Exclusive: Outsized's Sarah Kahlau on ANZ's flexible talent solutions

Sarah Kahlau, Managing Director of Outsized in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) is driving the company's expansion into what continues to be a thriving region.

Outsized, an on-demand talent company, operates globally, partnering exclusively with consulting firms and large enterprises to curate flexible talent solutions.

Kahlau brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked in consulting and various industry roles, including Chief Customer Officer in insurance and a growth role at Griffith Hack.

With only six weeks in her current role, Kahlau's transition has been seamless, aided by her belief in Outsized's value proposition.

"Outsized has a phenomenal global team passionate about doing right for both talent and clients," she said. "The company's human-first approach stands out in the talent space, where the focus often skews towards clients, sometimes at the expense of talent."

Outsized's decision to expand into ANZ is partly due to Kahlau's long-term residency in Australia and the success Outsized has seen in Southeast Asia.

"For Outsized, it made sense to move into ANZ, building on the success in Southeast Asia, which has been our highest-growing region," Kahlau explained.

In her role as Managing Director, Kahlau's immediate priorities are clear: "It's to build a talent community on one side, meeting with very strong independent professionals, and on the other side, meeting with potential and existing clients to understand their needs in this region."

Globally, Outsized boasts a team of around 70 individuals.

In ANZ, Kahlau is currently the sole representative, but expansion plans are in place. "We will be hiring in this region very shortly, especially on the client-facing and talent-facing side," she said.

Outsized, established in 2016, has a strong track record and works with major global consulting firms and enterprises.

The company's approach differs significantly from traditional recruitment models.

"We're not trying to place people into permanent roles," Kahlau explained. "Our intention is to work with independent professionals who want the variety of organisations and projects, rather than filling a role that's part of the in-house capability."

The company is already speaking to candidates in the ANZ region, with plans to extend the team this year. Outsized's human-first approach sets it apart from the competition.

"We put a lot of investment into building a community, offering access to opportunities, a community portal, learning resources, and perks," she added.

On the client side, Outsized focuses on larger organisations, allowing for a more targeted and deeper engagement.

"We meet with clients, scope their projects together, and curate a solution specifically for that," she added. "This personalised service is a significant departure from the more transactional nature of traditional recruitment platforms."

Innovations are continuously being introduced to enhance user experience, with one notable recent addition being the virtual bench.

"It allows clients to see their entire virtual workforce and tap into the talent they need without bearing the cost for a full-time bench," said noted.

This solution has resonated strongly, especially with consulting firms and corporates needing specialised capabilities on an ongoing basis.

The demand for flexible, independent talent solutions is growing rapidly in ANZ, driven by challenges in accessing in-demand skills and the need for cost-efficient, agile talent solutions. "We struggle to get access to strong talent because of our geographical and time zone separation from the rest of the world," Kahlau observed.

"Flexible talent solutions provide a way to address these challenges, allowing companies to remain competitive without the slow and costly process of building permanent teams."

Outsized's approach is tailored to address the critical skills shortage in ANZ. "We're going deeper into select areas to find highly specialized talent and onboarding them into our network," Kahlau explained. "This targeted approach ensures that Outsized can meet the specific needs of its clients, even in areas where talent is scarce."

Kahlau also highlighted the company's differentiation from competitors.

"Our human-first approach is a key differentiator," she said. "We're building a talent community with specialised skills, and our virtual bench is unique in providing ongoing access to in-demand talent."

With Kahlau's ambition and drive, Outsized is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the ANZ region - offering a flexible and human-centric approach to talent solutions that aligns with the future of work.