Kirby Roberts & Co.

By Terry L. Watson

Photos by Demese Black Photography

Any company or organization must first have adequate leadership and staffing to operate efficiently. An effective leader must possess a vision to build the company and communicate it. However, their vision only comes to life with a staff capable of executing it. That is where Stephanie Kirby and Takiyah Roberts go into action. They have combined their talents to form Kirby Roberts & Company.

Kirby Roberts & Company is a boutique staffing firm composed of Talent Advisors and Business Consultants. They offer recruiting and staffing expertise in Finance and Accounting, Engineering, Sales and Marketing. They also provide Business Consulting services to small and medium-sized growing companies in the pharmaceutical, medical, and manufacturing industries, and offer contract employment opportunities in various markets, including Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Miami, and the Washington D.C. area.

Kirby Roberts & Co. is a woman and minority-owned staffing and recruiting firm. Founded in 2013 in Houston, TX, the Kirby Roberts & Co. collaboration began when Takiyah and Stephanie decided to combine their business development strengths and passion for helping people achieve a bright future in career growth. Takiyah had served as Vice President for a specialty pharmaceutical company, and Stephanie Kirby served as Director of Client Relationships for a national recruiting firm. Stephanie is a native of Martinsville, VA. She received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Her degree focuses on critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, which are keys to success and longevity in the recruiting sector.

Raised in an entrepreneurial family setting, she learned early about the ins and outs of running a business. Her mother, Dale Cooper, is the owner of A little Bling by Dale (boutique jewelry store) in Las Vegas, NV. Her sister, Stacy Jones, the owner of ProValuations (real estate appraisal firm) in High Point, NC.

Stephanie is the managing partner of Kirby Roberts & Company and has over 14 years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry. “After years of substantial success, my strong sense of faith, passion for a fulfilling life, and desire to live out my dream of entrepreneurship inspired me to embark upon spearheading our company,” she says

Stephanie works on the company’s business development and manages the daily operations and growth strategies while supervising key staff to execute company directives and initiatives. Since 2006, she has worked directly with employer organizations, assisting with finding the best human solutions for their contract and direct hire/ permanent roles. Her experience also involves the delivery of consulting services to evaluate the challenging areas of accounting and finance. Stephanie says, “I provide strategic contract staff to meet specific project and internal goals.” Before the merge with Takiyah, Stephanie had possessed over 20 years of previous experience in various change management roles. She has worked in the Los Angeles and Houston markets with top-level customer service and in the mortgage industry. That is where she says she began to hone her skills to operate her own firm. Takiyah is a graduate of Spellman College. She is a mom and wife and has a passion for helping businesses find unique talent and retain it. She also develops business solutions that help companies increase their revenue and growth. She is a native of Baltimore, MD, and currently resides in the D.C. Metro-Washington area. How did it all happen for Kirby Roberts and Co.? “We are two very close girlfriends. The idea of building a company together happened in 2013 while we were catching up and having dinner. We were discussing things that we wanted for ourselves and our families,” says Stephanie. That dinner led to them creating a business that would eventually service hundreds of companies.

“Helping people thrive in their career to advance into a leadership role or to see a business experience growth is amazing. This is what makes this all worth it.”

“We talked about starting a business of our own,” Stephanie explained as she retold their dinner experience. They both realized their talents could be potentially amazing when combined. Takiyah was a magnet for building connections and partnerships, and Stephanie possessed the tools to enact their plan. “We figured we would make more impact if we collaborated our skill sets, and forming a joint company only made sense.”

Like most businesses, Kirby Roberts and Co. have experienced some challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic prevented the duo from incorporating many personal touches into their business, but they still persevered. Their clients needs changed, however it allowed them to explore new ways to develop and nurture their relationships.. If anything, the space apart made them stronger as entrepreneurs and professionals. Currently, they are developing new ways to attract talent in a virtual environment.

The impact of serving others genuinely fuels the fire for Stephanie and Takiyah. “Helping people thrive in their career to advance into a leadership role or to see a business experience growth is amazing. This is what makes this all worth it,” they said.

Stephanie and Takiyah share that being involved with their community is a key cornerstone for their business. This also includes collaborating with other small business owners. They are both strong supporters of the National Alumnae Associations for North Carolina Central University and Spelman College and support Change Happens, AHA, and The Houston Food Bank. Having a solid HBCU background, they have been able to help companies find diverse talent.

Kirby Roberts & Company current plan is to implement technology to meet the challenges of today market. In the near future, they are also planning upcoming webinars and events in quarter one of 2022.

To learn more about their company, please visit their website.