Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Tufegdzich.

Hi Elizabeth , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Almost 10 years ago, I joined The Leadership Agency. I’ve always aspired to be a leader, to have a seat at the table where key decisions are made—and this role has given me exactly that. A lot of people who don’t know me personally wouldn’t know how deep my struggles with anxiety have been and the personal journey that shaped me along the way.

Over a decade ago, I was diagnosed with PTSD and OCD, and it fundamentally changed my life. As a high performer and perfectionist, I felt like I’d hit a wall I couldn’t break through.

Rather than letting those experiences hold me back, I decided to let them fuel my leadership journey. A few years ago, I earned a certification in Workplace Mental Health from Queen’s University. I wanted to learn how to spot signs of distress within a team, mentor, and coach through tough times, and create psychological safety—even in high-pressure, fast-paced environments like sales.

It’s been a deeply personal mission of mine to ensure that the struggles I’ve faced can help me lead with empathy, resilience, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to support others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“It’s been far from a smooth or easy road! Less than a decade into my recruitment career, I faced a whirlwind of challenges: navigating a global pandemic, ‘the Great Resignation,’ ‘quiet quitting,’ economic downturns, tech layoffs, and now yet another hiring surge.

These experiences were a crash course in resilience. They taught me the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios, sharpening my instincts, and fully embracing change. Sticking too closely to ‘the way things have always been’ can leave you unprepared when disruption hits. Agility and adaptability aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the key to thriving during times of massive transformation.

We’ve been impressed with The Leadership Agency, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Leadership Agency specializes in recruiting exclusively for high-growth companies, from startups to scaleups. We’ve partnered with businesses at every stage, from pre-seed to pre-IPO. When we started, startups were an underserved market in recruitment—while most agencies were chasing big brands and budgets, we wanted to make a real impact.

Our mission has always been to work alongside Founders, Investors, and Leaders to help them build the most impressive companies of our generation. We’ve focused on putting startups on the map, spending our days championing our clients in the market by highlighting their investors, leadership, and mission.

What sets us apart is our adaptability, agility, and genuine care. We have a 98% success rate on roles filled, and 80% of our clients come back to work with us again. We’ve seen some clients grow from Series A funding to Series C, D, and even IPO.

I’m proud of how we’ve stayed true to who we are and pushed for change in the recruitment industry. We don’t follow the crowd or stick to tradition just for the sake of it. We do what makes sense, what elevates our work, and we’re never afraid to innovate or try new approaches.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
When I joined The Leadership Agency, I had zero experience in recruitment. I came from a completely different industry and learned everything on the job. Starting as the first employee, I was deeply involved in building the foundation of the company—something that’s not as visible from the outside now that we’re a thriving organization.

It’s a reminder that you don’t have to follow a traditional path to succeed—you need the drive to learn and the willingness to embrace the unknown.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leadershipagency.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleadershipagency/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-agency-/

Image Credits
Tara Noelle / taranoelle.ca / @taranoellephoto