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By Ann Donnelly<\/p>\nBy Ann Donnelly<\/p>\n
Sheila Greco\u2019s 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. \u201cSomeone said, \u2018Oh my God, you should be a recruiter,\u2019\u201d Greco recalls. Intrigued, she explored the field, landed a job at New York City firm Goodrich and Sherwood, and quickly discovered her passion.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cI started as sole proprietor, and within about three years,\u201d says Greco, \u201cI hired five people, four of which are still with me today.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cOur clients said, \u2018Why aren\u2019t you doing recruiting? Why aren\u2019t you doing competitive intelligence?\u2019\u201d Greco explains, highlighting how the company\u2019s service offerings evolved organically based on client needs.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cI said, \u2018I don\u2019t know anything about it,\u2019 and embraced it,\u201d 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. \u201cThat business is a lot of fun, and we\u2019re having a great time,\u201d Greco enthuses, \u201cI love the industry.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>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\u2019s executive placements or temporary staffing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Greco attributes her success to risk-taking, thorough research, and a strong team. \u201cYou have to be a risk taker,\u201d 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,\u201d she explains. She also stresses the importance of being \u201call in\u201d once you decide to proceed.<\/p>\n Mentorship and giving back are also integral to Greco\u2019s philosophy. She readily offers advice to others and believes in the power of transparency. Regarding competition, Greco advocates for deeply understanding one\u2019s competitors. \u201cI suggest you put together the top three or four companies that are your competition and truly understand them,\u201d she says. She believes there\u2019s ample business for everyone and emphasizes the importance of building relationships.<\/p>\n Greco\u2019s approach to staffing differs from that of executive recruiting. While she considers executive recruiting \u201cindustry agnostic,\u201d she believes staffing requires specialization. For staffing, I think it\u2019s essential to be focused and really to go into that niche,\u201d she explains. She highlights the importance of proactively recruiting and building talent pools specific to each client\u2019s needs. SGA Talent\u2019s emphasis on referrals also contributes to its success. \u201cA\u2019s actually refer A\u2019s,\u201d Greco notes.<\/p>\n 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. \u201cIt is cost-effective, believe it or not, to go to someone like ourselves to recruit,\u201d says Greco. She suggests businesses consider ongoing recruitment to build talent pipelines for future needs.<\/p>\n For individuals seeking employment, Greco stresses the importance of networking and differentiating oneself from other applicants. \u201cNetworking and doing something different, separating yourself from the pack, is a good way to do it,\u201d she advises. \u201cI 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, \u2018I used to play with these when I was younger.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Greco affirms the continued importance of diversity: \u201cDiversity is always important. \u201c She highlights SGA Talent\u2019s commitment to presenting diverse candidate pools to clients. \u201cAt the end of the day, the person who\u2019s right for the job is going to get hired,\u201d she says, emphasizing that merit remains paramount.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 long-term goals with the organization\u2019s. She also recommends that businesses clearly define their mission and culture to attract the right talent.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s ability to support long-term care facilities. \u201cIt touches some part of my heart,\u201d she says, highlighting her connection to this work.<\/p>\n Greco\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Get more information on SGA Talent at www.sgatalent.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Ann Donnelly Sheila Greco\u2019s 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. \u201cSomeone said, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":38055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n