How do you move from a $19,000-a-year entry-level recruiter to the CEO of a private equity-backed IT staffing firm? In this episode, Matthew Ripaldi, CEO of Talent Groups, shares his 26-year journey through the technical staffing industry. Matthew shares his motivation behind recruiting, the isolating pressure of the CEO chair, and the high-speed execution required in the world of Private Equity (PE). We discuss his startup experience, the challenge of integrating five companies into one brand, and the humbling experience of receiving a 12-page 360 review. Matthew’s insights on trust, delegation, and being open to learning can benefit you whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive. 💡 Key Takeaways & Leadership LessonsMatthew recalls the moment he found his why—helping a candidate land a life-changing job that allowed him to buy his first home. This core passion for putting people to work has fueled his 26-year career.After promising his mother he would try a startup, Matthew realized he thrived in high-energy environments. He discusses the importance of self-awareness in knowing where you do your best work.Operating a PE-backed company involves a unique speed of execution, especially when working in a leveraged environment with debt obligations and clear exit targets.As a CEO, Matthew views himself as reporting to his employees rather than the other way around.Matthew opens up about his 360 review. He explains why leaders must create a culture where teams feel safe telling them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Talent Groups and Career Journey 07:35 Transitioning to CEO Role and Responsibilities 12:29 Decision-Making as a CEO 18:16 Challenges in a Changing Industry 21:35 Integration and Operating in a Leveraged Environment 22:28 Navigating the Challenges of First-Time CEO 25:56 The Importance of Delegation and Trust 30:23 Building Trust Through Feedback and Reflection 33:23 Focusing on Execution and Delivering Results 37:05 The Role of Project Management in Execution 38:11 Finding Passion in Your Career Guest Matthew James Ripaldi is an accomplished staffing industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. During his first 18 years in the industry Matthew worked for The Adecco Group, a Global Fortune 500 Company and the world’s second largest staffing firm. Starting off as a Technical Recruiter and quickly finding his passion for the business. This passion combined with a strong work ethic and consistent high-performance helped him excel to seven (7) consecutive promotional opportunities, holding executive leadership roles across eight (8) different industry leading brands; TAD Technical, Adecco Technical, Ajilon ICT, Ajilon Consulting, VendorPass, Modis IT, Modis Engineering and Modis Managed Solutions. Matthew’s vast early experience led to extensive knowledge across contract staffing, direct hire, managed services, project based solutions, onsite MSP programs, payrolling, training and development, and global client solutions. Matthew then joined Collabera as Executive Vice President in September of 2017 reporting directly to the Founder, Chairman and CEO of this fast growing and industry leading IT Staffing and Consulting Firm. While with Collabera he was part of the Executive Management Team, supported their managed services business unit and launched Collabera’s stand-alone Direct Hire Practice. This role provided him with extensive experience in direct hire, executive search, and global delivery. Closing in on 20 years and learning directly from some of the industry's legendary leaders, Matthew then co-founded and launched Simon+James Group, a boutique firm that provided services to start-ups on up to the Fortune 500. As CEO of Talent Groups, Matthew helps set the strategic direction, continually looks to improve every aspect of the organization, works to drive scalable growth, operates with a collaborative and servant-based leadership approach with this team, and continues to run his own full desk. Matthew resides in Houston, Texas, with his wife and son. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewripaldi/ Talent Groups LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentgroups-connections/ Host Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress. In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Kelly Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer Sign up for updates
