Episode 121 - Why Most Offshore Recruiting Fails (And the Model That Actually Works) with Rob Chorney

Offshore recruiting is broken, but not for the reasons you think.

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Rob Chorney of Everyday People to expose the truth behind offshore recruiting models and why most agencies are getting it completely wrong.

If you've ever struggled with poor-quality offshore hires, slow ramp-up times, or brand damage from spammy outreach, this conversation will change how you think about global talent forever. Rob shoots it straight on the outdated "cheap labor" model and reveals a radically different approach—one built on hiring elite, experienced recruiters who deliver results from day one.

This isn't just about saving money. It's about staying competitive.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Sponsor Message from Ascen

• 00:40 Meet Rob Chorney

• 05:41 Offshoring Real Talk

• 06:40 Time to Productivity

• 11:58 Hiring Top Offshore Talent

• 16:00 Protecting Your Brand

• 22:46 Standing Out and Retention

• 27:16 Management and Incentives

• 35:24 Data Security Safeguards

• 40:01 Client Pushback and Pricing

Connect with Rob:

With over 20 years in recruiting, Rob has built a business that challenges traditional staffing by removing unnecessary overhead and focusing on performance, autonomy, and real market expertise. His team operates across North America and India, delivering high-quality recruiting solutions without the inefficiencies of legacy firms.

Rob is passionate about redefining offshore recruiting—proving that with the right structure, it can be both cost-effective and world-class.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobchorney/

Website: everydaypeopleinc.ca

Favorite Quote:

"It doesn't matter how much you save—if your recruiter takes eight months to become productive, you've already lost."

• Rob

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 120 - Feras Elkhalil on Building IT/IQ, Surviving Adversity, and Leading Through Uncertainty

What does it take to build a successful staffing business when your life begins with instability, survival, and starting over?

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Feras Elkhalil, President and CEO of IT/IQ Tech Recruiters and President and Chairman of The IQ Group of Companies, for a powerful conversation on grit, leadership, entrepreneurship, and belief.

Feras shares his journey from immigrating to Canada as a child after fleeing conflict in Lebanon and Libya, to building multiple recruiting businesses through partnership, resilience, and long-term vision. He opens up about how adversity shaped his mindset, the leadership mistakes he had to unlearn, why most CEOs struggle with insecurity, and how true business growth comes from surrounding yourself with the right people.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Sponsor Message from Ascen

• 00:40 Meet Feras Elkhalil

• 01:57 Immigration and Adversity

• 03:47 Fleeing War to Canada

• 05:11 Why Vancouver, Not Montreal

• 09:31 Paranoia and Losing It All

• 13:02 From Hard Edges to Growth

• 19:50 Building Through Partnerships

• 25:57 Facing Investment Fear

• 29:14 When Partnerships Fail

• 31:59 Corporate vs Entrepreneur

• 36:00 Building a Safety Net

• 45:06 Belief and Final Advice

Connect with Feras:

As Co-Founder of IT/IQ Tech Recruiters, Penta Search Group, Executives IQ, Morningstar Solutions IQ, Horizon Recruitment, Blueprint ECM, and QA Centric, I've pursued a vision of developing specialized firms that solve real business challenges while building meaningful careers for the people within them.

Each company was built on the same foundation: deep relationships, market expertise, and a relentless commitment to delivering the right solution.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feraselkhalil/

Favorite Quote:

"Go through that entire hallway of people telling you it's a bad idea. When you get to the other end, we'll see you there."

• Feras

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 119 - AI in Staffing: What Top Agencies Know About Automation, Agentic AI and Scaling Faster

What does AI actually mean for staffing agencies right now?

In this episode of Talent Titans, host Suky Sodhi brings together a powerhouse panel ahead of the Canadian Staffing Summit including Kelsey Burt, Bill Boorman, Mike Wolford, and Sabashan Ragavan to unpack one of the biggest shifts in the recruiting industry: the move from basic automation to agentic AI.

This conversation goes far beyond surface-level AI hype. The panel digs into the real questions agency owners are asking: What's the difference between automation and agentic AI? Should firms build their own AI tools or buy proven platforms? How can smaller agencies compete with larger players? And what does the recruiter's role look like as AI takes over more of the manual work?

You'll hear each panelists thoughts on AI adoption, workflow strategy, recruiter enablement, candidate engagement, interviewing at scale, and why the firms that win next won't just use more tools, they'll use smarter systems. The discussion also highlights a major shift in the staffing business: moving from relying on headcount for growth to using AI to create scale, speed, and better outcomes.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Sponsor Message

• 01:49 Meet The Panelists

• 04:21 Agentic AI Mindset Shift

• 08:10 AI Process Management Jobs

• 10:41 Humans And Agents In Harmony

• 18:16 Small Agency Scale Advantage

• 25:05 Why Agencies Hesitate

• 27:23 Human Touch With AI

• 28:28 AI Workflows As Assets

• 30:44 Mass Customization Era

• 32:15 Agent Scale Case Study

• 39:37 Build Versus Buy Debate

• 46:42 Get Your Tickets And Wrap Up

Favorite Quote:

"Small agencies should actually be more excited about this than the enterprise, because your capability for scale is becoming possible."

• Bill Boorman

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 118 - The Compliance Mistakes That Can Tank Your Agency with Kalpesh Baxi

Entering the US or Canada as a UK recruitment firm? North America can be the most lucrative staffing market you'll ever touch...or the fastest way to rack up costly compliance mistakes.

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Kalpesh Baxi (Baxfield Consulting; co-founder of RecXperts and CRIMatter) to break down what really happens when agencies expand into North America, why "send your best recruiter to New York" often fails, how EORs protect your margin and your business, and why the smartest founders don't hire "big names"… they hire skills.

Kalpesh shares the concept every scaling agency needs: the Entourage - the legal, payroll, compliance, HR, and marketing experts you must have around you to avoid expensive errors and accelerate growth.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:39 Meet Kalpesh Baxi

• 01:58 RecXperts Concept

• 04:14 Hire Skills Not People

• 09:26 Launching North America Right

• 11:00 Local Knowledge and Mentors

• 15:45 Compliance and Market Nuances

• 21:59 Remote Work and Entourage

• 24:48 Why UK Resists EOR

• 25:51 Hidden Costs and Liability

• 28:30 Why North America Pays

• 36:54 How RecXperts Works

• 42:19 Build Your Entourage

• 43:03 How to Join and Connect

Connect with Kalpesh:

Kalpesh is the co-founder of RecXperts, an on-demand network of experienced recruitment operators providing advisory and execution support to staffing firms. RecXperts was built on a simple principle. Recruitment businesses do not need theory. They need access to people who have built, scaled and fixed agencies before.

Website: https://recxperts.com/

Favorite Quote:

"Don't hire the person—hire the skills."

• Kalpesh

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 117 - How Private Staffing Firms Win in 2026 | Londa Burke on AI, Leadership & Canada's Hiring Comeback

Is AI helping or hurting the staffing industry? And can privately owned firms outperform global giants in 2026?

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Londa Burke, VP of BeverTec, to unpack 30+ years of leadership through Y2K, the 2008 crash, COVID, and today's AI disruption.

Londa reveals why privately owned Canadian staffing firms are thriving, how to lead teams through downturns without losing momentum, and where AI fits (and doesn't) in modern recruitment. If you're a staffing leader, recruiter, or agency owner navigating economic uncertainty, automation, and evolving candidate expectations—this episode delivers.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:40 Meet Londa Burke

• 01:35 Private Company Journey

• 02:51 Why Private Firms Win

• 05:18 Relationships Over Process

• 09:44 Leading Through Downturns

• 12:55 Private vs Public Decisions

• 20:15 AI With a Human Core

• 26:35 Spam Outreach Backlash

• 28:59 Using AI Responsibly

• 31:45 Evolving Tools and Balance

• 36:48 Canada Outlook 2026-27

• 40:04 Canadian Staffing Summit Invite

Connect with Londa:

Londa Burke is a seasoned staffing industry leader with over 30 years of experience driving

recruitment excellence and operational success. She has managed major client accounts, built high-performing teams, and led the expansion of recruitment operations across Canada.

Currently serving as Director of Professional Services at Bevertec CST Inc.,and BITS

Recruitment, Londa oversees the operations, focusing on service delivery, profitability, issue

resolution, and continuous improvement.

She holds a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation through ACSESS and a Bachelor of Science from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Londa's strategic insight and deep industry knowledge continue to make a strong impact across every client engagement.

Connect with Londa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/londa-burke-68847110/

Favorite Quote:

"Market swings and tools evolve—but matching people and aligning strengths and value has never changed."

• Londa

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 116 - Why Profit Doesn't Define Leadership | Canadian Staffing Industry Summit Awards 2026

Leadership in staffing isn't measured by revenue alone.

With the Canadian Staffing Industry Summit Awards happening April 16th at One King West in Toronto, Suky makes a compelling case for redefining leadership, especially after a challenging 2025 across global recruiting markets.

If your agency struggled last year but your leaders showed up, protected culture, supported teams, and elevated people despite the numbers, this episode is your call to action.

Nominations are open. They're free. And they are decided by impact, not vote volume. Click the link here to nominate: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/awards-2026

📍 Event Details for the Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

📅 April 16

📍 One King West, Toronto

🎟 Limited VIP & workshop tickets remaining

💰 Nominations are free

Get your tickets here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Welcome to Talent Titans + Sponsor Message (Ascen)

• 00:39 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit Awards: What, When & Where

• 01:18 Categories and Who Can Submit

• 02:02 Recognizing Leadership Through a Tough 2025

• 04:18 The 'Why' Matters More Than Vote Count

• 06:08 Elevating Canada's Staffing Leaders with Global Attendance

• 06:48 Tickets, Deadlines & Free Nominations + See You April 16

Favorite Quote:

"There's more to being a really strong leader and company than just the bottom line."

• Suky

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 115 - How Canadian Staffing Leaders Win in 2026: Reboot, Innovate & Scale | Canadian Staffing Summit

Canadian staffing agencies are facing margin pressure, tech disruption, and slow growth, but the leaders who embrace innovation, mindset shifts, and operational efficiency are winning. In this episode of Talent Titans, we break down exactly how to reboot your staffing agency for 2026 and why the Canadian Staffing Summit is the room you need to be in.

Huruy Tewelde and Bryan Wilson from Staffing OS join Suky to unpack what's really holding Canadian staffing agencies back—and what the top-performing firms are doing differently. From mindset shifts and operational automation to disruptive innovation and redefining client value, this conversation is a masterclass in scaling smarter in today's staffing market.

To learn more about the 4th Annual Canadian Staffing Industry Summit in Toronto on April 16th, 2026, visit the website here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 02:19 Challenges in the Canadian Staffing Market

• 04:19 Keys to Success for Staffing Firms

• 08:12 Reboot and Rise: Adapting to Change

• 12:49 The Importance of Industry Collaboration

• 15:35 Sponsoring Excellence in Staffing

• 17:43 The Importance of Leadership Beyond Growth

• 19:12 Recognizing Canadian Leaders in Staffing

• 19:49 Criteria for Leadership Awards

• 21:32 The Value of Relationships in Staffing

• 29:01 Encouraging Nominations for Leadership Awards

• 31:03 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Favorite Quote:

"The sign of a true leader isn't what they do in the good times—it's how they show up in the tough times and how they treat their people."

• Suky

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 114 - UK Recruiters: These US Hiring Mistakes Can Get You Sued (Language, Pay & Compliance)

Expanding your UK recruitment agency into the US or Canada?

Your biggest risk isn't tax, payroll, or funding...it's language, compensation, and compliance mistakes that quietly destroy credibility or land you in court.

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky breaks down the real-world nuances UK founders and recruiters must understand before launching in North America. From dangerous interview questions to misunderstood phrases like "quite good" and "let's table this," this episode exposes how cultural misalignment costs deals, talent, and trust.

You'll learn why UK modesty fails in the US, how salary history questions can be illegal, why US recruiters see pay as a scorecard, and how UK-style flexibility is a competitive advantage if used correctly.

If you're serious about scaling in North America, this episode is not optional.

Key Moments:

• 00:39 Challenges of Launching a New Business in North America

• 01:20 Cultural Nuances in Business Communication

• 02:33 Compliance and Legal Considerations

• 03:43 Talent Pool and Work Environment

• 05:32 Compensation Structures

• 07:20 Holiday Policies and Terminology Differences

• 10:10 Adapting to the North American Market

• 11:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Favorite Quote:

"If you keep your UK understatement and right-to-work habits, no amount of funding will save your reputation in the US."

• Suky

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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 113 - This AI Tool is Revolutionizing Staffing | Sabashan Ragavan on Balancing Tech with Human Touch

How do you scale your staffing agency without losing that personal touch? In this powerful episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Sabashan Ragavan, co-founder of HeyMilo, to unpack how AI agents are transforming high-volume hiring. From candidate screening to voice interviews, HeyMilo's tech is reshaping what it means to be efficient, without sacrificing the human experience.

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Scaling Your Staffing Agency

• 01:04 Introduction to AI Agents in Staffing

• 01:31 Guest Introduction: Sabashan from HeyMilo

• 01:42 How HeyMilo Uses AI to Improve Candidate Screening

• 03:30 Addressing Concerns About AI in Recruitment

• 09:05 The Role of AI in High-Volume Hiring

• 12:55 Adapting AI for Diverse Candidate Pools

• 16:24 Integrating HeyMilo into Staffing Agencies

• 24:04 Impact of AI on Staffing Agencies

• 30:28 Transparency with Clients

• 36:49 Future of AI in Hiring

Favorite Quote:

"Candidates just want to know they've been heard or seen. That's it. And if AI can make that happen faster, it's not removing humanity—it's restoring it."

• Suky

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 Sabashan: Sabashan R is the founder of HeyMilo AI, a platform rethinking how high-volume recruiting is done using applied AI. He previously worked at Meta and Microsoft, where he built large-scale recommendation systems and helped scale data labeling and human-in-the-loop teams. As a hiring manager, he experienced firsthand the inefficiencies and breakdowns in high-volume recruiting—manual screening, inconsistent evaluation, and tools that didn't reflect how teams actually hire. These experiences led him to build HeyMilo, focused on bringing reliable, practical AI systems into real-world hiring workflows. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabashanragavan/ HeyMilo: https://www.heymilo.ai/ 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.

LinkedIn

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.

Episode 112 - 5 Costly Mistakes UK Staffing Firms Make in the US & Canada (And How to Avoid Them)

Thinking about expanding your UK staffing business into North America?

Don't move an inch until you hear this. In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky breaks down the top five mistakes UK and European recruitment agencies make when entering the US and Canadian markets...errors that can cost you thousands in fines, lost contracts, or worse: your business. From misjudging employment laws to underestimating tax burdens and cash flow traps, this episode is the ultimate guide in what not to do, and how to do it right with the help of partners like Ascen.

Whether you're already operating overseas or considering your first move, this episode will save you time, money, and major compliance headaches.

Key Moments:

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:39 Common Mistakes in North American Market Entry

• 01:16 Mistake 1: Right to Work Advertising Trap

• 03:46 Mistake 2: Multi-State Compliance Challenges

• 05:45 Mistake 3: Miscalculating Loaded Labor Costs

• 08:28 Mistake 4: The At-Will Employment Illusion

• 10:16 Mistake 5: Cashflow Death Spiral

• 13:01 Summary and Key Takeaways

Favorite Quote:

"Bill rate is vanity—loaded cost is sanity."

• Suky

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.

LinkedIn

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.