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Kaylee Estes

Kaylee Estes Profile Photo

Founder & CEO

Hi! I'm Kaylee. I'm a mom, entrepreneur, and team builder.

I started my career in agency staffing and, after 4 years, shifted in-house and was the Head of Talent Acquisition for two hyper-growth startups in Atlanta. After 5 years of being on the inside, I decided to start Estes Group to bring my internal recruiting expertise into the agency recruiting market.

As a Head of TA, I spent a lot of time fielding cold calls and emails from agency recruiters. I also spent time vetting potential recruiting partners and often left those meetings feeling like I wanted to work with someone who "gets it"... but no one really understood the challenges we faced.

So, in January 2023, I went out on my own and founded Estes Group to help companies make better hires. We approach our work and partnerships with the lens of an internal recruiter.

We offer embedded recruiting services (our favorite!) and contingent staffing.

When I'm not working, I am driving my minivan around Atlanta, shuttling my three kids to all their activities.

Agency vs. Internal vs. Fractional: Kaylee Estes on Revenue, Relationships, and Reinventing Recruiting for 2025
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April 28, 2025

Agency vs. Internal vs. Fractional: Kaylee Estes on Revenue, Relationships, and Reinventing Recruiting for 2025

On this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with Kaylee Estes, founder of Estes Group, for a candid conversation about her unique journey through the world of recruiting. From starting as a technical recruiter in a fast-paced agency environment, moving into in-house talent acquisition, and finally launching her own firm, Kaylee shares the lessons she’s learned every step of the way. Together, they dive into the real differences between agency and internal recruiting, what it takes to build trust as a recruiter, and how to nurture relationships in a business often known for its transactional nature. Kaylee explains her company’s approach to embedded and fractional recruiting for tech startups, and gives actionable advice for recruiters looking to evolve, scale, or even start their own agencies. Whether you’re considering a shift in your recruiting career or want to see what it takes to successfully partner with internal teams, this episode is packed wit…
Guest: Kaylee Estes