The Challenge

COLLINS is a globally recognized agency (7× Agency of the Year) known for uncompromising creative standards. That reputation attracts ambitious clients—and makes hiring crucial. The bar for craft is exceptionally high. The rigor is strong. Leadership needed someone who could identify talent that could not only meet those standards, but thrive among elevated standards.

My Role

I joined COLLINS in 2022 as their embedded recruiter and talent strategist, partnering with leadership to:

• Place 23 full-time hires across design, strategy, business, and operations—each vetted for craft excellence and resilience
• Launch an Emerging Talent initiative to expand the pipeline for early-career designers
• Strengthen people systems to ensure quality at speed

What I Learned

COLLINS sharpened my eye for talent who can handle high-stakes, transformational work. I learned to identify people who don't just have the skills, but the intellectual conviction and creative stamina.

‍For brand leaders: When you're betting on a rebrand or brand transformation—the kind of work that touches every part of your business—you need people who can operate at the highest level of craft and strategic thinking. COLLINS honed my focus and network in recognizing them. Key hires included Sam Eliot Managing Director, Jonathan Katav, Design Director, Nick Fearnley Design Director, Claire Banks, Program Director and 20 others across design, strategy, and operations.