Jacqueline Gallagher, vice-president for British Columbia and Saskatchewan at David Aplin Group, one of Canada’s leading recruiting firms, hunts for talented employees for clients ranging from local entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies.
It’s a role reversal. She had been in the business only a year when she was herself recruited by David Aplin Group after being recognized for her talent. She joined the firm at 22 and has been with them for more than 10 years.
“I grew up playing soccer up to the Canada Games level,” said Gallagher. “It’s a great way to build connections, and ... the ability to work collaboratively and cohesively in a team has been one of the key components of my success here at Aplin.”
She attributes some of her tenacity to her athletic background. “Athletes don’t take ‘no’ very well,” she said. “Working in this industry you have to be resilient. You get told ‘no’ a lot.”
While on the East Coast with Aplin Group, she was responsible for hiring and placing temporary and permanent administrative professionals with organizations in the Atlantic Canada market. But she wanted more.
Reluctant to lose her, the company relocated her to Saskatoon and gave her the role of managing consultant in 2013. She increased sales by 300% in the first two years. She caught the attention of Canadian Management Centre, which asked her to sit as a panellist for its cross-country presentation called Rise of the Millennia Leader. In 2015, she was promoted to vice-president for Saskatchewan, after which she was asked to take over as vice-president of the company’s B.C. division, and she relocated to Vancouver.
Over the past 18 months, Gallagher has completed her master’s degree in business administration at Royal Roads University. It’s taken her away from some of the volunteer work she loves. Over the years she has contributed her time and effort to multiple groups including Special Olympics, Adsum House, Phoenix Youth Programs and HomeBridge.
“I’m looking forward to getting better connected to the community in Vancouver,” she said. “I believe you need to give back to the community you work in.”
Join us to celebrate the 2016 Forty under under 40 Awards January 25, 2017 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. For tickets and event info visit www.biv.com/events/40under40
