Think no one hires in December? Think again. In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky breaks down why Q4 might just be your hidden window to land the perfect role and what not to do when offers start rolling in.

Contrary to the myth that hiring stops before Christmas, Suky shares insider knowledge that prove companies are still making offers, often with January start dates. But there's a catch: too many candidates rush into roles out of fear or panic. From setting clear intentions to tracking your applications and avoiding the "panic accept," this episode is all about powerful reminders that will help you job hunt with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:39 Job Hunting During the Holidays

• 05:28 Be Intentional with Job Applications

• 09:27 Staying Organized and Reducing Anxiety

• 10:39 Conclusion

Favorite Quote:

"Make decisions from a place of clarity, not a place of panic."

• Suky

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

Is your company's vision just words on a wall or does it drive real results? In this episode of Talent Titans Podcast, we uncover how visionary leadership can transform not just your strategy, but your entire workforce, especially outside of a traditional structure.

Jeremy Peters, Executive Director of Growth at Teema Solutions, sits doesn't with Suky to detail what it really means to lead with vision. But this isn't your typical leadership talk. Jeremy shares how Teema is flipping the traditional staffing model by empowering a community of independent contractors through a member-based ecosystem.

They get into how to align vision across decentralized teams, the pitfalls of top-down strategy, and why most leaders get vision, and execution, dead wrong. Jeremy also shares his thoughts on navigating today's volatile market and why leadership has to evolve in the face of disruption.

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:40 Meet Jeremy Peters

• 02:05 The Unique Vision of Teema Solutions

• 04:24 Balancing Vision and Individual Goals

• 06:39 Leadership Challenges and Strategies

• 10:16 Inspiring and Aligning with Vision

• 15:19 Innovative Hiring Practices

• 18:13 Leadership in a Non-Traditional Model

• 22:02 Defining and Achieving Success

• 22:56 Empowering Self-Employed Members

• 24:02 Vision and Accountability in Leadership

• 26:03 Challenges and Strategies in Staffing

• 27:35 Data Forecast and Market Trends

• 29:31 Adapting to Market Changes

• 33:01 Exploring New Opportunities

Favorite Quote:

"Vision answers: Where are we going, and why does it matter? But unless people feel inspired by it, it's just another statement on the wall."

• Jeremy

With nearly two decades in Human Capital, I've shaped careers and organizations across North America—delivering innovative workforce solutions that fuel growth. My initial journey from Recruitment Consultant to today as Executive Director of Strategic Growth at TEEMA Solutions Group includes leadership roles with GLOBAL firms like Randstad, Adecco, and now TEEMA. I'm passionate about the evolving world of work, I'm an architect of opportunity—connecting people, purpose, and performance to unlock potential.

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

Website: https://teemagroup.com

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

What if working "for free" is the real reason your firm isn't growing? In this episode of Talent Titans, we uncover the silent profit killer inside the recruitment industry and reveal the bold model replacing it.

There's a rising shift from contingency recruitment to contained search, a powerful hybrid model that demands client commitment and transforms agency profitability. Suky touches on how contingency recruiting quietly drains time, energy, and money from staffing businesses and why it's time to stop normalizing it. It's time to stop whispering about the hidden costs of working without a retainer and we're outlining the real benefits of contained search (like client respect, team motivation, and fewer but more profitable roles). This episode is a wake-up call for recruiters stuck in outdated models.

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:40 The Quiet Revolution in Recruitment

• 01:53 The Shift from Contingency to Contained Search

• 05:02 The Contained Search Model Explained

• 06:15 Benefits of the Contained Search Model

• 11:43 Transitioning to a Contained Search Model

• 13:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Favorite Quote:

"You're not selling CVs. You're selling certainty."

• Suky

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

What's really holding back your agency's growth? Spoiler: it's not sales. It's your back office. Aascen can help you fix it fast.

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked engine behind successful staffing agencies: the back office. From payroll nightmares and misclassification risks to cashflow gaps and compliance chaos, she unpacks the real challenges that stunt agency growth, especially when expanding into the US and Canada.

Suky introduces Aascen, the sponsor of this podcast, as more than just a payroll vendor. It's a full-service, white-labeled platform designed to help staffing firms scale confidently, while still owning their brand. Whether you're placing W2's, entering new states, or going global, this episode breaks down how Aascen removes the operational pain points that cripple growth without sacrificing brand visibility or control.

• 00:00 Introduction to Aascen

• 00:44 Understanding the Importance of Back Office

• 04:20 Challenges in the Staffing Industry

• 07:43 How Aascen Can Help Your Agency

• 10:06 Practical Benefits of Using Aascen

• 12:43 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Favorite Quote:

"You do all the hard work to win your clients and find great talent, don't let your operations choke your growth."

• Suky

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

When immigration policy collides with hiring reality...today, we're unpacking the true cost of the $100K H-1B visa fee, why mid-sized firms are being squeezed out, and how global labor trends are shaking up recruitment. It's not just about visas, it's about survival.

In this very raw and real episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with recruiting industry thought leader and brain behind Recruiting Brainfood, Hung Lee, to dissect the chaos surrounding U.S. immigration policy, especially the proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee. From the real-world impact on small and mid-sized staffing firms to the human toll on workers and families, this is a raw, insightful look at what happens when politics, business, and global talent collide.

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:40 Guest Introduction: Meet Hung

• 02:10 The Reality of Online Information

• 05:22 Challenges in the Job Market

• 07:04 H-1B Visa Controversy

• 08:58 Impact on Mid-Sized Companies

• 10:53 Ambiguity and Risk for H-1B Holders

• 19:50 Global Trends in Immigration Policies

• 25:14 Canada's Opportunity Amidst US Visa Issues

• 28:17 Challenges of Distributing Immigrants in Rural Areas

• 30:10 Personal Story: Encountering Racism in a Rural Pub

• 31:46 Economic Benefits of Immigrants

• 33:49 Political and Cultural Clashes in Immigration

• 34:38 Demographic Challenges and Economic Solutions

• 40:12 Impact of Political Decisions on Immigration

• 44:24 Adapting to a Volatile Global Environment

• 55:43 Final Thoughts and Advice

Favorite Quote:

"When the cost of labor rises, you don't always get paid more, the job might just vanish."

• Hung

Hung Lee is the Editor of leading industry newsletter Recruiting Brainfood.

He is an industry professional with over 20 years experience as an agency recruiter, Recruitment manager, Internal Head of Talent, recruitment trainer, founder of award winning online recruiting platform WorkShape.io, and now Editor and Community builder at Recruiting Brainfood - the best weekly newsletter in recruitment.

Hung lives and works in London.

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

Website: http://www.recruitingbrainfood.com/

The Recruiting Brainfood Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dFBspf9jXwpnJPLwSd72u

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

What happens when the U.S. slaps a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas? Canadian staffing companies might just find themselves holding a golden opportunity. In this episode, Suky welcomes Michael Dha, founder of Strive Recruitment, to have a conversation about the real impact of immigration shifts, global talent mobility, and how Canada can turn geopolitical uncertainty into economic advantage.

With sweeping immigration changes, rising protectionism in the U.S., and housing and talent shortages mounting across Canada, staffing leaders are facing a new frontier. From immigration strategy and regional job placement challenges to shifting employer mindsets and the battle for diversity of thought, this very real conversation digs into the future of Canadian staffing, and why agencies must step up as true consultants, not just suppliers.

If you're in recruitment, HR, or workforce planning, especially in tech or healthcare, this episode is a must-listen.

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

• 00:40 Welcoming the Guest: Michael Dha

• 02:05 Discussion on Immigration and Staffing

• 07:45 Challenges and Opportunities in Canadian Tech Sector

• 12:28 Impact of H-1B Visa Changes on Canada

• 22:34 Mindset Shift Needed Among Employers

• 28:43 Navigating Discrimination Laws

• 29:19 Challenges for Recruitment Agencies

• 30:25 Building Trust with Clients

• 31:50 Educating Clients on Talent Market

• 37:37 Supporting New Immigrants

• 41:46 Advocating for Recruitment Agencies

• 44:29 Balancing Client and Candidate Needs

• 48:37 Diversity and Inclusion in Hiring

• 51:20 Final Thoughts on Canadian Economy

Favorite Quote:

"Imagine if Canada could attract the top 1% of global talent - tech, healthcare, engineering. What would that mean for our economy and for the next generation?"

• Michael

Michael Dha is the Founder and Managing Director of STRIVE Recruitment and has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment industry. He founded STRIVE in 2008, during the global recession, and built it into a trusted partner for top Canadian Organizations through two offices in BC and Ontario.

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

Email: [email protected]

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

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.

Get ready for an energizing behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming South African Staffing Summit on November 6th!

In this special episode of Talent Titans, we've got a live roundtable as host Suky is joined by co-presenters Jacqui Ford, Mark Coetzee, and Skhumbuzo Dlamini to dive into why the global staffing spotlight is shifting to South Africa.

We'll go behind the scenes of the 2025 South African Staffing Summit to discover the opportunities, challenges, and market realities that make this a not-to-be-missed moment for recruitment professionals. From skill shortages and economic shifts to game-changing recruitment models and global scalability, this episode unpacks it all. Whether you're scaling a staffing firm, expanding internationally, or looking to move beyond the contingency model, this is an essential episode.

To Purchase Tickets to the 2025 South African Staffing Summit: https://www.apsoevents.com

South African Staffing Summit Overview

Importance of Professional Bodies in Staffing

Tender Processes and Payment Terms

Client Panels and Listening to Clients

Business Owners Panel: Lessons and Collaborations

Favorite Quote:

"If you want growth and to be paid what you're worth, you have to believe you're good and prove it. Clients will pay, but not for the service you deliver today. They pay for what they experience."

• Suky

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

How do the job markets in Canada, the US, and South Africa really stack up against each other? The numbers are in...and they tell three very different stories.

In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky is diving deep into the latest employment data from Canada, the United States, and South Africa, ahead of the summit in October, analyzing the stark differences and shared challenges in their labor markets. With new info from recent reports, including August 2025 job stats from North America and Q2 data from South Africa, we uncover surprising trends in part-time employment, youth unemployment, and the shifting strategies of businesses across the globe.

Plus, for South African companies eyeing international expansion, this episode offers a compelling case for why North America, despite recent slowdowns, remains a golden opportunity.

Canada's labor market slowdown: August 2025 numbers

The US employment situation: sharp shift in part-time jobs

South Africa's labor force challenges: Q2 2025 stats

Why North America still makes business sense for South African companies

The BPO boom: South Africa's value to international firms

Favorite Quote:

"Even with slowing job growth, the sheer size of these markets provides a scale of opportunity that really is unmatched."

• Suky

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

When Jason Bruckman posted "MSPs suck" on LinkedIn, the staffing world took notice. In this candid episode of Talent Titans, the CEO of Bold X Talent, Jason Bruckman, joins Suky to explain why he believes today's MSP model is broken and why it's failing clients, recruiters, and most of all, candidates. Suky challenges him head-on about whether MSPs are truly to blame or if clients themselves have created the problem through unrealistic expectations and razor-thin margins.

Together, they unpack how the MSP model has drifted from strategic partner to compliance traffic cop, what it takes to fix it, and why every stakeholder needs to refocus on candidate experience. Whether you're a client, an MSP, or a niche recruiter trying to break into big programs, this episode delivers a brutally honest look at what's gone wrong in staffing and how to build something better.

• Why Jason publicly called out MSPs as "sucking" in today's market

• The evolution of MSPs: from strategic advisor to compliance traffic cop

• Why clients, MSPs, recruiters, and especially candidates, are all losing right now

• What small, niche recruiters can do to get onto vendor lists

• Why fixing candidate experience should be every stakeholder's top priority

Favorite Quote:

"Right now, it's lose-lose-lose. The candidate is losing. The recruiter is losing. The client is losing. And the MSP? They're barely hanging on. If we don't fix this model, there won't be many MSPs left."

• Jason

Jason Bruckman is a recruitment leader with 25 years of experience, trusted advisor, investor, and AI enthusiast with a passion for backing innovative startups. He helps organizations accelerate growth by building high-performing teams, activating executive referral networks, and advising on talent strategy and go-to-market execution. Deeply engaged with the future of work, Jason explores how AI is transforming recruiting and workforce development. His approach combines strategic insight with hands-on leadership, guiding companies to scale efficiently and create lasting competitive advantage.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bruckman-2454794/

Email: [email protected]

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

"If someone's uncomfortable with AI, do you really want them on your team?" In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky dives into the rapid evolution of AI in recruitment with Grady Gardner, GM of Braintrust. From improving hiring accuracy to reducing recruiter burnout, this episode goes into detail about how AI-powered interviews are transforming the talent landscape and why resistance may cost companies their best hires.

AI is no longer just a buzzword in recruitment, it's becoming a critical part of efficient, fair, and scalable hiring. Grady shares the journey of Braintrust, how AI-powered conversational assessments are revolutionizing the candidate experience, and why hiring teams must adapt quickly to keep up. Suky and Grady also tackle bias, language accessibility, soft skills, and what talent leaders can expect over the next 12 months. This is a must-listen for anyone in talent acquisition, staffing, or HR tech.

• How AI-powered interviews and assessments are changing the game

• Humanizing AI in candidate experience

• Reducing bias in hiring processes with AI

• The future of talent acquisition and AI

Favorite Quote:

"We're not trying to remove people from the process, we're trying to make sure they actually see the right people."

• Grady

Grady is is the GM of Braintrust, the largest user owned talent network revolutionizing hiring with Braintrust AIR, the world's first and only end-to-end AI recruiting platform.

Trained with human insights and proprietary data, Braintrust AIR reduces time to hire from months to days, instantly matching you with pre-vetted qualified candidates, and conducting the first round interview for you. Trusted by hundreds of Fortune 1000 enterprises including Nestlé, Porsche, Atlassian, Goldman Sachs, and Nike, Braintrust AIR is making talent acquisition professionals 100x more effective and saving companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in recruiting costs.

Grady has led the client-facing teams at Braintrust since inception, growing the network from a stealth mode startup to generating over $335M in revenue. Grady built the network's go-to-market strategy and secured partnerships with leading Fortune 1000 companies like Google, Bank of America, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, Spotify, Walmart and many more.

Prior to building Braintrust, Grady spent much of his career leading enterprise sales teams within the traditional IT service companies like Concentrix, ServiceSource, and Convergys.

Grady is a proud graduate of Colorado State University and resides in Denver with his wife, son Sunny, and chickens.

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

Email: [email protected]

I'm Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those working with global recruitment companies, I bring the knowledge and experience of working in 18 countries and successfully navigating through numerous "recession" cycles.

Companies often get so focused on the bottom line that they forget that we are in the "people business". For me, the magic happens when my clients recognize the best way to create a truly sustainable high-performance sales culture is to align both.

LinkedIn

Canadian Staffing Industry Summit

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com