Episode 117 - How Private Staffing Firms Win in 2026 | Londa Burke on AI, Leadership & Canada's Hiring Comeback Is AI helping or hurting the staffing industry? And can privately owned firms outperform global giants in 2026? In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky sits down with Londa Burke, VP of BeverTec, to unpack 30+ years of leadership through Y2K, the 2008 crash, COVID, and today's AI disruption. Londa reveals why privately owned Canadian staffing firms are thriving, how to lead teams through downturns without losing momentum, and where AI fits (and doesn't) in modern recruitment. If you're a staffing leader, recruiter, or agency owner navigating economic uncertainty, automation, and evolving candidate expectations—this episode delivers. Get your tickets for the 2026 Canadian Staffing Industry Summit here: https://canadianstaffingindustrysummit.com/book-your-spot-now Key Moments: 00:40 Meet Londa Burke 01:35 Private Company Journey 02:51 Why Private Firms Win 05:18 Relationships Over Process 09:44 Leading Through Downturns 12:55 Private vs Public Decisions 20:15 AI With a Human Core 26:35 Spam Outreach Backlash 28:59 Using AI Responsibly 31:45 Evolving Tools and Balance 36:48 Canada Outlook 2026-27 40:04 Canadian Staffing Summit Invite Connect with Londa: Londa Burke is a seasoned staffing industry leader with over 30 years of experience driving recruitment excellence and operational success. She has managed major client accounts, built high-performing teams, and led the expansion of recruitment operations across Canada. Currently serving as Director of Professional Services at Bevertec CST Inc.,and BITS Recruitment, Londa oversees the operations, focusing on service delivery, profitability, issue resolution, and continuous improvement. She holds a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation through ACSESS and a Bachelor of Science from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Londa's strategic insight and deep industry knowledge continue to make a strong impact across every client engagement. Connect with Londa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/londa-burke-68847110/ Favorite Quote: "Market swings and tools evolve—but matching people and aligning strengths and value has never changed." Londa Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast: Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74 Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0 Connect with Suky: Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it. She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen: 🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit 🔹 Talent Titans Podcast 🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing. But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype. She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition. Her work sits at the intersection of: People + Performance Tech + Disruption Strategy + Soul Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true: Suky backs those who build. LinkedIn www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less" Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.
