How to Build a 7-Figure Recruiting Firm That Runs Without You — Inside the EOS System with Derek Pittak (Part 1: From Chaos to Clarity) artwork
The Elite Recruiter Podcast

How to Build a 7-Figure Recruiting Firm That Runs Without You — Inside the EOS System with Derek Pittak (Part 1: From Chaos to Clarity)

  • S1E275
  • 45:07
  • November 10th 2025

Recruiting is chaos—and few people know how to tame it better than Derek Pittak, CEO of Lingo Staffing and certified EOS Implementer.

Before joining the world of staffing, Derek worked inside the Department of Defense and a regional bank. Then one life-changing conversation pulled him into recruiting, where he went on to lead a $125 million portfolio of staffing brands and introduce EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to over 40 firms.

In this first part of our conversation, Derek unpacks how he made that leap, what EOS actually is, and why systems—not luck—separate scalable recruiting businesses from the rest.


🎯 2026 Sales and BD Recruiter Summit: https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/

🚀 Sponsorship: Atlas – AI-first ATS & CRM

Atlas combines your ATS and CRM in one AI-powered platform. It automates tagging and admin, syncs resumes and emails, and uses AI to create polished profiles and reports—so you can focus on relationships, not data entry. Centralized outreach, reporting, and analytics keep you fast and efficient.

Try it free or book a demo → https://recruitwithatlas.com


What You’ll Learn

  • Derek’s journey from the Pentagon to staffing leadership
  • The $5 million mistake that started his career in recruiting
  • How Talent Launch scaled to 10 brands using EOS
  • What an “accountability chart” really looks like inside a recruiting firm
  • Why every leader must find their zone of genius—and delegate the rest
  • How EOS exposes people issues before they destroy growth

Key Takeaways

✅ Structure beats chaos—EOS gives leaders a repeatable playbook

✅ The accountability chart reveals where people truly belong

✅ Leaders grow only when they let go

✅ EOS isn’t theory—it’s built for real-world recruiting operations

🎧 Listen Next

👉 Part 2: Derek Pittak dives into the practical tools—rocks, scorecards, vision, and process—to help your recruiting business run on EOS.

 

⚡ Sponsor


🎯 2026 Sales and BD Recruiter Summit: https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/

🚀 Sponsorship: Atlas – AI-first ATS & CRM

Atlas combines your ATS and CRM in one AI-powered platform. It automates tagging and admin, syncs resumes and emails, and uses AI to create polished profiles and reports—so you can focus on relationships, not data entry. Centralized outreach, reporting, and analytics keep you fast and efficient.

Try it free or book a demo → https://recruitwithatlas.com


Free Trial of PeopleGPT and its AI Agents: https://juicebox.ai/?via=b6912d

Free Trial of Pin: https://www.pin.com/

Signup for future emails from The Elite Recruiter Podcast: https://eliterecruiterpodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:

Part 1: https://youtu.be/ZFGHt-Xhniw

Part 2: https://youtu.be/WvdE_Fqi968

Follow Derek Pittak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-pittak-4b2ba86a/

With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/

Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/

The Elite Recruiter Podcast

The Elite Recruiter Podcast is the number one podcast for recruiting professionals.

This is where the top recruiters share: How they got there. What kind of work did it take. Tips, Tools, and Tricks. The Mindset needed to get them to where they are. What they are doing with their success. Goals and visions for the future. So please join me on this journey as I interview some of the best in our industry.

Benjamin Mena

The Elite Recruiter Podcast Host

https://www.eliterecruiterpodcast.com/

Meet the Hosts

Benjamin Mena avatar
Benjamin Mena
Host

Benjamin Mena is the founder of Select Source Solutions and the host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast — one of the top global podcasts for agency and executive recruiters. With over a decade of experience placing top talent in the government contracting (GovCon) and cleared space, Ben brings a no-BS approach to the business of recruiting.

Each week, he interviews high-performing recruiters, agency owners, and industry innovators to uncover the real stories behind their success. From six-figure solo producers to million-dollar billers and AI-powered solopreneurs, Ben’s mission is simple: help recruiters level up their careers and businesses through actionable insights, raw conversations, and a community of like-minded professionals.

Based between the U.S. and Bordeaux, France, Ben is also a dad, summit host, and advocate for the future of AI-powered recruiting.