VoyageATL: Exploring Life & Business with Toni Tovi of Bright Flag Recruiting
In the news: Thanks to VoyageATL for featuring our Founder & President, Toni Tovi, in their latest article! Read on to learn about Toni’s journey through entrepreneurship.
This article originally appeared on VoyageATL.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Tovi.
Hi Toni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started in private equity, operated several companies within the FedEx ecosystem, and then divested of those and started my own recruiting company, Bright Flag Recruiting, in 2018. What started as a one-woman firm now employs over 40 people. I’m proud that Bright Flag is a woman-owned business in a male-dominated space.
Founding my own company was important to me because I wanted to establish a company culture that was healthy for the team and clients alike. I saw what was out there in the space already and knew there was an opportunity to do better. I wanted to provide employees with work-life balance, so our nationally distributed team has been remote since well before Covid reconfigured industry standards. Additionally, we are passionate about advocating for clients and candidates alike. We strive to find the perfect placement for both parties because we believe that’s the most beneficial strategy for everyone involved, and we’re willing to put in the extra work to make that happen.
Our culture is rooted in integrity, transparency, resourcefulness, and a bit of fun, too.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I didn’t realize Bright Flag would take off so quickly, so I had to learn a lot of lessons along the way. The most important thing – and really the only thing I knew for certain when I started – is that it’s vital to treat people well, with kindness and intention. That goes for teammates, clients, and candidates alike.
I’ve built Bright Flag on a set of values that we adhere to this day. Feedback is always championed and appreciated so that we can evolve and grow with the benefit and insight of many different, diverse perspectives. It’s also important to me to let people demonstrate who they are today. People are so interesting and resilient, and who they were ten, five, or even one year ago doesn’t necessarily represent who they are today. We hire teammates without prejudice or judgment, looking at their current drives, ambitions, ability to grow, coachability, and desire to learn. Those characteristics often indicate a person is positioned to be successful, regardless of their past. We take a similar approach in placing candidates.
A challenge I’ve encountered along the way has been developing the arts of leadership and stewardship. My team looks to me to set an example and also for support, and I hadn’t had exposure to cultivate these skills in any of my previous roles. They are invaluable as an entrepreneur and founder.
I’ve also discovered that not everyone you invest in will flourish, and that’s okay. The important thing is to keep moving forward without projecting that disappointment or discontent onto others.
Entrepreneurship is a wild ride and not for the faint of heart. Perspective is so important – the daily grind and ups and downs can be overwhelming if you don’t take them day by day. The amazing thing about entrepreneurship, though, is the opportunities it provides. Our country gives people the chance to become who they want to be. I never imagined as a girl growing up in a poor Louisiana town that I’d own my own business, but that goes to show – you should never count yourself out. Bright Flag’s brand is an homage to the American Dream.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bright Flag Recruiting is a versatile, resourceful recruiting firm that always goes the extra mile for our clients and candidates. We take pride in helping people find quality jobs that put food on the table. We work with a lot of organizations, like Veterans in Trucking and Women in Trucking, that champion underrepresented or underserved groups. Additionally, our diverse team of nationally distributed recruiters incorporates many nationalities and backgrounds.
We started in the shipping & logistics space, so one of our specialties is hiring local last-mile delivery drivers as well as Class A CDL drivers nationwide for known companies such as FedEx and Amazon, in addition to partnering with independent carriers. We also work across a wide range of industries to help companies hire the teams they need to succeed – whether that’s executives, back office support, operations managers, salespeople, or diesel mechanics. We know our clients’ success is our success.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
This isn’t necessarily surprising, but it’s a driving force behind why I do what I do: I’m grateful for a lot of things, and I think my happiness stems from that gratitude. More than anything, I love spending time with my four children. I also love going to concerts and enjoying the incredible and expansive food scene Atlanta has to offer. I’m a New Orleans native, so I love the Saints – even if that’s a very unpopular opinion in Atlanta! I do cheer for Atlanta United, though, so my current city does get some sports team love.
I also love the work I’m able to do through Bright Flag Recruiting. I get to travel all over the country, meeting clients and helping them strategize new and creative ways to effectively and efficiently grow their business by making the right hires – and I get to ensure that those hires are the right fits for the job, meaning they can put food on the table for their families. The people I work with are some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met, and I look forward to continuing to grow my business and those relationships.
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