Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, women are still underrepresented in the workplace and in professional environments. Furthermore, despite more women securing senior professional positions, the gender pay gap still exists. It was calculated by the Office of National Statistics to be at 8.3% in April 2022, which actually represented a year-on-year increase.
While the recruitment sector has seen an influx of women in recent years, it is still a male-dominated industry. This is why it’s so important to hear from women currently working in recruitment, listen to their stories, and use their experiences to shape the path of our own careers. We’ve put together a list of some incredibly inspirational women in recruitment that you should aspire to. Check it out below.
Sarah Grace, MD at KC Group
First up in our list of inspirational women in recruitment is Sarah Grace. Sarah is Managing Director as KC Group (formerly Kate + Co Recruitment), a position she has held for over five years.
KC Group is a recruitment company that specialises in the Business Support and Operations sector, with a particular focus on HR, payroll, and finance positions. KC Group can offer a comprehensive end-to-end recruitment solution that can be adapted to meet the needs of the client.
Prior to her role as MD at KC Group, Sarah worked as a director at the company for over 14 years. She is also the Co-Founder of The Animal People Recruitment company, which specialises in the veterinary industry.
With so much experience under her belt, Sarah Grace is one of the finest examples of inspirational women in recruitment.
Amy Golding, CEO at Opus Talent Solutions
Amy Golding, CEO at Opus Talent Solutions, became the youngest female CEO of a £100 million business in August 2022. This incredible achievement is the result of her ambition, determination, and sheer strength of will, admirable characteristics that all women in recruitment share.
Amy founded venture capital platform Recruitment Entrepreneur in 2014, eventually building a portfolio of 13 recruitment companies and generating £17 million in just three short years.
However, Amy had loftier ambitions, leaving Recruitment Entrepreneur to be appointed as CEO at Opus Talent Solutions. She has spent six years at the company and have spearheaded an incredible period of success, winning a number of awards and accolades. For someone who’s not even 40, Amy’s achievements are absolutely remarkable, and she is certainly one of the most inspirational women in recruitment today.
Michelle Reilly, CEO 6Cats International
Next up on our list of inspirational women in recruitment is Michelle Reilly. Michelle Reilly is the Founder of 6CATS PRO and CEO at 6CATS International. With over 20 years of industry experience, Michelle knows all there is to know, with extensive knowledge of the international contract management sector.
6CATS PRO, which was launched in 2018, provides recruitment solutions for businesses within the compliance industry. As well as recruitment, 6CATS PRO can offer clients a comprehensive compliance consultancy package, including advice, guidance, workshops, and training.
Before 6CATS PRO, Michelle was Managing Director for the UK and Europe at workforce management solutions firm CXC Global, where she oversaw operations in over 20 countries.
Conclusion
There are more women in the workplace than ever before, but we’ve still got a long way to go. By listening to the inspirational women working in recruitment today we can learn how they got to where they are and use their experiences as a template for forging our own careers and achieving our goals. The names above are just a small selection, there are many more incredible women in recruitment, all of whom should be admired for the amazing things they’ve achieved.