New Episode: She went from NASDAQ trader to fully retained recruiter — here's how

Latest Episodes: New Episode: She went from NASDAQ trader to fully retained recruiter — here's how

Author

Benjamin Mena
April 16, 2026

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LATEST EPISODES:

NEW: From NASDAQ Trader to Fully Retained Recruiter: Andrea Colabella's Blueprint for Niching Down and Charging More

Hey Elite Recruiters,

Andrea "Annie" Colabella didn't plan on becoming a recruiter.

She had a master's in applied mathematics and was working as a NASDAQ trader at 23. She lost the job — and instead of finding another trading role, she cold called recruiting agencies until one hired her.

That was over 20 years ago.

Today she runs Cardea Group, a fully retained executive search firm in New York City focused exclusively on legal and compliance within investment management. Pinnacle Society member. 16 years in business. And she made the full pivot from contingent to retained — deliberately, strategically, and profitably.

This episode is for anyone who's been thinking about niching down further, moving toward retained, or wondering why they're working so hard for fees that don't reflect the work they're doing.

Key Takeaways:

The question nobody asks — but should: "What should I stop doing to increase my billings?" Everyone asks what tools to add, what more they can do. Annie flips it. Buy back your time. Do less, better.

Recyclability is the real case for niching down: When you're laser focused on one space, one great candidate can be presented to four or five clients at once. When you're spread thin, it's one candidate for one job. The math is brutal.

The menu approach to moving from contingent to retained: Offer three options — contingent, engaged, retained. Most clients pick the middle. That engagement fee alone changes your business because you stop working for free.

Going retained isn't just a pricing change: Annie went through an intense 8-week coaching program with Retrained (UK-based) to make the shift properly. It was a full operational pivot — not just a conversation with clients.

Advice to her younger self: Bill on total compensation. Join Pinnacle sooner. Specialize faster. Three things that would have accelerated everything.

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🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

Spotify: [link]

Apple: [link]

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The This Is Your Year Recruiter Summit kicks off on April 27th and it’s 100% free to attend live. Join 30+ expert speakers as they reveal the exact tactics behind landing more clients, closing bigger deals, and scaling faster in 2026. If you’re serious about increasing billings, this is your blueprint. - https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com/ 
Special Guests: Mark Whitby, Mike Williams, Sharon Hulce, Brianna Rooney, and many more