Hey everyone, welcome back to The Unscripted Leader! In this episode, I sit down with Steven Rothberg, founder and chief visionary officer of College Recruiter, a powerhouse in matching over 12 million students and grads with great jobs. We dive into his wild ride from printing campus maps in 1991 to pivoting through dot-com bubbles, recessions, and tech revolutions—all while staying true to helping young talent launch amazing careers. Steven shares how EOS transformed his business, why he's a recovering lawyer turned entrepreneur, and the tough decisions that scaled his c...
Hey everyone, welcome back to The Unscripted Leader! In this episode, I sit down with Steven Rothberg, founder and chief visionary officer of College Recruiter, a powerhouse in matching over 12 million students and grads with great jobs. We dive into his wild ride from printing campus maps in 1991 to pivoting through dot-com bubbles, recessions, and tech revolutions—all while staying true to helping young talent launch amazing careers. Steven shares how EOS transformed his business, why he's a recovering lawyer turned entrepreneur, and the tough decisions that scaled his company. If you're a leader navigating change, building teams, or just love inspiring stories of grit and innovation in recruiting, this one's packed with insights. Hit play, subscribe, and let's connect—drop your thoughts in the comments!
Guest Introduction:
I'm excited to feature Steven Rothberg, founder and chief visionary at College Recruiter, where he pioneered matching employers with college talent. A recovering lawyer turned recruiting expert, Steven's 34-year venture has been spotlighted in outlets like CNN and The Wall Street Journal. As of 2025, he's still driving innovation, appearing on podcasts discussing 2025 recruiting trends and AI in job boards—perfect for our dive into entrepreneurial resilience.
Key Takeaways:
- Small starts spark big wins: Steven began with campus maps but embraced the internet pivot, building a recruiting powerhouse that's thriving into 2025.
- Survival through adaptation: Dumping print for digital pre-dot-com bust was clutch—lessons that echo in today's AI-shifting recruiting landscape.
- EOS for the win: Structuring with visionary and integrator roles brought clarity, especially post-'08 recession, and it's still powering teams today.
- Mission matters: Focusing on great careers for every student and easy hiring for employers keeps the business laser-sharp—don't veer off course.
- Build or buy evolves: License early for testing, but own core tech as you grow to cut risks, a strategy holding strong in 2025's market.
- Customer-driven growth: One key shift to performance pricing quadrupled results—aligning wins that fuel ongoing success in high-volume hiring.
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro
00:00:10 Guest Introduction and Background
00:03:02 Origins of College Recruiter: Maps to Magazines
00:06:03 Internet Pivot in the '90s
00:09:33 Dot-Com Bubble and Transitions
00:11:24 EOS Implementation and Roles
00:15:59 From Lawyer to Entrepreneur
00:20:07 Mission for Student Careers
00:22:27 Future Tech and Risk Management
00:25:59 Build vs. Buy Decisions
00:28:27 MVP and Feedback Loops
00:31:01 Upside-Downside Decision Making
00:35:16 Performance Pricing Scale
00:38:13 Closing and Contacts
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Steven Rothberg, The Unscripted Leader, college recruiting, entrepreneurial journey, EOS system, visionary leadership, dot-com bubble, college recruiter, job matching, recruiting technology 2025, AI in recruiting, business pivots, leadership lessons, student careers
