Intro

In this episode of The Innovative Agency, host Sharon Toerek sits down with Phillip Rivers, co-founder of Talent HQ and an experienced agency leader, to discuss one of the most crucial issues facing agency owners today: talent acquisition. From the challenges of onboarding remote teams to the importance of maintaining a proactive talent pipeline, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies for agency leaders looking to attract top talent and achieve sustainable growth.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why structured onboarding is critical to successfully integrating remote and global teams.

• How to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that streamline onboarding and enhance productivity.

• Key mistakes agencies make in sourcing overseas talent and how to avoid them.

• How to create a proactive talent pipeline that keeps your agency prepared for growth.

• The importance of embracing cultural differences and fostering a sense of community among global teams.

• How to implement a comprehensive vetting process, including assessments, group interviews, and pilot projects.

• Why agencies should balance cost with quality when sourcing overseas talent.

Bio

I started selling products on obscure message boards and building email lists. I got really good at building and monetizing lists. That company grew to a million in sales, but I was young and didn't know what I was doing and it fizzled out. I had people around me (parents, etc) telling me to get a job, but it conflicted with my character/make up. I sold all my stuff and moved to NYC with hardly any money and no connections.

After a few years of working at startups, I just couldn't do it anymore. I was unfulfilled and just going through the motions. I left and went back to the thing I knew I could do really well, and I started a marketing agency specializing in email marketing. The agency grew to nearly 50 global employees and 7-figures in sales and recently sold. Now I take all my systems and processes for finding and vetting global marketing talent and do it for agencies and other companies.

Resources:

• Website: https://www.talenthq.net/

• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thephilrivers/

• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-talenthq/

• Twitter Personal: https://x.com/thePhilRivers