SymphonicHCM

Welcome, ladies! Working on your brand photoshoot for Boss Babes, Season II, was so fun. Can you share a little more about SymphonicHCM and what locations you serve?

We’re both co-founders of SymphonicHCM, a nationwide recruiting and consulting agency. We share a 25-year friendship, and now, a recruiting and consulting firm connecting people, strategy, and businesses built on shared values, motivations, and experiences.

 

That sounds like a dream to have a lifelong friendship come full circle into business partners! Why did you decide to start SymphonicHCM? And what’s been your favorite part so far?

We’ve always been passionate about helping people and are both natural “connectors.” And when you’re in the people business, making connections is what it’s all about! We love connecting clients with the right talent and connecting candidates with the right opportunities. It’s a win/win scenario!

Helping people make important and game-changing connections is our favorite part of the business. We can’t think of a better way to spend our days.

I can imagine helping people make meaningful connections would be pretty fulfilling. What are some of the key competitive advantages that you offer over other recruiting and consulting firms?

We take the time to get to know our clients, including their business, culture, goals, and vision of success. This allows us to be true advisors, and our clients trust that we have their best interests in mind. This trust sets us apart and enables us to design and execute strategies that drive their business forward. That’s our competitive advantage – WE care!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as entrepreneurs?

Oh, boy! As entrepreneurs, we have learned many lessons. But the two that stand out the most are that failure is inevitable and taking chances is critical.

We have reframed our perspective on failure and now approach it with a 360-degree view to learn and adjust. With any failure, you must first own up to it. Then reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why. Only then can you adjust to continue moving forward.

To grow a business, you must be comfortable with the unknown and be brave enough to put yourself out there. The more chances you take, the more comfortable you’ll become. And that can lead to some really fun (and unforeseen) opportunities and connections!

I love that you found a way to reframe your perspective and outlook on failure. I think that’s something everyone needs to know – business owner or not. What challenges have you faced in growing SymphonicHCM? And what strategies have you used to help your business succeed?

When the pandemic hit, we were a young company, and honestly, we didn’t know what would unfold. The world sat still for several months, and we did, too, waiting to see how things would shake out. There was little to no hiring happening, and monies weren’t being allocated for new projects. So, we switched gears.

We began spending our time checking in on our clients and candidates to see how they were doing, nothing more. We just wanted to make sure they (and their families) were doing alright. It wasn’t a strategy but more of an extension of our values.

It WASN’T the right time to be looking for business. But it WAS the right time to check in with our people, and that’s what we did.

Taking that approach made an impact, and before summer hit, we were busier than we could have imagined! When we asked our clients about it later, they came to us when the time was right because we took a people-first approach. And that continues to be our focus and strategy to this day. It’s what helps us stand apart.

That’s a wonderful testament to the care and dedication you have for your clients and candidates. I’m sure that meant so much to the people you checked in on during such a scary time in the world. What legacy do you hope to leave behind at the end of your career with SymphonicHCM?

Our goal is for SymphonicHCM to set the standard of care for recruiting. Let’s be honest, recruiting companies don’t always have the best reputations, and we’re working hard to change that. One client at a time. One candidate at a time.

If you look at our testimonials, there is a common thread – the thread of relationships. We understand each hire’s impact – on businesses and the candidates. We are committed to caring and putting people first.

How do you measure success, and how has that changed over time?

Our measure of success has always been happy clients, happy candidates, and happy teams.

We achieve this by understanding our client’s businesses, cultures, and goals. With that information, we craft a unique strategy to elevate the experience for their team members. Success occurs when that strategy is executed, and our client’s people and operations thrive!

Shana Wade & Laura Kathman, Co-Founders of SymphonicHCM. You can connect with them and learn more about SymphonicHCM at the website.

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