Finding a job you love shouldn’t give you the ick. But for many creatives, the traditional recruitment process feels outdated, impersonal, and pretty uninspiring. That’s what no sunday blues is here to change. Launched in February, the brand new recruitment agency is shaking up how talent and companies connect in adland.
Founded by Charlotte Flood, Steph Graham, and Mikhaila Warburton—who bring over 40 years of combined experience—it’s all about building real, honest connections that solve challenges and help people (re)love what they do. And if Mikhaila’s name sounds familiar, you might know her as the creator of industry WhatsApp group Less Than 10% FCK That!* and host of the Create Her Way podcast (both championing women in creative communications). Mavens has the full download. Let’s dive in.
What inspired you to launch no sunday blues, and how did you know it was the right time to leap?
CF: The three of us had worked together at our previous recruitment agency, and have years of dedicated sector expertise, and we just utterly clicked. You know when you align with people from a values, goals, trust, sense of humour and work ethic? Well that was Mik, Steph and I. Although we worked in different areas sector wise, we collaborated a lot, shared insights and intel, a lot of laughs and we genuinely wanted to help one another succeed.
We initially casually chatted mid 2024 about the potential of how things could work for us to all go out and start something very exciting together, and then it escalated from there and gathered momentum. As three females in the industry we really felt like we could make an impact in the world of recruitment, and in the creative space. We have heaps of experience and it was the right time in our personal lives too. It really excited all of us and the more we spoke about it the more we realised it was a perfect fit to do it together, we were all on the same page. Timing-wise we wanted to launch and make the impact after having a bit of time out at the back end of 2024, to focus on our families and ourselves, and then we could hit go on no sunday blues!
How do you divide responsibilities between the three of you as co-founders?
SG: We each work in our own verticals when it comes to recruitment. Myself managing Account Service, Marketing & Social Media, Charlotte PR & Communications and Mikhaila Creative & Design. The model allows us to fully service the recruitment requirements of a creative agency and in-house brands.
When it comes to admin, we share the load across finance and marketing. We have full trust in one another, so if one of us feels particularly inspired to jump on our social media account and create content, we do so. Communication is key for our business and we are constantly talking to each other throughout the day.
You emphasise a ‘no-BS approach’ to recruitment – what does that look like in practice?
MW: We’ve all had a hiring or recruitment experience that felt a little ick. You know the ones that felt rushed, fake, salesy. When we created no sunday blues, we were determined to do things differently—to build an agency that felt refreshing, honest, and human.
Our no-BS approach means we’re upfront, transparent, and genuinely invested in finding the right match—not just filling seats.
We tell it like it is—whether that’s helping talent identify skill gaps, sharpen their interview game, or guiding businesses on realistic salary expectations and employer reputation.
We advise clients on what it truly takes to attract and retain the best people because recruitment isn’t about quick wins—it’s about long-term success. And that’s exactly what we stand for.
no sunday blues is about ‘ditching the corporate stuffiness’ of traditional recruitment. What are the biggest industry norms you’re challenging to achieve this?
SG: Well let’s be honest… the recruitment industry doesn’t have the best reputation. A lot of people have experienced the transactional side of recruitment. Feeling like they’re just a number as a candidate and if they don’t serve a purpose to the Recruiters financial motivations, they’re forgotten. Likewise as a client – they’ve experienced recruiters who don’t take the time to fully understand their business and get to know them on a personal level. It’s feels all about targets and quick wins, which results in an underwhelming experience for all parties.
We want to challenge this by bringing our authentic selves to the process. We genuinely love to help people, it’s what motivates us and we’re consultative and curious by nature.
We want to take the time to really understand our clients and candidates and match them with like-minded people. We advocate for both sides and bring a human approach. After all, your career is such a personal thing - so we want to support people in this process. Why be corporate and stuffy? We work in the creative industry - let’s have fun and be genuine!
What’s your best career advice for women who feel stuck in a role that doesn’t support or excite them?
MW: Stop waiting—start doing! Too often, I see women hold themselves back, convinced they need to tick every box on a job description or find the perfect role before making a move. They overthink their personal brand, family commitments, or whether they’re “ready.” But guess what? Growth happens when you take action. I mean jesus look at us three? We felt this way and we’ve taken a total gamble on ourselves and we are determined to make it work.
For others, maybe that means speaking up at work and asking for the support you need. Maybe it’s reaching out to your network for introductions, refining your personal brand to get noticed, or embracing a new challenge—whether that’s a step up, a pivot, or further training.
Stop waiting—start doing!
My advice? Get clear on what’s missing—mentorship, creativity, flexibility, salary, career progression—and take small but intentional steps toward change. Connect with people in roles that inspire you. Join my (Mikhaila’s) Less Than 10%—Fuck That group for female creatives —get a mentor through Assisterhood. Update your LinkedIn and get visible. Network like crazy. Get a recruitment expert from us here at no sunday blues to help you. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to put yourself forward for something that pushes you outside your comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens.
What advice do you have for agencies, studios and organisations when it comes to their people?
SG: Check in regularly with your people. Listen to them. Your people are the heart of your business. The most common thing that candidates are looking for in a role is to have trust and feel supported by their workplace. Taking the time to listen to your team and acting on their ideas is a great way to build trust - it makes people feel valued and boosts their job satisfaction. Whether it’s goal setting, career progression or workplace culture, keep the conversations flowing!
Flexible and remote work can be a divisive topic. What’s your stance, and what are companies getting right (or wrong!) about it?
CF: We speak to candidates and employers day in, day out, so we know that many employees value the autonomy and work-life balance that remote work offers. However, quite a few companies are now mandating a return to the office. We’ve seen this more commonly across the larger global agencies and larger corporate businesses, with their stance being that it aims to enhance collaboration, culture and productivity.
What’s our stance on this? We do often find it much harder to recruit roles that are four or more days based in the office, and we will always feed this back to our clients. The fact is that most people do want (and need!) a flexible work environment. Businesses run the risk of losing good people or creating a culture that’s hard to nurture back if they change the hybrid set up too much or without the right consultation.
Companies that get it right, we see focus on outcomes rather than hours. Invest in their communication systems, their culture and ensure equal opportunities for career growth regardless of their employees location. The companies that get it wrong often resist flexibility due to outdated management styles or fail to provide the right tools and policies to make remote work effective.
What’s your ultimate vision for no sunday blues’ future?
At no sunday blues, we’re about more than just recruitment—we want to change how people feel about work. Our goal is to become a brand people know and trust, one that stands for real change in the industry.
We’re building a community where professionals and businesses come together—whether online or in person—to tackle the tough stuff. We’re talking about real problems like increasing diversity in hiring, getting more women into leadership, closing the pay gap, supporting parents returning to work, creating more part-time or job-share opportunities, stamping out ageism both with those staring or advancing in their careers.
Someone recently said, “This (no sunday blues) feels like what the industry truly needs right now,” and that tells us we’re on the right path. We’re here to make work—and our industry—better for everyone.
We’re just getting started, and we’re pumped for what’s next.
Discover what makes no sunday blues different by visiting www.nosundayblues.com.au and follow the journey on Instagram and LinkedIn. Because life’s too short for mediocre Mondays.