By Ann Donnelly
Sheila Greco’s journey to becoming the founder and CEO of SGA Talent, a Saratoga-based recruiting firm, is a testament to embracing opportunity and the power of networking. Her story began in bond trading in New York City and took an unexpected turn after a chance conversation at a cocktail party. “Someone said, ‘Oh my God, you should be a recruiter,’” Greco recalls. Intrigued, she explored the field, landed a job at New York City firm Goodrich and Sherwood, and quickly discovered her passion.
Life, however, had other plans. In 1989, family matters brought Greco home to Saratoga. Fortuitously, a client offered to support her in starting her own business, and SGA Talent was born. “I started as sole proprietor, and within about three years,” says Greco, “I hired five people, four of which are still with me today.”
SGA Talent started as a research house that provided organizational chart structures and name generation, which involves providing a company with candidates from a list of competitors that they select. “Our clients said, ‘Why aren’t you doing recruiting? Why aren’t you doing competitive intelligence?’” Greco explains, highlighting how the company’s service offerings evolved organically based on client needs.
Over the years, SGA Talent expanded into executive recruiting and, more recently, ventured into the staffing sector. In 2022, an opportunity arose to staff the Saratoga race track. Despite having no prior experience in hospitality, Greco embraced the challenge. “I said, ‘I don’t know anything about it,’ and embraced it,” she says. This leap of faith led to SGA Talent staffing major events like Formula One races in Las Vegas, the Super Bowl, and the PGA. The firm also provides staff for college food service, outdoor festivals, and corporate events. “That business is a lot of fun, and we’re having a great time,” Greco enthuses, “I love the industry.”
A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, Greco launched a healthcare staffing division in 2023. She emphasizes that the core skill of recruiting remains consistent across all divisions, whether it’s executive placements or temporary staffing.
Greco attributes her success to risk-taking, thorough research, and a strong team. “You have to be a risk taker,” she states, acknowledging the influence of her entrepreneurial parents. Before venturing into a new area, Greco conducts extensive research and seeks advice from industry experts, even competitors. I try to understand the business fully before I jump in,” she explains. She also stresses the importance of being “all in” once you decide to proceed.
Mentorship and giving back are also integral to Greco’s philosophy. She readily offers advice to others and believes in the power of transparency. Regarding competition, Greco advocates for deeply understanding one’s competitors. “I suggest you put together the top three or four companies that are your competition and truly understand them,” she says. She believes there’s ample business for everyone and emphasizes the importance of building relationships.
Greco’s approach to staffing differs from that of executive recruiting. While she considers executive recruiting “industry agnostic,” she believes staffing requires specialization. For staffing, I think it’s essential to be focused and really to go into that niche,” she explains. She highlights the importance of proactively recruiting and building talent pools specific to each client’s needs. SGA Talent’s emphasis on referrals also contributes to its success. “A’s actually refer A’s,” Greco notes.
Addressing the challenges businesses face in recruitment, Greco advises seeking help from recruiters early in the process. She acknowledges the role of job boards but emphasizes the efficiency and effectiveness of working with a recruiter for specialized roles. “It is cost-effective, believe it or not, to go to someone like ourselves to recruit,” says Greco. She suggests businesses consider ongoing recruitment to build talent pipelines for future needs.
For individuals seeking employment, Greco stresses the importance of networking and differentiating oneself from other applicants. “Networking and doing something different, separating yourself from the pack, is a good way to do it,” she advises. “I had a candidate about six months ago who was going for a consumer packaged goods company, and she put together a box of all the different items that the company sells saying, ‘I used to play with these when I was younger.’”
Greco also touches on the importance of employee retention, emphasizing the role of managers in mentoring and providing feedback. She believes in fostering a work-life balance and providing opportunities for professional development. While acknowledging the ongoing debate about remote work, she believes some roles benefit from in-office interaction and organic learning.
Greco affirms the continued importance of diversity: “Diversity is always important. “ She highlights SGA Talent’s commitment to presenting diverse candidate pools to clients. “At the end of the day, the person who’s right for the job is going to get hired,” she says, emphasizing that merit remains paramount.
Greco mentions soft skills, adaptability, integrity, and cultural fit when asked about the qualities she looks for in candidates. She emphasizes the importance of aligning candidates’ long-term goals with the organization’s. She also recommends that businesses clearly define their mission and culture to attract the right talent.
Looking to the future, Greco remains open to new opportunities while focusing on the continued success of her existing divisions. She expresses particular satisfaction with the healthcare staffing division’s ability to support long-term care facilities. “It touches some part of my heart,” she says, highlighting her connection to this work.
Greco’s advice to businesses and individuals is clear: be passionate, work hard, be transparent, and never stop learning. She encourages open dialogue with recruiters and emphasizes the value of seeking expert advice. Her story is a powerful example of how embracing change, building strong relationships, and focusing on client needs can lead to success in the dynamic world of talent acquisition.
Get more information on SGA Talent at www.sgatalent.com.