Onrec: How did you get started in recruitment?
A: I didn’t follow a traditional recruitment path. My background is in employee engagement, marketing, and behavioural change, working with businesses to improve culture, performance, and retention. Recruitment became a natural extension when clients asked for help finding talent that not only had the right skills, but also aligned with their values. I saw an opportunity to do things differently; strategically, holistically, and always human-first. Being human, and peoples happiness are all very important to me.
Onrec: The recruitment market is very inflated. What are you doing differently to your competitors?
A: We focus on fit, future potential, and long-term impact, not just CVs. Using our proprietary NorthSTAR Career Compass and coaching-led methodology, we help individuals clarify their ideal career path and prepare them to perform and stay. For employers, we provide a deeper level of insight into the whole talent lifecycle, from attraction to engagement and retention, so they’re not just filling roles, but building sustainable teams and organisations. We’re also one of the few combining AI-enhanced career tools with real human coaching and cultural alignment.
Onrec: What exciting new trends are you noticing?
A: There’s a rising appreciation and demand for neurodiverse talent and a growing awareness that technical ability isn’t the only metric of success. More employers are recognising the value of emotional intelligence, communication skills, and purpose-driven careers, especially in STEM. There’s also a shift towards talent concierge services over traditional transactional recruitment. We are all about relationships and helping people.
Onrec: What do you think will be the next big thing in online recruitment?
A: Personalised career journeys powered by AI and coaching. Candidates want more than a job board, they want clarity, confidence, and connection. The future lies in platforms that guide users based on their strengths, values, and long-term goals, with the ability to match them to employers who truly align. We’re already doing this through our NorthSTAR Career Compass tool and private talent communities.
Onrec: Is AI in recruitment a friend or a foe?
A: AI is a powerful friend if used responsibly. It can enhance decisions, reduce bias, and streamline processes, but it should never replace human insight and oversight. At Engage & Prosper, we use AI to empower people, not dehumanise them. That means combining digital tools with human-first coaching to deliver smarter, safer, and more inclusive hiring.
Onrec: How many people do you employ globally?
A: We operate as a lean, specialist team based in the UK with a trusted network of global coaches, consultants, and collaborators. This allows us to stay agile, focused, and deeply personal in our client relationships, while scaling on demand for projects across Europe and beyond.
Onrec: Where do you see the recruitment industry in 5 years?
A: Recruitment will evolve into a talent experience industry. The line between career development, workforce planning, and hiring will blur. Successful organisations will think beyond headcount, they’ll invest in ecosystems that attract, grow, and retain talent holistically. Agencies that fail to adapt will fall behind.
Onrec: Do you have any other plans to expand? And if so, where?
A: Yes, we’re expanding two key areas:
- Our coaching-led career confidence collective community for emerging STEM talent which includes our career concierge services.
- Strategic partnerships with employers in AI, tech, engineering, and data across the UK and Europe.
We’re also exploring opportunities to licence our NorthSTAR system to colleges, universities, and internal L&D teams to close the skills-confidence gap and career planning.
Onrec: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
A: Stop trying to tick every box and trust your instinct. You don’t need to follow someone else’s version of success, create your own. Purpose matters more than process or perfection.
Onrec: What do you enjoy outside of work?
A: Long countryside walks, running, and time with my family and dogs. I also love writing and am working on a book that explores personal resilience and 'living loss' the kind that doesn’t always have closure but changes us and who we become.
Onrec: What is your career low and how did you overcome it? And what is your career high?
A: My lowest moment was losing sight of my own purpose while working in a corporate environment that didn’t align with my values. I overcame it by starting Engage & Prosper, designing a business that reflects what I believe in. My career high has been launching the NorthSTAR Career Compass, knowing it’s already helping people gain clarity and confidence in who they are and where they belong and has the potential to make a huge impact for many people who believe in making the world a better place.
Mini Q&A
Onrec: If you were stuck on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take with you?
A solar-powered Kindle loaded with books, a journal and pen, and a hammock. I’d probably be sunburnt, but content.
Onrec: If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?
A horse, because I love them so much (dogs too) strong, intuitive, grounded, and fiercely loyal. I’m naturally driven, but I also value trust, freedom, and connection. Like a strong horse, I work best with people who treat me with respect and bring out my best, and not try to control me.
Onrec: What was the last gift you gave someone?
A handwritten letter and a small keepsake to a young woman who finished one of our coaching programme, reminding her she’s amazing and more capable than she knows.
