-part series brea...

What if you never made a single business development cold call and still billed almost a million dollars in your first 18 months solo? That's not a hypothetical. That's exactly what happened when one recruiter bet everything on owning his niche and letting LinkedIn do the selling for him. Most recruiters are taught to smile, dial, and grind through cold BD calls to build a book of business. This episode flips that model completely. You'll hear the exact framework behind a recruiter who walked a...

On this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Camp Jennings, co-founder of Henry North, to unpack what it really takes to launch a successful search firm from the ground up—without decades of recruiting experience. Camp Jennings shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of his company’s first year: from making cold calls out of a Panera Bread, to landing their first clients through personal networks, and scaling up faster than they ever expected. You’ll get a candid quarter-by-quarter breakdown of their journey, including practical lessons, missteps, and the hard truths about balancing ambition with family life. Camp Jennings opens up about hiring challenges, the value of authentic networking, and how focusing on a specific niche propelled their growth. Whether you’re a recruiter just starting out or a seasoned pro looking to level up your business, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights you won’t want to miss.

If you’re overthinking profiles, rewriting messages 5 times, and wondering why candidates aren’t replying… You don’t need better tools. You need a faster system. 🎯 This Is Your Year – Recruiter Summit 2026 Featuring Brianna Rooney and other elite recruiters who are redefining business development, sourcing, closing, and scaling. Register here -> https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com/ If you’re serious about leveling up your recruiter training in 2026, don’t miss this. 2. ...

Welcome to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In this epic Part 2 of the interview with Mike Anderson, host Benjamin Mena dives deep into what it really takes to create demand out of thin air—and why a proven business development system is the key to success. Mike, known for his “lone wolf” mindset and relentless drive, pulls back the curtain on how top recruiters can protect their time, shift their mindset, and build proactive processes that fuel real revenue. From the pitfalls of chasing results instead of nailing the process, to leveraging LinkedIn voice notes and nurturing genuine relationships, you'll learn specific strategies that are working right now for winning new clients. Whether you’re thinking about breaking away from a big agency or already on your own, Mike shares hard-earned wisdom about accountability, identity, and embracing the joy of the unknown. He addresses why boutique firms and solo partnerships are outpacing legacy agencies in today’s market, and what every re…