Episode 73 - How Roxanne Seguin Went From Solo Startup to Bilingual Recruitment Powerhouse

Episode 73 - How Roxanne Seguin Went From Solo Startup to Bilingual Recruitment Powerhouse

In this episode, I'm happy to welcome Roxanne Seguin, founder of Opal Corporate Connections, to explore how she turned two decades of bilingual recruitment experience into a thriving business. Roxanne shares what inspired her to go solo in 2021, how she built a niche in French-English staffing across Canada, and why relationships are her ultimate growth strategy.

Roxanne breaks down the realities of running a small agency, including the unexpected challenges of administrative work and the hidden power of community collaboration among solopreneurs. She also opens up about the demand for bilingual talent outside Quebec, the nuances of recruiting for French-first provinces, and the misconception that "bigger means better" in staffing. Whether you're a recruiter, business owner, or talent leader, this episode is full of value, practical advice, and we're even treated to a look at what’s ahead for 2025.

Key Moments:

• Roxanne’s journey to entrepreneurship after 20+ years in recruitment.

• The power of in-person community networking vs. automation

• The demand is there for bilingualism, beyond Quebec.

• The importance of collaboration among small agency owners.

• What 2025 looks like for recruitment in Canada.

Favorite Quote: 

"There’s so much business out there—we’re all in this together, so why not support each other instead of stabbing each other in the back?"

• Roxanne

 

Connect with Roxanne:

OPAL Corporate Connections was founded by our Director of Recruitment, Roxanne Seguin. Over 20 years ago, Roxanne made a name for herself in talent acquisition and head hunting, originally specializing in bilingual recruitment within the Insurance, Retail, and Finance sectors. Through referrals, as well as steadfast and loyal relationships with her clients, the demand for Roxanne’s assistance naturally evolved into her leading teams of recruitment professionals and foraying into other dynamic industries including Information Technology, Healthcare, Corporate Services/Administrative Support, and more.

 

However, while working within the guided, and often rigidly banal, structure of other recruitment firms, Roxanne realized that there were more creative, effective, and innovative ways to connect with her clients and candidates. And so, this was the foundation upon which OPAL Corporate Connections was built.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-seguin-69768bb/

Website: http://opalcorporateconnections.ca

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

 

Connect with Suky:

I’m Suky an adrenaline junkie who celebrates every single win. I believe we must celebrate and collect all our wins along the way as it fuels forward momentum to ensure we exceed our goals. When we fuel forward momentum, complacency simply can not settle in.

With over 25 years of experience working in the staffing industry, 16 of those