The Pinnacle Take
Hosted by
Ben Mena

Hear what’s happening in hiring straight from our Pinnacle Society experts!

How Kimberly Laipple Went from Broke Single Mom to $1.4M Recruiter: Her Exact Blueprint

What does it really take to turn rock bottom into record-breaking success in the recruiting world? In this inspiring episode of The Pinnacle…
April 15, 2026

The Recruiter’s Second Act: When It’s Time to Go All In with Holly Dary

Are you standing at a crossroads in your recruiting career, wondering if now’s the time to take a leap into your next chapter? In this inspiring episode of the…
March 24, 2026

From Contingent to Retained: How Niching Down Took Andrea Colabella’s Recruiting Firm to the Top

Are you a recruiter feeling stretched too thin or stuck in a broad market? Ready to transform your business, go deeper into your niche, and maximize your value…
February 20, 2026

Rebranding Your Destiny: Katherine Jerald’s $885K First Year, $261K DM Win, and GovCon Recruiting Secrets

Are you ready to break through plateaus and build a recruitment business that truly scales? In this episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down…
January 19, 2026

How a $20M Recruiter Built a Winning Team: David Bradley’s Strategies for Consistent Success

Want to unlock the secrets behind leading a high-performance recruiting team and consistently breaking seven figures in placement fees? This episode is…
January 7, 2026

Record-Breaking Recruiting: How Rich Rosen Had His Best Month Ever (Mindset, Tech & Tactics for Crushing It in Any Market)

Feeling frustrated by a slow job market or struggling to stand out among recruiters? In this must-listen episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena..
November 26, 2025

Why Niching Down Makes Recruiters Elite: Lessons from Luxury & the Pinnacle Society with Rob Bowerman

Are you a recruiter looking to break through the noise, build true expertise, and stand out in a crowded industry…
November 26, 2025

Breaking the Recruiting Plateau: How Justis Pederson Went from Burnout to $1.5M with Digital Transformation and Sobriety

Are you a recruiter feeling trapped by stagnant billings and relentless burnout? Looking for proven tactics to break through your…
November 26, 2025

From Survival to Seven Figures: The Step-by-Step Playbook to Building a Million Dollar Recruiting Desk with Pree Sarkar

Ready to level up your recruiting career and finally unlock the secrets to scaling a seven-figure desk? In this high-impact episode of the Pinnacle Take…
November 26, 2025

How to Thrive When the Market Tanks: Sean Rigsby’s Playbook for Recruiters Facing Chaos

What does it take to not only survive, but thrive when the recruiting market is turned upside down? In this eye-opening episode…
October 23, 2025

Million-Dollar Biller to Overcoming Cancer: Rich Bradley’s Recruiting Comeback

Have you ever wondered why some recruiters consistently hit top biller status while others get stuck chasing the latest tech trends and still fall short?…..
September 26, 2025

The Power of Niching Down & Leading with Heart: Cari Kraft’s Formula for Recruiting Success

Have you ever wondered why some recruiters consistently hit top biller status while others get stuck chasing the latest tech trends and still fall short?…..
September 26, 2025

Unlocking the Million-Dollar Desk: How Elite Recruiters Master Business Development with Katherine Wilcox

Have you ever wondered why some recruiters consistently hit top biller status while others get stuck chasing the latest tech trends and still fall short?…..
September 26, 2025

No Shortcuts: Why Consistency (Not Shiny Tools) is Amy Simpson’s Secret to Success

Have you ever wondered why some recruiters consistently hit top biller status while others get stuck chasing the latest tech trends and still fall short?…..
June 25, 2025

Episode 385: Building Elite Sales Teams: Lessons from 1,200+ Hires

What separates a good sales hire from a great one? In this episode, veteran sales recruiter Rich Rosen joins us to unpack the common hiring mistakes startups make—and how to fix them. From building culture to spotting real closers….
June 13, 2025

Rich Rosen’s $300K Month: The Step-by-Step Breakdown to Winning Big in Any Recruiting Market

Welcome back to The Elite Recruiter Podcast! In today’s episode, host Benjamin Mena is joined by powerhouse recruiter Rich Rosen, who just had his biggest billing month ever…….
May 20, 2025

Episode 385: Building Elite Sales Teams: Lessons from 1,200+ Hires

What separates a good sales hire from a great one? In this episode, veteran sales recruiter Rich Rosen joins us to unpack the common hiring mistakes startups make…
April 15, 2025

Cracking the Code of Business Development with Michael Cioffi and Guy Gomis

Are you eager to tap into the secrets of successful business development in the recruiting industry? Want to learn from top Pinnacle Society members who have mastered the craft?
January 22, 2025

Empathy, Family, and Success in IT Recruitment with Kim Knoll

Are you navigating the challenges of IT recruitment in today’s competitive and ever-changing market? Seeking practical solutions from industry veterans who combine empathy with success? In this inspiring episode of the Pinnacle…..
November 13, 2024

From Contingent to Retained: Sharon Hulce’s $1.4M Recruiting Strategy

Are you seeking to elevate your recruiting practice and secure enduring success in the industry? Discover the transition from contingent to retained recruiting that can redefine your professional journey….
November 13, 2024

Building Elite Teams While Being a Top Biller with Mike Williams

Curious about what it takes to join an elite circle of top recruiters and scale a successful recruitment business? Eager to uncover key insights that can reshape your approach to recruiting and leadership?
September 17, 2024

Beyond Resilience: Success, Family, and Recruiting Strategies with Jennifer Poloni

How do you thrive in the ever-challenging world of recruiting, maintain strong family bonds, and build a resilient business? In this riveting episode of the Pinnacle Take….
August 14, 2024

The Power of Adaptability and Strategy with Jen Meyer

Curious about Jen Meyer’s journey from aspiring business owner to exceptional recruiter? Want to learn the strategies that have propelled her to the pinnacle of the recruiting industry?……
July 17, 2024

Pinnacle take – hosted by Ben Mena, With Gail Audibert

Meet Gail Audibert, President of The Pinnacle Society, where she discusses what the Pinnacle Society is and why recruiters should want to join. Gail discusses the benefits of this elite group….
May 28, 2024

The Pinnacle Take…Takes on ”A Network of Friendlies!”

How do we play at a higher level? Get Bigger Fees…become a Player! Every recruiter playing power games with paranoid middle managers wants to know…and yet we make a plan, gear ourselves up to talk to “big shots” and change our life, and two job orders get called in…..
March 27, 2024

Crack the Code: Talent Meta Management Secrets from a Million Dollar Biller with Fernando Espinosa

Step into the future of recruiting with this transformative episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast. Join host Benjamin Mena as he welcomes Fernando Espinosa, a renowned recruiter with 30 years of experience…
March 27, 2024

Getting Real about Branding/Content/Influencing. With an Expert

You know the drill…you get interested in becoming a LinkedIn Super User and Posting Phenom after getting your butt kicked on the phone. No return calls, no headway on your desk. And more of the same coming tomorrow! ….
January 30, 2024

The OG Takes on Money: Spoiler…More Beats Less…by a LOT!

Diana Gazzolo is not just one of two remaining founding members of Pinnacle…not just someone who has billed millions and plans on billing millions more…she’s built real wealth! She could walk away but doesn’t because she loves it…
December 18, 2023

Exploring! The 360° Desk, Tech Stack of the Future, and Explorers

Katherine Jerald came into Pinnacle two years ago and shook it up…a new, bright voice that came from a family, franchise pedigree…she knows how the biz “has always been done”, respects it’s fundamentals…
October 24, 2023

Fitness & Physicality: The Secret Weapon of Top Producers

Are you a great recruiter because you’re serious about fitness? Or are you serious about fitness because you’re a great recruiter? We learn the answer from Pinnacle’s Fitness Icons, Rick Rush and Veronica Ramirez…
August 25, 2023

The Pinnacle Take…Takes on Pinnacle’s Alpha

How an Alpha built his Retained Search Only Practice: Chris learned early on from his Dad and from the sports he played…Be strong, confident, compete honestly…and do it again…Chris has been dubbed Pinnacle’s “Alpha”…
July 12, 2023

The Pinnacle Take takes on…Turning Points!

The Pinnacle Take takes on…turning points! On your desk, in good markets and bad, choosing your specialty, and in your life. When did things “turn” and you chose to become Elite? And what about the things you can’t control?….
May 10, 2023

The Pinnacle Take…Takes on The Recruiter Ego.

The Pinnacle Take takes on…The Recruiter Ego…without a strong sense of self, without singularity of purpose, you can’t become a superstar…but how much is too much? When does your Ego start to cost you? Where is the line?
January 7, 2023