Jen Gurvey
Jen Gurvey here.
Hi ya’ll
I'm a marketer-turned-recruiter with a diverse industry background. Most recently, at SwingSearch, I partnered with leaders at VC-backed startups (seed to Series D) to build high-performing teams.
But my skillset extends beyond recruiting! I'm equally passionate about marketing and event planning (retreats, SKOs, off-sites), and anything that requires creativity and project management.
Let’s just say I bring a lot to the table and can bring significant value to your Talent/HR or marketing team – offering the expertise of multiple roles for the cost of one. Maybe we should talk?
The Backstory
I have 15+ years of experience under my belt, and guess what I love most? Connecting people. Whether it’s in a recruiting capacity helping a founder find the perfect next hire, or bringing experiences to life through events, bringing people together is what brings me the most satisfaction and joy.
My journey began at the CA School for the Deaf, where I leveraged my sign language skills to interpret for children in classrooms, and around the school. This experience fostered my love of connection, leading me to volunteer for CUESA at the SF Ferry Building. There, I established valuable relationships with local farmers and purveyors and got into Product Development at Williams-Sonoma. Leveraging my marketing expertise, I transitioned to managing marketing for a national restaurant group with a robust portfolio. After achieving success, I felt the entrepreneurial itch. I founded a consultancy that provided outsourced marketing expertise to a wide range of retail, B2C, and CPG clients. This venture allowed me to empower businesses with strategic marketing solutions and gain valuable experience across different client needs.
Utilizing my marketing background, I got into Recruiting, connecting and consulting Bay Area startups with the top marketing talent they need to build winning go-to-market teams. A natural connector, I thrive on partnering with clients of all sizes and helping their companies scale.
My multi-faceted background fuels my passion for witnessing the growth of people, ideas, and communities. I’m excited to connect so we can go on this journey together.
Services
01
Recruiting
Forget the stereotype – I'm a recruiter with a twist. My background in counseling and marketing, combined with years of navigating the Bay Area startup scene, gives me a leg up. Having worked most recently in retained search, I’m excited to see what’s next. Open to FT, PT and Fractional opportunities.
02
Marketing
How are you showing up in the world? Building brand awareness, developing trust and loyalty with your customers, creating consistency, and differentiating yourself from the competition gives you a leg up. I’m happy to provide an audit to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward to win deals, customers and new eyes.
03
Event + Retreat Planning
I help turn a vision into reality. Whether it’s a company off-site, activation or immersive experience, conference or art retreat, I get excited by bringing the story to life. From scouting locations to managing logistics, I handle it all, from start to finish.
04
CREATIVE SERVICES
Your brand has a story but you don’t know how to bring it to life? This my friend if my passion! Whether it’s something visual like a campaign or a video you want produced, I’m your gal. No idea is too small or too big. I will come come up with concepts, help strategize and come up with a plan and then execute. Just wait, the best is yet to come!
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sample PLacements
Recruiting
Accomplished Talent Acquisition Leader with 10+ years' experience scaling early-stage, VC-backed SaaS startups (5-4,000+ employees, $1M-$100M+ valuations). Proven track record of building high-performing leadership teams across Marketing, Growth, Sales, Customer Success, Product, and G&A.
Strategic Partner and Relationship Builder: Collaborate seamlessly with talent acquisition and hiring teams while nurturing strong relationships with a diverse candidate network. Leverage deep industry expertise to contribute to cross-functional projects and initiatives.
Leadership Development and Succession Planning: Partner with leadership to design optimal team structures, foster internal mobility, and implement effective succession planning strategies.
Future-Focused Talent Acquisition: Identify and attract top talent aligned with your company's product vision and growth objectives, proactively building a pipeline of exceptional leaders.
Results-Driven: Proven ability to deliver results and exceed expectations in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Time to Close (Days)
*Shortest time to fill a VP of Marketing was 3 weeks
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MARKETING
For me, marketing isn't about a single channel – it's about the powerful culmination of how they all work together. I thrive on crafting a cohesive brand message that resonates across all platforms, like a maestro leading an orchestra.
I see the big picture and work backwards. What is the ultimate goal and result you want? I use data-driven insights to inform branding and marketing strategies and will create a comprehensive plan that is attainable and realistic for your target audience.
Forget fancy colors and flashy designs – your true brand identity lies in your reputation (although I do like nice logos). Today, the key to building that reputation is online, and the cornerstone is content.
Content builds trust. It establishes you as an expert, a thought leader, and a reliable source of information. Through informative articles, engaging podcasts, and insightful social media posts, you cultivate an audience that believes in you and your brand.
This is brand building in the digital age. It's not about aesthetics, it's about establishing a meaningful connection. So, let me help you start creating content that resonates with your audience and watch your brand soar.
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Event + Retreat Planning
Company Events
From developing a comprehensive event strategy to bringing a vision to life, I love events of all kinds. Once I understand the company's overall marketing goals and brand objectives, I create innovative and engaging events that capture the essence of your brand that resonates with your audience.
I can manage the event solo or collaborate with internal and external teams to develop compelling content, programming and guidelines including off-sites, meetings, SKOs, roadshows, trade shows, and more.
Art Retreats
When I offered to help Adele Sypesteyn plan her first retreat in 2023, I knew I was hooked. I love handling all the logistics of retreat planning - from site selection to food planning and set up. I come alive when I have the opportunity to bring my vision to life.
So if you’re an artist who enjoys teaching but doesn’t want to handle “all the stuff,” I’m your gal. Let’s talk so you an and your students will have the chance to deepen your connection to your truest self, far from the routines of daily life.
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In today's competitive landscape, standing out is crucial. I’m here to help individuals and brands craft impactful stories and experiences. Leveraging my expertise in creating all brand assets, I’ll collaborate with you to develop a strategic creative approach that drives results. Let's unlock your brand's full potential, together!
creative services
I was tasked to create a commercial quality video to present at CES showing the breadth of our products embedded in a BMW. I owned all aspects of production - from script writing with film company to site location to hiring and coordinating actors, staff, etc. We knocked it out of the park within 45 days and under budget.
SmartThings + BMW
SmartThings Extend
Commercial here
The commercial showcased the comprehensive functionality of our product. Our goal was to demonstrate various features of a smart home powered by our latest product, The SmartThings Extend. Shot in multiple locations, I oversaw a team of 20+ individuals and managed all production aspects (budgeting, hiring, scheduling, script writing, etc).
Tabletop Tablets
Everyone experiences their firsts, and this was mine – creating an actual commercial! The aim was to showcase the capabilities of our integrated table top tablet. As the Head of Marketing, I oversaw every stage of this project from conception to completion, including pre-production and post-production.
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Word of Mouth
There's a truth I've always believed in: good people attract good people. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with some incredible people who've shaped my path. I'm excited for you to meet a few.
SARA BARKER
“Jen and I were like two peas in a pod - we had creative kismet every time we worked on a project together.”
MARKETING
DILEEPAN SIVA
“Jen has been great to work with over the last few years. She’s helped me hire some key roles at my company and I would undoubtedly work with her again.”
RECRUITING
ADELE SYPESTEYN
“After doing a few retreats with Jen, I wouldn’t even consider doing one without her. Her attention to detail is like none other, and every attendee felt so taken care of.”
RETREAT PLANNING
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