In 2022, LatinBridge Founder Travis Snow was deployed to Bogotá to lead recruitment for a new USAID-funded initiative designed to expand access to financial services in rural and conflict-affected areas.
Preparation & Planning
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Designed a multi-phase recruitment plan to fill 30+ positions within 90 days.
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Posted targeted job ads and directly sourced senior candidates from Colombia’s private and public sectors, including economists, bankers, and government officials
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Coordinated with finance and operations teams to ensure payroll, HR, tax, and compliance systems were in place from day one
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Aligned recruitment strategy with project clients and stakeholders through regular briefings and planning meetings
Execution
During a two-week trip, Travis organized and conducted interviews for critical leadership and technical positions, including:
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Project Director & Deputy Director
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Senior Economists & Project Managers
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Finance & Operations Managers, Accountant, and HR Manager (to sustain ongoing growth)
Follow-Through & Impact
After the initial trip, Travis provided remote mentorship to the new HR Manager and successfully transitioned the team into second- and third-phase recruitment. The project was fully staffed and operational by the end of its first quarter.
Results
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30+ hires completed in the project’s first quarter
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Client feedback highlighted the accelerated launch compared to typical USAID projects, which often face delays in their first year
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Based on this success, Travis was entrusted with two additional project startups in Colombia (2023 and 2024), adding to a track record of seven successful startups across the U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, the Caribbean, and Africa
