Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Englade, Founder, and Owner of Monarch Talent Solutions, located in Houston, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Monarch Talent Solutions is a values-driven boutique recruitment firm specializing in direct hire staffing in accounting, finance, and operations positions throughout the metro Houston, TX area. Our customers are companies and job seekers that are tired of working with recruiting agencies that are strictly in the "resume slinging" business. What makes us so good at what we do is our originality, honesty, and integrity throughout the entire process. We strive to stay committed to our values and to always default back to transparency. Having a true partnership with both the companies and candidates that we assist is our #1 priority, and that's what we're best known for and why people trust us to look out for their best interests.

Tell us about yourself

I've been a recruiter in Houston, TX, for nearly a decade, and I absolutely love this industry! I started Monarch Talent Solutions in October of 2020 after I was laid off from a global firm during the pandemic with the mission to turn the recruiting industry upside down by proving that you can be successful in recruiting by simply being kind, relatable, and transparent. The industry of recruiting has a dark cloud over it due to how transactional it can feel for candidates and hiring managers. What motivates me each day is building true and authentic relationships with both job seekers and companies that I hope will stretch on for years to come. I love being the "go-to" resource for my clients and candidates when it comes to all aspects of their hiring needs, and I truly appreciate and don't take for granted the trust that so many people put into me. Being able to be my authentic self in this business has been a huge game-changer and has proved that you don't have to follow a corporate script to build a solid business in this industry. You can be imperfect, but as long as you are always doing the right thing, especially when no one else is looking, you'll always be one step ahead of your competition.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has to be seeing my team of Executive Recruiters grow to a team of four! When I started Monarch Talent Solutions, it was during a global pandemic, and I wasn't sure if the job market was going to recover and go back to how it was pre-Covid. As the word was spreading around about what Monarch Talent Solutions was doing and how we were on a mission to put humanity back into hiring, more and more people began to engage back with us, and we started to grow tremendously. My entire team believes in our mission to humanize hiring, and we are all allowed to be our true authentic selves without questions. Seeing my team thrive in our inclusive environment has been rewarding and extremely fulfilling as a new business owner, and I don't see us slowing down anytime soon.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is juggling everything and feeling the need to say "yes" to every opportunity that comes your way, even when you know you can't take on one more thing. I'm the owner and founder of my company, but I'm also in charge of business development and recruiting, our marketing and social media, and all aspects of our accounting, including commercial collections, hiring, community service activities, branding, and company networking events. I want to take on the world, and when that's just not possible, I struggle with feeling guilty about it. Always wanting to show up and being everywhere at once and knowing that's not always possible is one of the hardest things that I battle and work through as a business owner daily.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't quit!
  2. There's no "perfect" time to start, run or grow a business. You will always find a reason why now isn't the right time. If you want to start a business, pull the trigger and do it.
  3. Don't compare yourself or compete with anyone but yourself. Always aim to be 1% better than you were yesterday and never be scared to ask for help along the way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://monarchtalentsolutions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchtalenthtx/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-englade-856b2259/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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