Using Masterminds and Events to Attract Top Talent Without Sounding Like a Recruiter

Let’s talk about one of the most powerful, and most underused, tools in recruiting: events and masterminds. Not the big splashy hotel-ballroom kind. I’m talking about strategic, intimate gatherings that position you as a leader, not a recruiter.

In this episode of Recruiting Conversations, I walk you through how to host the kind of experience that attracts high-level talent without ever pitching your opportunity. You’ll learn how to move from chasing candidates to curating conversations that build trust, momentum, and long-term recruiting wins.

Episode Breakdown

[00:00] Introduction – The overlooked power of events and masterminds in modern recruiting.
[01:00] Why Pitches Fall Flat – Top talent doesn’t want another comp plan meeting. They want meaningful conversation.
[01:30] Step 1: Solve a Real Problem – Create a topic around what producers actually care about: margin compression, referrals, personal brand, burnout, AI tools.
[02:30] Step 2: Invite Strategically – Avoid salesy language. Use this: “No pitch. Just great conversation with people who are growing.”
[03:30] Step 3: Facilitate Like a Pro – You don’t need to be the expert. Ask great questions, spotlight others, and guide the room.
[04:30] The Follow-Up Strategy – After the event, send a resource or personalized note that connects to what they shared.
[05:00] Real Story – How one client hosted a 6-person breakfast that led to a recruit texting her days later asking for a conversation, without ever mentioning her company.
[05:30] Final Challenge – Build a mastermind in the next 30 days. Make it meaningful. Let value open the recruiting door.

Key Takeaways

• Stop Pitching. Start Curating. – Recruiting isn’t about features. It’s about creating spaces where people want to belong.

• Solve Real Problems – When you focus on what producers are struggling with, they’ll lean in.

• Be the Host, Not the Hero – Great facilitators create rooms others want to return to.

• Recruit Without Recruiting – Share resources. Follow up with intention. Lead the relationship.

• Events Build Trust at Scale – You’re not chasing people. You’re inviting them into a conversation worth joining.

If you want to win the top 20%, stop sounding like every other recruiter. Lead something real. Build something valuable. And create rooms where leaders want to sit.

Want help building your first mastermind or recruiting event? Subscribe to my weekly email at 4crecruiting.com or book a session at bookrichardnow.com. Let’s build something people want to be part of.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
So the big question is this, how dorecruiting leaders like us who have
12 to 15 other job responsibilitieswin at this game of recruiting?
How do we build a system that allowsus to recruit effectively in a minimal
amount of time while motivatingrecruits towards meaningful change?
That is the question, and thispodcast will give you the answers.

(00:21):
My name is Richard Mulligan, andwelcome to Recruiting Conversations.
Hey everybody.
Welcome back to Recruiting Conversations.
I'm Richard Milligan.
And today we're talking about one of themost underrated recruiting tools that
almost no one is using the right way.

(00:42):
Events and masterminds.
Now, when I say event, you mightbe thinking big conference branded,
happy hour, splashy dinner.
And those can work, don't get me wrong.
But what I'm talking about issomething smaller, smarter, more
strategic events that position youas the attractive leader without
ever having to say you're recruiting.

(01:03):
This is a strategy I've coached dozens ofrecruiting leaders on, and when it's done
right, it builds trust, creates momentum,and fills your recruiting pipeline
without ever feeling sales or pushy.
So let me set the stage.
Most people think recruitinghas to be a direct pitch.
Come join my team.
Lemme tell you about our comp plan.

(01:23):
Let me show you our tech stack.
And the problem is the best talent.
They've heard all that before.
They've got five other companies knockingon their door saying the exact same thing.
So if you're going to win the top20%, you've gotta show up differently.
One of the best ways to do thatis by curating conversations

(01:45):
instead of chasing conversions.
That's what a mastermind orsmall event allows you to do.
You're not inviting someone tohear about your opportunity.
You're inviting them into a roomwhere they can grow, learn, connect.
Share ideas with other highlevel producers or leaders.
And when you do that well,the shift starts to happen.

(02:07):
They stop seeing you as justanother recruiter, and they
start seeing you as a resource, aconnector, a leader worth following.
So let's get practical.
How do you do this?
First, you need a clearreason for gathering people.
That means your mastermind or event has tosolve a real problem or offer real value.

(02:27):
Let me give you a few examples.
I've seen work.
A round table for top producers onhow to protect margins in a tightening
market, a small mastermind on buildingreferral relationships, a virtual
lunch, and learn about AI tools forloan officers and in person breakfast on
building a sustainable personal brand.
These are topics that producerscare about, and that's the key.

(02:49):
This isn't about you, it's about them.
Now, once you've chosen your theme,you move to step two, inviting
the right people the right way.
And this is where most leaders mess it up.
They'll say something like, Hey,we're hosting a recruiting event next
week, and boom, you've lost them.
Instead, you need to frame it like this.
I'm bringing a small group of topproducers together to talk about

(03:10):
how to finish the year strong.
No sales pitch, just great conversationwith people who are growing.
Would you be open to joining us?
See how different that feels.
There's no pressure, noawkward sales energy.
You're inviting them intocommunity, into growth.
Into something bigger thanjust one-on-one recruiting.
And here's the secret.
Top los want that.

(03:31):
They're often stuck on an island.
They want to share ideas, hearfrom peers, feel challenged again.
And if you're the one curatingthat environment, you immediately
become more than a recruiter.
You become their leader beforethey ever join your team.
That brings me to step three,how you facilitate matters.
You don't need to be thesmartest voice in the room.

(03:51):
You just need to be the host.
Great facilitators do a few simple things.
They ask great open-ended questions.
They spotlight others in the room.
They pull insights from the group, notjust themselves, and they close with an
invitation to keep the conversation going.
That last part is where youcreate natural follow up.
Let's say someone shares a painpoint about time management or team

(04:13):
accountability after the event, you sendthem a resource, a book, or a short video.
Hey, I really appreciated yourinsight during the Mastermind.
You mentioned struggling with X. Here'ssomething that helped me personally.
That's recruiting.
Without recruiting.
That's how trust is built.
That's how relationships grow.

(04:33):
Lemme tell you a, a quick story.
One of my clients hosted a small breakfastfor six loan officers in her city.
The topic was how togrow without burning out.
She invited them personally,said it was no pitch, just a
chance to hear from each other.
Everyone showed up.
One of the guys texted her two days laterand said, that was the best conversation

(04:55):
I've had with other LOS all year.
I've been thinking about making a moveand I want to talk with you first.
And here's the kicker.
She never mentioned her companyonce he leaned in because she showed
up as a leader, not a salesperson.
That's the power of usingevents the right way.
So here's what I want youto take away from today.
If you want to attract betterpeople, create better rooms.

(05:18):
Build tables.
They want to sit at lead conversationsthat solve real problems and do it
without the pressure of recruiting.
You don't have to pitchwhen the value is real.
You don't have to convince when yourleadership is visible and you don't
have to chase when you build spaces.
People want to be in.
So here's your challenge.
Pick a format in person or virtualand plan a simple mastermind.

(05:39):
In the next 30 days, invitethree to five producers.
Keep it tight, make it valuable,and use it to start new
conversations, not close deals.
If you do that consistently,you'll build a pipeline of people
who trust you, respect you, andeventually wanna follow you.
That's it for today's episode.
Go build the room, lead theconversation, and I'll see you back

(06:01):
here soon on recruiting conversations.
Want more recruiting conversations?
You can register for my [e-mail].
If you need help creating your ownunique recruiting system, you can book
a time with [e-mail].
I.