Samantha Miklos is the CEO and driving force behind Cornerstone Medical Recruitment. Formerly, an Australian trained Occupational Therapist, Sam is passionate about the healthcare sector and medical recruitment. Sam founded Cornerstone in 2012 and under her leadership the company has undergone rapid expansion, recruiting locum and permanent healthcare professionals across Australia. Sam firmly believes a happy medical workforce, means better health for us all. Her ultimate vision is to make an impact on the healthcare available in every Australian community through the provision of high-quality recruitment.
When did you start your business?
March 2012
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
I saw a gap in the market for a healthcare recruitment agency that offered both breadth and depth of terms of healthcare specializations.
What are you most excited about in your business?
That 11 years on we still have SOOOO much work to do. There are so many communities in Australia that need our help to provide exceptional healthcare staff
What has been the most challenging thing about starting your business?
Juggling 3 maternity leaves during years of fast growth. The third maternity leave was the most challenging, as it coincided with COVID and resulted in me returning to work full time to work through the challenges that COVID presented with 3 kids under 3 at home.
What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting a business?
Take the plunge! There is never a good time to start, but I can’t stress enough the importance of taking the time to plan before you get started but keeping agile.
Why did you enter the AusMumpreneur Awards?
I was excited to be part of the AusMumpreneaur community and connect with other women in business who I could learn from and build strong networks with.
What did you enjoy the most about being part of the awards?
Hearing about all the amazing businesses these women have created while raising a family.
What surprised you most about the awards?
To be honest I only thought you received a trophy as a winner. The prizes I have won are amazing and have taken me completely by surprise. The generosity in the community is beyond anything I could have anticipated.
How did the awards help you in your business?
There were some great takeaways from the conference speakers that we have already put into action. The impact some of the prizes like coaching and training sessions will have on our team will be significant. We are always looking to expand our team and the recognition from these awards has already assisted to generate more interest in terms of future talent for our teams.
What advice would you give to other mums thinking about entering the awards?
Don’t hesitate for a minute. You will not regret it and will enjoy every minute.
What has been the best thing about starting your own business?
Seeing the impact it has had on our team members professionally and personally, and the impact it has had on all the health services that our candidates have worked in over the last 11 years.
What’s happening next in your business?
We are going through another huge growth phase which means lots of new tech, new teams, and a whole lot of growing pains. But on the other side we will be ready to take on the next 10 years of business.
What are your big plans for the future?
I would love to expand to the UK – that is where my recruitment career began and I would love to be able to return their once again.
