Today we’d like to introduce you to Katharine Rutherford.
Hi Katharine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Michigan, but we never stayed in one place for too long. My father was a rescue helicopter pilot and Commander in the Coast Guard, so our family moved constantly. I have lived all over the country, including being stationed in Kodiak, Alaska and Miami, Florida. Growing up that way taught me how to adapt quickly, read people, and stay calm under pressure. Change was normal, and you learned how to land on your feet.
My career started on the agency side, where I built and led business development and growth teams for marketing and creative firms. I worked across content marketing, experiential, digital, branding, and spent a short time in software. Being part of agency leadership meant pitching ideas, talent, and vision every day, which gave me a strong foundation in how businesses grow and what really drives results.
In October 2022, a conversation shifted my career path. I was chatting with Nancy Gamble, CEO of Hire Profile, when she asked, “You know I am hiring?” Recruiting immediately clicked. It brought together everything I had been building toward.
Today, I am Vice President of Client Success at Hire Profile, leading client strategy and full-cycle recruiting for marketing, creative, and digital roles from manager through C-suite. I manage a full desk and focus on building long-term partnerships rather than transactional searches.
In 2025, Katy Griggs and I launched Her Table Talks, an Atlanta-based community created to support executive women in the marketing and communications space. At this point in my career, success looks like growth, impact, and building real community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not even close. The industry has changed constantly, especially with the rise of digital, and agencies have had to evolve quickly. I have learned to pivot, stay scrappy, and keep moving forward, and that journey brought me to work I truly love. I would not change one OMG moment for an easier ride. My career path has made me who I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the core of what I do is connection. I specialize in helping marketing, creative, and digital leaders find the right opportunities, and helping companies find talent that can truly move the business forward. What has consistently kept me both employed and happy throughout my career is my network.
I am proud of the marketing and communications community here in Atlanta and excited about continuing to open doors in the Birmingham market. Recruiting, at its best, is about relationships, and at Hire Profile we take networking seriously. That focus has allowed us to thrive even when the market has been challenging for so many firms.
What I am most proud of is the role I get to play in connecting great people with meaningful opportunities. Being part of so many successful placements and long-term partnerships is incredibly rewarding. I am driven by growth, whether that is helping a client scale, supporting a candidate’s next chapter, or strengthening our communities.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is success, but success in my world is defined by people. It shows up in a client feeling confident in a new hire and in a candidate growing into a role that truly fits.
I recently spoke with a candidate 45 days into a new role. He shared how happy he was, talked through wins he was already seeing, and you could hear it in his voice. Those moments matter. Being part of our clients’ growth, coaching along the way, and bringing strategy, consulting, and relationships together is what makes the work meaningful to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hire-profile.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrutherford/
