How did you get into recruitment initially, and how has the industry evolved since the start of your career?
Like a lot of people, I fell into recruitment by accident – I originally thought it was more like HR! My first role was with a staffing firm in 2008, and I quickly realized how much I loved the industry. I’ve always been drawn to sales, and recruitment – particularly executive search – is one of the most complex sales environments because your “product” is people. That dynamic makes it both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
Since 2008, we’ve seen a surge in new firms entering the market, with many spin-offs launching from established businesses. The low barriers to entry have increased competition, which has, in some cases, impacted the industry’s overall reputation. However, this has also created an opportunity for firms that prioritize quality, expertise, and deep market knowledge to truly differentiate themselves.
What have been the biggest milestones and challenges you’ve faced working in recruitment and private equity?
One of my biggest milestones was building a staffing business from the ground up, where I went on to create two additional P&L strands, one of which became the most profitable in the company’s history. That experience gave me a very strong understanding of what it takes to scale a business, drive commercial success and build high-performing teams. In terms of challenges – I made a decision to switch gears later in my career to focus exclusively on placing CFOs in private equity-backed businesses. This shift has allowed me to refine my expertise, work at the highest level of executive search, and achieve new personal and professional success.
What makes Finatal different from other businesses you have worked in, in terms of development, opportunities, and culture?
Finatal is hands down the best place I’ve worked when it comes to spotting and developing talent. The leadership team has a real eye for bringing in great people – those who were high performers in their previous roles, but absolutely thrive in Finatal’s high-energy environment. The support, training and culture here push you to be your best, and that’s what makes the difference.
What makes our business different – and really exciting – is how Finatal has grown year after year. Success here isn’t about quick wins – we are more focused on playing the long game. We make smart decisions for long-term growth, and we’ve stayed laser-focused on what we do best, rather than chasing every opportunity. That’s why we’ve built such a strong reputation in the market, by carving out our niche. If you want to be part of a business where you can grow, challenge yourself and work alongside the best in the industry, there is no better place to work.
What have been your biggest lessons so far from working in recruitment? What advice would you give to someone looking to build success in the industry?
Success in recruitment comes down to discipline and consistency – there’s no shortcut for this. At this level where I’ve worked up to, it takes years of building relationships, proving yourself and showing up every single day ready to put in the work. It’s about doing the small, and sometimes mundane, tasks that compound over time and ultimately make you stand out.
My biggest advice is to be relentless. Stay consistent. Put in the effort every single day. It’s not about one big win – it’s about the accumulation of hundreds of small, disciplined actions that lead to long-term success.
What excites you most about working at Finatal right now?
The growth at Finatal speaks for itself. Over the last 15 years, the business has scaled impressively – even through some of the most unpredictable world events, it has continued to perform. We’ve built something truly special, and we’re positioned to keep that momentum going.
However, what I’m most excited about is the people. The talent we bring in, the way everyone contributes, not just financially but culturally, it’s an environment where you feel both challenged and supported. I genuinely feel privileged to work alongside such an exceptional team and to be learning from them each day. Beyond that, I’ve never worked in a business that has invested so much in my growth, which is huge. The success we’ve had in the US in such a short time is proof of what’s possible. We started from scratch with no clients, no candidates, and now we’re working with some of the biggest names in private equity. That kind of trajectory is exciting, and if that’s what we can achieve in one year, I can’t wait to see where we go next!
If you’re interested in learning more about working with Finatal, feel free to reach out to Monika via LinkedIn here or our Senior Talent Advisor Molly Caesar.
