Inside the Mind of a Recruiter: Interview with Ariane, Founder of Sourcing Unicorn

In the ever-evolving world of creative industries, where innovation meets artistry, the role of talent acquisition is more crucial than ever. Behind the scenes of some of the world’s most visionary studios is a select group of professionals—executive recruiters and headhunters—who don't just fill positions; they build legacies.?

At Sourcing Unicorns, we wanted to take a moment to dive deeper into the vision behind our company. Who better to give us that insight than our very own founder, Ariane Sautreuil ? As the driving force behind Sourcing Unicorns, she has carved out a unique niche, helping creative studios connect with top-tier, culturally aligned talent. In this in-house interview, we explore Ariane’s journey, her expertise in talent acquisition, and what makes Sourcing Unicorns a trusted partner for creative studios around the world.

The Journey from Creative Industries to Talent Recruitment

Q: You began your career in the art gallery scene and the creative industries. What inspired your transition into recruitment?

Ariane: "I don’t think I actively chose recruitment, but when I started working in headhunting, I recognised that many of my natural skills and my academic background were coming together. That synergy inspired me to continue. My passion for the creative industry never left me—it was simply reoriented toward finding the right people to push the boundaries of that industry forward."

Q: You've spent a significant time working with Moment Factory already, where your recruitment journey began. How did that experience shape your approach, and when did you know recruitment was the right path for you?

Ariane: "Moment Factory was a turning point for me. I fell in love with the content they produced and the organic nature of the industry, but what truly solidified my passion and captivated me was the people—talented individuals from all over the world, who were kind, open, and willing to engage, open to collaborating and recommend others. That’s when I realised that recruitment in this space felt like more than just a job; it was about building meaningful relationships that could impact the industry as a whole—it felt natural, enriching, and something I wanted to be a part of every day."

Q: What led you to found Sourcing Unicorns, and how has the company evolved since?

Ariane: "Back in 2016, being based in Europe, I couldn’t find the same culture & management style that Moment Factory had as one of the leading companies in the immersive and creative industry in Montreal in Canada. Remote work with them was the perfect first step for me and it went from there onwards. As I grew professionally, I wanted to share my love and passion for the industry, brainstorm and analyse the sector and create something special. Today, in Sourcing Unicorns with our current team, I’m more focused on strategic analysis, and we've built a horizontal, fully remote culture where I coach my colleagues, they teach me, and together we continuously keep structuring and improving our services. I’m in love with every aspect of this journey."

The Challenges and Triumphs of Creative Recruitment

Q: Recruitment in the creative industries is unique compared to other sectors. What sets this process apart?

Ariane: "The roles we fill are a mix of technical, strategic, and creative, which is why we’ve always worked closely with the hiring managers. It’s far from the traditional recruitment approach where agencies primarily interact with HR teams. We act more like an extension of the studio, collaborating directly with those who will be working alongside the new hire. We aim for a collaborative process with decision-makers to ensure the most precise and aligned recruitment and make sure we recruit the best cultural and professional fit."

Q: Starting your own recruitment agency must have come with challenges. What were some of the biggest setbacks, and how did you overcome them?

Ariane: "We face challenges every day, but we grow from them. Our approach is organic, and that means we learn together as a team—whether it’s about improving internal processes or refining how we communicate, or collaborating with clients. Challenges don’t feel like setbacks as long as we’re growing from them. We’ve been fortunate to work with studios that value long-term collaboration, which allows us to evolve alongside their teams. It’s all about continuous improvement and organic growth."

Q: How do you integrate seamlessly into the unique culture of the studios you work with?

Ariane: "Our communication is transparent, and we take the time to observe and fit where we’re needed. Each studio has its own culture, and even departments within the same studio may have their “subcultures”. We adapt our approach to integrate seamlessly into their environment, almost as though we were internal team members ourselves, ensuring collaboration and cultural fit as smoothly as an in-house colleague would."

Sourcing Unicorns’ Unique Approach

Q: Sourcing Unicorns is known for its collaborative approach, working closely with clients remotely since 2016. How has this virtual recruitment model influenced your processes, particularly when assessing candidates’ fit through body language and virtual communication?

Ariane: "The more closely we collaborate with a team, the better we understand their cultural fit and what kind of colleague they need. Virtual meetings can reveal a lot of insight into a person’s fit for the team if you know what to pay attention to. I’ve recruited talent remotely for years, including candidates who needed to relocate across continents to Montreal without ever meeting the client teams in person beforehand. It’s all about knowing what to look for and having open, honest communication. We rarely meet face-to-face, but the cultural alignment is still there because of how deeply we integrate with the teams we serve. I have almost seen none of my colleagues from the client side. Of course, I’d love to see them more. That said, I’d love to visit my colleagues in Montreal"

Q: How do you and your team stay up-to-date with the latest trends in talent acquisition, particularly in the fast-moving creative sector?

Ariane: "We’re always brainstorming, exchanging ideas, and researching trends. We don’t just follow trends—we challenge their relevance to see how well they fit our unique way of working. But more than recruitment trends, our sector changes even faster—new software, new types of experiential projects, and new markets are emerging constantly. The immersive sector is booming, and we have to keep pace and stay ahead of those shifts."

Human-Centered Recruitment

Q: How do you introduce your passion for recruitment in your team, and what qualities are essential for success as a headhunter in this industry?

Ariane: "Curiosity is key. The creative industry is always changing, so a headhunter needs to stay curious, informed, and adaptable. Being a people person is important —recruitment is all about connection with people. I believe I am bringing a lot of my passion for the industry to the team, but our collaborative approach means each one of us has their own unique interest and relationship with the industry, which is what makes us effective and contributing uniquely."

Q: Sourcing Unicorns emphasises cultural fit and long-term vision when selecting candidates. How do you ensure candidates not only have the necessary skills but align with the uniqueness of each studio you work with?

Ariane: "Our recruitment process is highly collaborative, both with the candidates and the clients. By working closely with a candidate throughout the process, we can gauge how well they’ll fit into the studio’s team. We know each part of the industry we source talent from and how it translates for the recruiting team. We’re also transparent with both sides, especially when transitioning talent from one sector to another. We also anticipate potential challenges, For example, someone moving from VFX to immersive content production will face different tools, team dynamics, and project timelines. We are transparent about these differences from the first interview, both with the candidate and the hiring team to ensure a smooth transition and any adaptations needed to accommodate it."

Q: In today’s competitive market, what makes certain talent irreplaceable? What do you look for in a creative portfolio that signals someone is a true ‘unicorn’?

Ariane: "It’s more than just technical skills or knowledge. May it be for their mindset, drive, technical problem-solving skills, or knowledge of the sector, every talent brings their own distinct approach and style. At the end of the day, we’re not just looking for someone who can do the job—we’re looking for the right person who can grow with the team and contribute to its evolution."

Building Strong Client and Candidate Relationships

Q: Building strong relationships is key in recruitment. How do you maintain trust with both clients and candidates and enhance your employer branding?

Ariane: "We take a broad approach when we meet candidates. We don’t just focus on the role we’re hiring for—we try to understand their ideal position, even if it’s not what we’re currently offering, we stay in touch until something perfect comes along. Clients trust us because we can identify when a candidate is the right fit and when they aren’t, even if they have great technical skills, we don’t just recommend candidates who fit the job—we recommend those who fit the team's long-term vision, especially when building new teams. For instance, if you’re looking for a manager who’s going to shape and build a new team, their technical skills won’t be enough, you need to find someone structured in a way that they will have the drive and the means to build that team properly."

Q: How do you maintain the trust of clients and candidates in your expertise? What makes Sourcing Unicorns a trusted partner of your clients and What sets it apart from other recruitment and headhunting agencies?

Ariane: "We are generalists in an ever-changing, complex industry. Our close relationships with clients and candidates, combined with our curiosity and humility, allow us to keep learning and adapting. We stay humble and ask the right questions, always curious and eager to keep learning about the sector."

Looking to the Future

Q: As the creative industry continues to evolve. How do you adapt your strategies, and what’s your vision for Sourcing Unicorns over the next 5 to 10 years?

Ariane: "We’re growing organically alongside the industry. I want to continue growing as a manager and ensure that our growth remains qualitative. We’ve started offering coaching services to HR teams in our clients’ studios, and recently, we’ve begun helping executives who want to grow in this industry and become consultants or rethink their career paths. I think now we are closer to talents and gaining more recognition, which makes talent management and coaching a natural next step for us. Everything is happening organically, and I’m excited for the future."

Conclusion

Sourcing Unicorns is more than a recruitment agency—it’s a trusted partner in building the creative teams of the future. We’ve asked Ariane “How do you describe Sourcing Unicorns in one sentence?” As a closing thought and as she puts it, “We’re the HR team for small creative studios and the headhunting specialists for larger ones.” The race for talent is fierce, but Sourcing Unicorns is committed to finding and nurturing the best, ensuring long-term success for both clients and candidates.