EP312 | Leading with honesty: Building a people-first recruitment agency W/ Ellie Cree
How Ellie Cree blends therapy, honesty, and leadership to build a recruitment agency that puts people first. Read the full article – https://wave-rs.co.uk/resources/podcast/talent-matters/ep312-leading-with-honesty-building-a-people-first-recruitment-agency-w-ellie-cree/ In this episode of Talent Matters, we speak with Ellie Cree, Managing Director at Savvy Recruitment, about what it means to lead with empathy in an industry often known for its hustle culture. Ellie shares her journey from recruitment consultant to therapist, and back again. This time running the agency she once left to follow her dreams. We discuss the power of honesty in recruitment, how therapy has shaped her leadership style, and why Savvy Recruitment values impact over scale. Whether you’re a recruiter, agency leader, or someone trying to balance personal purpose with professional goals, this episode offers a refreshing, human perspective. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why Ellie left recruitment—and why she came back ✅ How therapy informs her leadership and candidate care ✅ What it really means to build a people-first agency ✅ Honest conversations about money, goals, and growth ✅ Why smaller teams can lead to bigger impact ✅ Tackling the outdated perceptions of recruiters ✅ Using tech to free up time for human connection Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Ellie's Journey with Savvy Recruitment 01:23 Balancing Recruitment and Therapy 01:42 The Honest Approach to Recruitment 03:10 Traveling and Personal Growth 07:08 The Reality of Recruitment 16:08 Ellie's Antiques Adventure 19:31 The Human Element in Recruitment 20:53 Challenges Faced by Recruitment Agencies 21:50 Perception of Recruiters and Their Value 24:06 The Reality of Recruitment Work 28:17 Current Market Challenges and Adaptations 31:01 Future Goals and Efficiency Improvements 40:28 Advice for New Recruiters
