From Business Loneliness to a Stronger Growth Community: How Talent Experts Has Used TRN to Move Its Business Forward

For Tanja, one of the biggest benefits of TRN has been the combination of community and access to expertise.

The relationship has developed over six years, with different TRN advisors and programmes supporting Talent Experts at different stages of its growth.

Tanja has worked directly with James on several strategic challenges, including exploring a potential launch into the UK and developing the company's business development strategy.

She has also used Keith as a mentor through the advisory programme, providing an opportunity to regularly step back, reassess and refocus.

When Talent Experts was considering whether to replace its CRM, a session with Si provided another valuable perspective.

"We were really at a crossroads of do we change systems, what do we change, and he was very, very helpful for that."

For Tanja, the value wasn't simply being given an answer.

It was having someone with deeper expertise to challenge the thinking and help the business make a more informed decision.

One of the clearest examples of TRN's impact has been Talent Experts' plans to launch a new business into the UK.

The team knew where they wanted to go, but weren't certain about the best way to approach the opportunity.

Working with James provided Tanja with an experienced perspective on how the business should approach the launch and where it should focus its efforts.

"I had the mentorship of James on that, which I really think just highlighted how we should be doing it, where we should be going."

Rather than having to navigate the decision entirely alone, Talent Experts was able to draw on the experience of someone who understood the recruitment market and could help challenge and shape its thinking.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

While the advisory support has been important, Tanja believes the community element of TRN has become even more valuable over time.

The TRN Retreat has played a particularly important role.

At a first event, many of the attendees are strangers. But returning to the Retreat changes that dynamic.

"You recognize a lot of people."

Connections made in person then continue online through TRN's community groups. A conversation at a breakout session can turn into an ongoing relationship, making it easier to reach out to another member when a challenge arises.

"You can actually go outside of the chat quickly and go, listen, I saw your comments, would you mind helping with that?"

For a business operating in South Africa, that accessibility is particularly valuable.

Talent Experts can't always simply jump on a plane to attend a regional meet-up, making the wider TRN community an important way of maintaining those connections.

For Tanja, the personal engagement has strengthened the value of the membership beyond training and resources.

MORE THAN TRAINING

Over six years, there hasn't been one single moment that defines Talent Experts' experience with TRN. Instead, it has been the cumulative impact of multiple conversations, programmes, people and perspectives.

• One-to-one advisory sessions have helped with strategic decisions.

• Mentoring has provided regular opportunities to refocus.

• Specialist sessions have helped the business navigate technology and systems decisions.

And the wider TRN community has provided a network of people who understand the challenges of running a recruitment business. For Tanja, that ongoing access to expertise is what makes the relationship valuable.

"It's not one, there are really many of them that have just helped us move the business forward or steer in the right direction."