UX Fika Podcast #6: Be Kaler Pilgrim on Recruitment, Empathy in Business, and Family
In this episode of the UX Fika Podcast, I sit down with Be Kaler Pilgrim, a pioneer in digital recruitment, co-founder of Futureheads Recruitment – one of the most trusted names in design and tech recruitment – and more recently the founder of the executive search firm Smithfield Search.
As someone who’s spent over 30 years at the intersection of technology and talent Be has helped shape countless careers, including mine. When we recorded this conversation in 2021, Be was still at the helm of Futureheads, navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic while helping companies and candidates adapt to a rapidly changing world.
We talk about how she accidentally fell into recruitment, studying Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka in her 20ies, setting up Futureheads in the teeth of the recession, and how recruitment and hiring has changed over the years.
Be also shares what it was like growing up as the youngest of 10 siblings in a traditional Punjabi household, how her father’s belief in education made such a difference, and what it was like becoming a mum later in life. We also talk about why honesty and empathy – real, practiced empathy – is at the heart of how she builds teams, relationships, and careers.
It’s a warm, reflective conversation about building a career by helping others find theirs, leading through change, and holding space for growth in all its forms.
Plus:
☕️ Why black oolong tea from New Aurelia in Sri Lanka and a samosa is her go to fika
🌟 Why you should talk about stuff, reach out to people, and have that inner dialogue with yourself
What we cover:
00:00 Intro & Navigating the Pandemic: Personal and Professional Challenges
02:23 Opening a New Office As The Pandemic Hit
05:26 Career Journey: From Studying To Become a Ayurvedic Doctor To Entrepreneurship
06:46 The Evolution of Recruitment in the Digital Age
08:59 Setting Up A Recruitment Business In The Teeth of Recession
09:49 Adapting to Change: The Impact of COVID-19 on Hiring Practices
14:04 Changes In How Companies Recruit
16:45 The Shift From Agencies To Client Side
18:34 Community Engagement and Purpose-Driven Initiatives
22:43 On Mental Health and Not Knowing What's Cooking In Somebody Else's Pot
29:14 Looking Ahead: Events and Conferences Post-Pandemic
32:27 Navigating Post-Lockdown Life
36:07 Reflections on Motherhood and Aging
37:05 The Evolving Landscape of Parenting
39:58 Support Systems in Parenting
41:29 Plans for Family Reunions and Staycations
45:02 Learning To Drive
45:40 Immigrant Stories, Family Legacy, and Big Families
49:56 Life Lessons and Personal Growth
51:45 Cultural Connections and Future Aspirations
Where you’ll find Be:
Where you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:
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