She's So Suite: The Recruiter turned CEO at CS Recruiting ft. Charlie Saffro
- Kristi Faltorusso
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
LISTEN TO THE LATEST SHE'S SO SUITE PODCAST
IN THIS EPISODE KRISTI AND CHARLIE DISCUSS:
1. Authenticity is Powerful
Charlie emphasized the importance of showing up authentically, leading from a place of genuine care, and letting your true self be seen—especially as a leader.
2. Leverage Your Unique Attributes
Charlie turned what could have been a disadvantage (her name, Charlie, being perceived as male in a male-dominated industry) into a strategic advantage to open doors and start conversations.
3. Imposter Syndrome is Common—But Beat It by Stepping Up
At pivotal moments, Charlie struggled with imposter syndrome but pushed past it, realizing that no one would care more about her business and team than she did.
4. It’s Okay Not to Be Good at Everything
Instead of forcing yourself into every role, focus on your strengths and hire great people to fill your gaps. You don’t have to do it all to be a great CEO or leader.
5. Boundaries with Clients Are Critical
Charlie learned the hard way to value her worth—declining to accept poor treatment and standing firm on her rates and contracts, even if it meant walking away from business.
6. Listen and Share to Create Meaningful Change
Policies with genuine impact—like her company’s support for employees experiencing pregnancy loss—were born from listening to employees, sharing experiences, and acting with empathy.
7. Growth Often Comes Through Vulnerable Transitions
Charlie’s transition to CEO came out of necessity and vulnerability, but it led to significant growth, empowerment, and a more inspiring workplace.
8. Celebrate the Wins—Even (Especially) the Ones that Scare You
Charlie’s TED Talk was a major achievement she chased despite doubting herself. Taking risks pays off, and it’s important to pause and recognize these moments.
9. Humans Matter Most—Treat Everyone with Respect
Whether you’re dealing with entry-level team members or top executives, recognizing and treating everyone as a human first is fundamental to happiness and retention.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
Empowering yourself and your team to "break up" with clients or opportunities that aren’t the right fit protects your energy, values, and long-term growth.
Sponsored by: ClientSuccess and WednesdayWomen
Produced by: Manali Bhat
Listen to the She's So Suite Podcast:
Podcast Episode Overview:
In this engaging episode of the She's So Suite podcast, host Kristi Faltorusso sits down with Charlie Saffro, CEO and founder of CS Recruiting, and a keynote speaker with an impressive career in the logistics, supply chain, and transportation industry. Charlie shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, her transition from accidental business owner to empowered female leader, and the challenges she faced—and overcame—in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Charlie dives into how CS Recruiting was always woman-owned but not always woman-led, explaining her own journey with imposter syndrome and how she eventually stepped into the CEO role only five years ago, despite founding the company 15 years ago. She highlights the importance of leaning into strengths, building a strong team to cover gaps, and accepting that leadership doesn’t have to look a certain way.
Charlie also talks candidly about the early stages of her career, revealing that she didn’t set out to own a recruiting company. She reflects on her upbringing, her study abroad experience in Spain, and the valuable life lessons she picked up along the way.
The conversation touches on pivotal turning points, including key lessons around leadership, employee happiness, and the balance between empathy and logic. Charlie shares a particularly meaningful story about how her company created a pregnancy loss policy, illustrating the power of compassionate leadership and how a simple action can have a massive positive impact on employee retention and well-being.
The episode doesn't shy away from the tough moments, with Charlie recounting early experiences of being underestimated as a woman and sometimes even being taken advantage of—like the time a client decided to pay only half her recruiting fee. She emphasizes the growth that came from those experiences and the eventual empowerment to turn away clients who didn’t align with her company’s values.
Kristi and Charlie also discuss the advantages and assumptions that came from having a gender-neutral name like “Charlie”—sometimes even helping her get meetings that might have been closed to women.
Charlie’s proudest moments include her recent TED Talk, as well as the influence she's been able to have on workplace policy and culture. Looking ahead, she’s manifesting a future with even more time dedicated to keynote speaking, inspiring and empowering other women to see themselves in her story.
Charlie leaves listeners with a powerful message about leadership: treat people like humans, and see beyond their job titles—advice she believes is essential for the future of work and for retaining the irreplaceable qualities of real, human leaders.
About Carlie Saffro:
Charlie empowers leaders to uncover their everyday power, step into their influence, and drive extraordinary outcomes.
As the CEO and founder of CS Recruiting, Charlie has seen firsthand that true leadership goes beyond traditional metrics; it relies on fostering engagement, trust, and collaboration. A distinguished thought leader, keynote speaker, and TEDx presenter, Charlie is passionate about inspiring audiences to rethink their ability to make a difference and build a culture they want to be a part of.
Charlie’s commitment to a more hopeful, human-centered future of work makes her a vital voice in today’s evolving landscape. By modeling authenticity and openness, she demonstrates how leaders can create ripple effects that build cultures where people truly thrive.
Timestamps:
00:00 Pioneering Female Supply Chain Recruiter
05:45 Balancing Motherhood and Business Ambitions
09:08 Merit-Based Hiring Philosophy
12:15 Seville Homestay Experience
16:40 Leadership Decision's Career Impact
20:14 Facing Gender Bias in Business
22:30 "Balancing Heart and Business Sense"
26:22 "Navigating Gender Bias in Careers"
29:02 Misgendered Meetings Advantage
33:51 TED Talk: One-Shot Experience
36:57 Supportive Pregnancy Loss Policy
38:29 Empowerment Through Speaking Up
44:16 Human Connection Enhances Workforce Value
45:13 Improving Job Satisfaction Advice
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