We were lucky to catch up with Claire Angelle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Claire, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

Angelle Consulting recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. Yet, I didn’t hire anyone until two years ago. And, I couldn’t have chosen a worse time to do so with the talent shortage at an all-time high during the Great Resignation. At the time, I thought I was doomed from the start. But to my biggest surprise, less than a week after posting the job announcement, I received dozens upon dozens of qualified applications. Two weeks later, I made an offer to a fantastic candidate, who has now been working with me for two years and is thriving.

Here’s what I learned along the way.

1. Give people meaningful work.

Yes, most people need to work for a paycheck. Yet, there’s a growing desire to contribute meaningfully not only to a company but also to society as a whole. Our company’s core mission was, and continues to be an important recruitment tool: we empower businesses that prioritize both profit and positive impact, aiming to reform rather than perpetuate systemic issues within capitalism. This message strongly resonated with all the candidates I interviewed at the time.

2. Bring transparency to the hiring process.

Years ago, I applied for a job and discovered, after the third interview, that the salary offered was significantly lower than what I was already earning. It was frustrating and that incident influenced my approach, leading me to include the salary range and a list of benefits in the job posting. Through transparency, I attracted candidates who were well-informed about the compensation package yet remained interested in continuing with the recruitment process.

3. Don’t ask people to work for free.

The primary requirement for the position on my team was exceptional writing abilities. As such, I asked a select few to write a bespoke article to gauge their style. However, I firmly believe that nobody should work without compensation. Hence, I offered an hourly fee for the task. This approach garnered positive feedback from candidates, who felt valued and allowed me to assess their efficiency and ethics, resulting in a win-win situation.

4. Think outside the box to compensate for any shortcomings.

I recognized that I couldn’t match competitors in terms of salary and benefits like health insurance, 401(k) plans, and luxurious office spaces. Nevertheless, I enhanced my package by offering a flexible work setting, ample time off, and a defined pathway for career advancement.

For too long, the power structure in recruitment has favored the recruiter. Instead, I like to think of recruiting as dating: an opportunity for two people to find a mutually beneficial relationship based on reciprocity, care, and trust. To this day, this approach has allowed me to find and retain incredible talent.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My venture into entrepreneurship wasn’t a carefully calculated move but rather a leap of faith. In 2018, after working in communications and international affairs in the public sector (both for the French Foreign Service and the City of Atlanta), I seized an opportunity to work with a prestigious media group. Just six weeks after starting, the company faced financial difficulties and laid off most of its staff. I found myself unexpectedly transitioning into entrepreneurship out of pure necessity. Overnight, I registered Angelle Consulting, which surprisingly turned profitable in its very first month.

My journey of entrepreneurship quickly pivoted from a personal quest for stability to a larger mission: to champion a version of capitalism filled with integrity and purpose. Today, our PR firm aims to elevate the voice of purpose-driven leaders and organizations through media, speaking and award opportunities. As such, Angelle Consulting has evolved beyond a PR firm to become a guiding light for the conscious capitalism movement. Each project we take on is an opportunity to further this cause, to tell the stories that inspire, influence, and invite change.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Two years ago, my family endured a string of challenges: the loss of my father-in-law and a colleague, welcoming a relative with mental health struggles to our home, and bidding farewell to our cherished pet. During this time, we were offered an opportunity to relocate to the island of Martinique for a year. Seeing it as a chance to heal and reconnect, we eagerly embraced the prospect.

Despite the excitement, as the leader of a PR firm based in Atlanta, leaving our client hub filled me with apprehension. Concerns about maintaining and expanding business operations loomed large. However, recognizing the necessity for our family’s well-being, we embarked on this journey on June 23, 2022, with only six suitcases.

During our year in Martinique, my son flourished in learning French, and we savored countless family adventures. Surprisingly, amidst this personal renewal, my business achieved unprecedented success.

Now back in Atlanta with a revived sense of purpose, I got to ponder on the reasons behind this success. Being a B2B service provider heavily reliant on referrals, I leveraged this break to reassess my business growth strategies, focusing on collaborative ventures. I established connections with complementary businesses sharing a similar clientele, such as speaking coaches and purpose-driven publishing houses, fostering mutual growth opportunities. Together, we helped our respective businesses grow: a win-win. This transition also opened opportunities outside of Atlanta, as I was no longer limiting my sphere of influence to my local market.

What this adventure taught me is that fear is rarely grounded in reality. Before I took the plunge, I was prepared to see my business take a hit. I never expected that my relocation would serve as a wellspring of inspiration for clients, prospects, and partners. Rather than creating distance, it fostered deeper connections and a sense of unity.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Our reputation stems from our unwavering commitment to excellence and our unique positioning within the impact space. At Angelle Consulting, we prioritize working with companies that share our belief in doing well by doing good. This ethos is not just a tagline; it’s deeply ingrained in every aspect of our operations. We carefully select clients who are dedicated to making a positive impact on society and the world at large.

One key factor that sets us apart is our access to premium outlets and stages. Over the years, we’ve cultivated strong relationships with top-tier media platforms and world-known event organizers. This allows us to secure valuable exposure for our clients, placing them in front of audiences that matter most to their success. Our ability to consistently deliver results and elevate our clients’ voices on these coveted platforms has solidified our reputation as a go-to PR partner for companies operating in the impact space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.angelleconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairecangelle/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-collobert-angelle-5267b4a/