Kirstin Purcell
Kirstin Purcell delivers more than inspiration — she delivers implementation.
Clear leadership focus and strategic direction Practical hiring and retention tools Proven behavioral interviewing techniques A framework to build stronger, high-performing teams
Kirstin Purcell is a dynamic speaker, trusted recruiter, and bold talent strategist who helps organizations build teams that drive measurable growth. As the Founder of Handshake in Heels, she partners with companies to attract, hire, and retain top-tier talent while aligning leadership, culture, and business strategy.
With a career rooted in both agency staffing and corporate leadership, Kirstin brings a rare dual-lens perspective to talent acquisition. She began her career in the staffing industry before stepping into corporate recruitment and executive leadership roles within global organizations. That experience shaped her approach: hiring is not transactional — it is strategic. Every role impacts revenue, culture, operations, and long-term scalability.
Through Handshake in Heels, Kirstin provides:
- Executive & professional direct-hire recruitment
- Fractional Talent Acquisition leadership
- Workforce planning & talent strategy consulting
- Behavioral interviewing training
- Leadership development workshops
She is known for helping companies identify and secure “top 1% hires” — individuals who elevate performance, strengthen culture, and create momentum across teams.
Kirstin is the Co-Host of Live2Lead FXBG, bringing world-class leadership content to the Fredericksburg, Virginia region. Her speaking style blends authenticity, resilience, and practical strategy. She shares real-world lessons on leadership, reinvention, and building something meaningful — both personally and professionally.
Her keynote topics often include:
- The Y-O-U Leadership Formula (Your One Thing, Obsessed with Growth, Ultimate End Goal)
- Culture Add vs. Culture Fit
- Hiring for Impact, Not Just Skill
- From Setback to Strategy: Turning Adversity into Opportunity
- Behavioral Interviewing That Actually Works
Audiences describe her as energetic, relatable, and results-driven — someone who doesn’t just inspire but equips leaders with tools they can immediately implement.
Kirstin launched Handshake in Heels with a mission to elevate how organizations think about talent. She believes businesses don’t fail because of lack of ideas — they struggle because of misaligned leadership and hiring mistakes that cost time, money, and momentum.
Her work spans industries including professional services, healthcare, med-spa, transportation, and corporate enterprise environments. She is especially passionate about helping growing organizations scale intentionally, strengthen retention, and create leadership pipelines that sustain long-term success.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief:
When you elevate your leadership, you elevate your team. When you elevate your team, you elevate your results.
Kirstin is a devoted wife and mother of two who openly shares her journey of entrepreneurship, resilience, and reinvention. After experiencing a corporate layoff, she doubled down on her calling — building a business that not only serves companies but strengthens her community.
She is deeply committed to:
- Developing emerging leaders
- Supporting local business growth
- Helping professionals transition and thrive
- Leaving a legacy for her family and the next generation
Strengths:
- Revenue-Driven Hiring Frameworks
- Strategic Talent Alignment
- Executive Presence & Stage Leadership
- Culture & Retention Strategy
- Entrepreneurial Vision
Kirstin Purcell is a dynamic speaker, trusted recruiter, and bold talent strategist who helps organizations build teams that drive measurable growth. As the Founder of Handshake in Heels, she partners with companies to attract, hire, and retain top-tier talent while aligning leadership, culture, and business strategy.
With a career rooted in both agency staffing and corporate leadership, Kirstin brings a rare dual-lens perspective to talent acquisition. She began her career in the staffing industry before stepping into corporate recruitment and executive leadership roles within global organizations. That experience shaped her approach: hiring is not transactional — it is strategic. Every role impacts revenue, culture, operations, and long-term scalability.
Through Handshake in Heels, Kirstin provides:
- Executive & professional direct-hire recruitment
- Fractional Talent Acquisition leadership
- Workforce planning & talent strategy consulting
- Behavioral interviewing training
- Leadership development workshops
She is known for helping companies identify and secure “top 1% hires” — individuals who elevate performance, strengthen culture, and create momentum across teams.
Kirstin is the Co-Host of Live2Lead FXBG, bringing world-class leadership content to the Fredericksburg, Virginia region. Her speaking style blends authenticity, resilience, and practical strategy. She shares real-world lessons on leadership, reinvention, and building something meaningful — both personally and professionally.
Her keynote topics often include:
- The Y-O-U Leadership Formula (Your One Thing, Obsessed with Growth, Ultimate End Goal)
- Culture Add vs. Culture Fit
- Hiring for Impact, Not Just Skill
- From Setback to Strategy: Turning Adversity into Opportunity
- Behavioral Interviewing That Actually Works
Audiences describe her as energetic, relatable, and results-driven — someone who doesn’t just inspire but equips leaders with tools they can immediately implement.
Kirstin launched Handshake in Heels with a mission to elevate how organizations think about talent. She believes businesses don’t fail because of lack of ideas — they struggle because of misaligned leadership and hiring mistakes that cost time, money, and momentum.
Her work spans industries including professional services, healthcare, med-spa, transportation, and corporate enterprise environments. She is especially passionate about helping growing organizations scale intentionally, strengthen retention, and create leadership pipelines that sustain long-term success.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief:
When you elevate your leadership, you elevate your team. When you elevate your team, you elevate your results.
Kirstin is a devoted wife and mother of two who openly shares her journey of entrepreneurship, resilience, and reinvention. After experiencing a corporate layoff, she doubled down on her calling — building a business that not only serves companies but strengthens her community.
She is deeply committed to:
- Developing emerging leaders
- Supporting local business growth
- Helping professionals transition and thrive
- Leaving a legacy for her family and the next generation
Strengths:
- Revenue-Driven Hiring Frameworks
- Strategic Talent Alignment
- Executive Presence & Stage Leadership
- Culture & Retention Strategy
- Entrepreneurial Vision
Hiring Framework
45-Minute Keynote:
This program is perfect for:
• Executive leaders and business owners
• HR leaders and people managers navigating growth or turnover
The audience will leave with:
• A strategic framework for hiring and leading with intention
• Clear action steps to elevate culture and performance immediately
This keynote challenges leaders to rethink how they approach talent....
Behavioral Interviewing 101
90-Minute Interactive Workshop
This program is perfect for:
• Hiring managers and department heads
• Organizations struggling with retention or inconsistent performance
The audience will leave with:
• A plug-and-play behavioral interviewing framework
• Tools to identify and secure top 1% hires
This hands-on session equips participants with practical recruiting tools they can implement immediately. Kirstin...
Leadership starts with Y-O-U
Half-Day Leadership Intensive
This program is perfect for:
• Emerging leaders preparing for expanded responsibility
• Organizations building internal leadership pipelines
The audience will leave with:
• A clear personal leadership roadmap (Y-O-U framework)
• Practical strategies to grow influence, accountability, and team engagement
This immersive session focuses on leadership identity and execution. Using...
