I was in a bit of a pickle.
What happens when you take a punt on a LinkedIn tip, conduct interviews from a Starbucks car park, and hire someone you've never met in person? In our case—magic. This is the real story of how we found Sigrid, reshaped our offshore hiring approach, and learned that sometimes the right hire comes from the unlikeliest of places.
You know that moment when you’re buried in work, the to-do list has become a sentient being, and you realise you need help—yesterday? That was me. UGP was growing at speed (and not the nice, controlled kind), and I needed a miracle in the form of a Recruitment Operations Executive. Enter: a LinkedIn message from a mate with one golden line—
“You should check out this HR BPO in Manila. I used them, and they’re brilliant.”
Now, I love a good recommendation, especially when it comes with zero faff. I reached out, had a quick chat, and boom—candidates. Loads of them. On paper, it all looked rather promising.
And then came the interviews…
Picture the scene: me, parked up at a random Starbucks off the M25, tethering my laptop to spotty Wi-Fi, no camera, and a backdrop of baristas yelling out macchiato orders like they were headlining Glasto. It wasn’t my finest hour. But we move.
I met some decent candidates. Then I met Sigrid.
It was instant. We bonded over cats, tattoos, and DJing (because obviously). Honestly, how often do you stumble across a recruitment ops wizard who can also handle a turntable? Not often. But it was what she said at the end that really sealed the deal:
“I want this job. How do I make sure I get it?”
No fluff. No hesitation. Just confidence. And I loved it.
Fast forward three years, and hiring Sigrid is still one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. Not only is she at the heart of the UGP team and brand, but she’s also been instrumental in how we shape our offshore hiring model. And believe me, we’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way—but this wasn’t one of them.
What We Learned
(So You Don’t Have To)
1. Conversations change everything.
That one casual LinkedIn nudge led to a game-changing hire. It wasn’t a big, strategic move—it was a DM. Never underestimate where a simple chat might lead.
2. Don’t sleep on the Philippines.
I knew next to nothing about BPOs when I started. Now? I wouldn’t run UGP without one. Talent, loyalty, work ethic—it’s all there, if you look in the right places.
3. Hire for growth, not just gaps.
It’s easy to hire someone who can tick boxes on a task list. But what about someone who can grow with you? Sigrid didn’t just fill a need—she evolved with the business.
4. Feedback is everything.
It’s not enough to hand over tasks and hope for the best. If you want a solid offshore team, you’ve got to give consistent, constructive feedback. Keep the comms flowing.
5. Belonging builds buy-in.
Sigrid never felt like a temp or an external hire. She became UGP. And when someone feels like they’re part of something bigger, the results speak for themselves.
So yes, I hired someone from a BPO I barely knew, via dodgy Wi-Fi in a roadside Starbucks, with no offshore hiring experience to speak of. And yet—it all went brilliantly. Sometimes, when you trust your gut (and your LinkedIn mates), you strike gold.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we get into the nitty-gritty of what didn’t go so smoothly. Because while this one was a win, let’s just say we’ve had our fair share of BPO heartbreaks too. Onwards!
