Since 1995, Lakeshore has provided Staffing, Recruiting and Payrolling services to employers in Denver and Chicago across multiple industries. A company committed to achieving success by matching top talent with the right opportunities. In 2017, Lakeshore re-branded as Lakeshore Talent after a management buyout, becoming a women-owned company. Lakeshore Talent has a dynamic team of Account Executives focused on sales and the client experience and a talented team of Recruiters focused on candidate recruitment and candidate experience. Lakeshore Talent offers a higher level of service as a result, and takes pride in building strong relationships worthy of loyalty with both clients and candidates.
Running a staffing agency might seem simple at first glance, but a lot goes on behind the scenes. It’s more than just sourcing candidates and gaining new clients. From the front office to the back office, from bureaucracy to crises, staffing agency owners have a lot on their plates. Their time is spread thin, and they wear many hats.
With the right knowledge, skills, and expertise, however, you can start a recruitment firm from the ground up and turn it into a successful venture. We had the opportunity to talk with Mary Clark, Natalie Van Roekel and Lindsay Nossaman of Lakeshore Talent about how they became the owners of Lakeshore Talent and what they can share about their management experiences.
How did you get started?
The 3 of us all had worked for Lakeshore Talent for several years prior to becoming owners, with Mary leading the Denver team, and Lindsay and Natalie leading the company’s recruiting efforts. In 2016, we were approached with a unique opportunity for a Management Buyout. While none of us had set out to become entrepreneurs, we had intimate knowledge of the business and great confidence in ourselves and the team we had been building for several years. Once we decided to take the leap, we partnered with an M&A professional and after 10 months of negotiations, we became official owners in August of 2017.
What do you like about what you do?
First and foremost, we love being able to take part in matching people with jobs. We’re able to positively impact lives by helping people advance their careers and find jobs that they love as well as helping company leaders build their teams and achieve their goals. Staffing can be very challenging, but it is fast-paced and centered around building relationships. We have also really embraced leading our organization and offering our employees a happy, flexible, positive, and motivating culture.
What is important in having the right business partners? What do you have to look for?
Respect, trust and a shared vision are the three critical elements to have in a successful partnership. We all need to know we can rely on each other through both successful times, and more challenging times. We each have our own unique roles and purposes within the company and all depend on each other to do our part. Additionally, being able to handle setbacks as a team and still enjoy each other’s company really helps mitigate the stress that often comes with business ownership.
What is the most rewarding?
It’s most rewarding to be a part of growing an entire organization, seeing the impact that we have on our team, and watching them grow both professionally and personally. We are very fortunate to have a team that believes in us and celebrates our achievements. Thinking of the future and being able to accomplish our goals as a team is very exciting.
What are you goals/dreams for the future?
We would like to expand our business, and grow to $25M in revenue while also maintaining the flexible, positive, and upbeat culture that we have built. We also plan to continue to climb the Top Staffing Company and Women Owned Business Lists here in Denver
How do you balance work and life?
Part of what makes Lakeshore Talent so unique is the flexibility that we offer our entire team, including working remotely over 50% of the time, unlimited PTO, and a very flexible schedule. This also makes it easier to balance our lives with work. That said, when you own the company, you are responsible for the team and the successful operation of the business. We are never truly “off”, but we don’t find that to be a burden, because we love what we do. Giving our attention to what needs it most in the moment is generally the best approach. It is important to be present in what you are doing when you are doing it. We place a lot of importance on family, friends, and enjoying life and know that that only makes us even better leaders in our organization.
What is your secret to being an effective director in terms of managing the company culture and values you need to make the company successful?
We’re not sure it’s a secret, but we really focus on communication and listening to our team. They are what make us successful, and their satisfaction and happiness is our top priority. Keeping them fully in the loop on decisions and being transparent and honest instills trust and loyalty. Listening to feedback and implementing appropriate changes helps them feel invested in the company. We also give the team a lot of autonomy and flexibility in their roles, which creates a positive culture and gives employees a sense of ownership.
Busy startup entrepreneurs have lots of demands on their time and are often pulled in lots of different directions, do you have any tips for effective time management and what to focus on first?
Focusing on the overall health of the business needs to be the main priority, which generally means paying close attention to both the morale of the company as well as the financial health of the business. Keeping things in perspective also really helps to manage time. Rather than getting overwhelmed by an ever-growing to-do list, targeting one thing at a time and prioritizing immediate needs helps keep things manageable.
What traits do you look for when building a team?
Attitude is huge for us. While relevant experience and work history plays a part, it’s most important to find people who are positive, self-motivated, and inspiring to others while also humble and down-to-earth. Sense of humor is also a big plus, as laughter always helps get through the tough days!
Share us some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Be prepared. Do your research and use any resources possible. If there is anyone in your network or connections that has done something similar, don’t be shy about reaching out for assistance. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your goals. Remember that you are betting on yourself. If you are the kind of person who always finds a way to get it done, at work and at home, this will be no different; believe in yourself!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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