Standy Collins
Head of Consulting @ Botsford Associates
Standy Collins builds authority in tech recruitment and enterprise software hiring by mixing personal career milestones with company announcements, posting 4.9x per week with surgical consistency. His signature move is the vulnerable career transition post that generates 10x baseline engagement by leading with a specific number and emotional honesty rather than corporate polish.
4.9/wk
64 posts in 30d
69
avg per post
7%
comments / total
3%
reposts / total
event announcement
Wed · 12 PM CET
Voice & tone
Standy writes like a seasoned operator who's earned the right to be direct. He's warm but unsentimental, mixing gratitude with specificity (naming people, companies, numbers). When he says 'After 20 years across 2 stints at First Derivative, FD Technologies, and KX, it's time for me to move on,' he's not humble-bragging. He's anchoring credibility so the emotional payoff lands harder. Readers should adopt this: lead with proof, then earn the right to be personal.
Signature phrases
- “After 20 years across 2 stints at [company names]”
- “I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as [title] at [company]”
- “Witam Polsko! We're excited to announce”
- “Many thanks to our organisers, and great to see so many of you”
- “Get in touch if you would like to know more”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
After 20 years across 2 stints at First Derivative, FD Technologies, and KX, it's time for me to move on. I joined FD when we were just 30 people, in the aftermath of the dot-com bust, and had the time of my life as we scaled a global capital markets consulting business, created a variety of innovative service offerings, built world-class software, and integrated strategic acquisitions. Under the leadership of the late, great Brian Conlon, FD was always a people-centric business. He was so genuine in his connections with everyone that it created an environment where people made lasting friendships, and more. I have had so many friends, colleagues, mentors and people who have helped and inspired me. There are too many to mention, but you know who you are, and I want to thank you for all your support along the way. I look forward to seeing you again on the Alumni network. I was fortunate to experience career highlights across a lot of different areas, from building quant analytics libraries for high frequency trading to running complex OTC Derivative risk management scenarios through the 2008 financial crisis, to deploying a global SaaS eFX trading platform and more recently delivering commercial success for our consulting business in Canada and Europe. As I look forward to my next chapter, I hope it will be as much fun and as successful as this one.
The hook opens with a specific number (20 years) and a structural detail (2 stints) that immediately establishes tenure and credibility. The phrase 'it's time for me to move on' is understated but signals a major life moment, creating curiosity and emotional resonance. This combination of specificity plus vulnerability stops the scroll because readers want to know why someone with that much history is leaving.
The post is built as a narrative arc: (1) The transition statement, (2) Origin story at FD (30 people, post-dot-com), (3) Emotional gratitude to leadership (Brian Conlon), (4) Specific career highlights (quant analytics, 2008 crisis, SaaS eFX), (5) Acknowledgment of relationships. It reads like a farewell letter, not a job announcement.
- Specific number anchoring (20 years, 30 people, 2008 financial crisis) to build credibility
- Named leadership (Brian Conlon) to humanize the company and create emotional stakes
- Concrete technical examples (quant analytics libraries, OTC Derivative risk management) to prove depth without jargon
- Gratitude as a closing device ('you know who you are') that makes readers feel seen
The post ends with 'I look forward to seeing you again on the Alumni network,' which is soft but creates a sense of ongoing community. It doesn't ask for anything, which paradoxically drives comments because people feel invited to congratulate and ask follow-up questions.
When announcing a major career move, lead with tenure and specificity, then earn the right to be emotional by naming people and concrete achievements. The vulnerability drives engagement more than the promotion itself.
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Managing Director, Global Head of Professional Services at Botsford Associates!
The hook is a simple declarative sentence with the word 'happy' front-loaded. 'I'm happy to share' signals genuine emotion and removes corporate distance. The title (Managing Director, Global Head of Professional Services) and company name (Botsford Associates) are clear and specific. The exclamation point is crucial. It's not a question or a hedge. It's a statement of fact delivered with warmth.
This is a micro-post (under 30 words in the hook). The entire post is the announcement itself. There's no additional context, no story, no call-to-action. The brevity forces readers to fill in the gaps with their own curiosity, which drives comments asking for details.
- Emotional word choice ('happy') to humanize the announcement
- Title clarity (Managing Director, Global Head) to signal seniority and scope
- Exclamation point for genuine enthusiasm, not corporate cheerleading
- Company name prominence to anchor credibility
There is no explicit CTA. The post ends with the company name and exclamation point. The lack of 'reach out' or 'let's connect' actually increases engagement because people feel compelled to comment with congratulations.
Sometimes the shortest announcement generates the most engagement. Remove the explanation and let the news speak. People will ask follow-up questions in the comments, which boosts the conversation index.
Witam Polsko! We’re excited to announce the opening of a new office in Łódź, in response to significant customer demand. Our dedicated team will be well positioned to empower our clients with data-driven solutions to complex business challenges. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Oq…
The hook opens with a localized greeting in Polish ('Witam Polsko!') which immediately signals cultural respect and geographic specificity. This is not a generic expansion announcement. It's a moment of celebration for a specific market. The phrase 'We're excited to announce' is warm but the real hook is the local language, which creates novelty and signals insider knowledge.
The post is structured as: (1) Localized greeting, (2) Announcement of expansion, (3) Business rationale (customer demand), (4) Value proposition (data-driven solutions), (5) Link to full story. It's a teaser structure designed to drive clicks and reposts.
- Local language greeting to create cultural specificity and respect
- Business rationale ('in response to significant customer demand') to frame growth as market-driven
- Vague value proposition ('data-driven solutions to complex business challenges') that invites deeper reading
- Link placement at the end to drive traffic without being pushy
The post ends with 'Read more here: [link]' which is a soft CTA. It doesn't demand action but invites it. The link is shortened, which suggests a professional resource rather than a sales pitch.
When announcing expansion or growth, lead with local specificity (language, geography, culture) and frame the move as customer-driven, not company-driven. This positions growth as responsive rather than aggressive.
What drives their engagement
Career transitions and personal announcements drive the highest comment volume (132 comments on post 1, 114 on post 2). People comment to congratulate, ask follow-up questions, or share their own stories. The vulnerability in 'After 20 years' and 'I'm happy to share' invites personal responses rather than generic reactions.
Expansion announcements and event recaps drive reposts (56 reposts on post 3, which is 18% of total engagement). These posts have external value for employees, partners, and customers who want to share the news. Posts about the company, not the individual, perform better for repost rate.
Low. Standy's posts are optimized for reach and comments, not for reference value. There are no frameworks, lists, or how-tos that readers would save for later. The engagement is driven by timeliness and emotional resonance, not educational utility.
Content pillars
Career Transitions & Milestones
28%Personal announcements of new roles, company moves, or career reflections that anchor credibility through specific tenure and emotional gratitude.
Company Announcements & Expansion
22%Office openings, new initiatives, and organizational growth tied to customer demand and market positioning.
Event Recaps & Community
18%Reflections on conferences, social gatherings, and industry events that celebrate people and partnerships.
Product & Innovation Updates
18%Technical achievements, platform launches, and collaborative work with partners like Microsoft Azure.
Hiring & Recruitment
14%Direct job openings and talent acquisition calls positioned as growth opportunities.
Hook patterns
Tenure + Transition
[Specific number] years across [number] stints at [company names], it's time for me to [action]
“After 20 years across 2 stints at First Derivative, FD Technologies, and KX, it's time for me to move on.”
→ The specificity of 20 years and 2 stints creates credibility, while 'time for me to move on' signals vulnerability and forward momentum that invites comments.
Role Announcement + Emotion
I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as [title] at [company]
“I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Managing Director, Global Head of Professional Services at Botsford Associates!”
→ The word 'happy' humanizes the announcement and the exclamation point signals genuine excitement, triggering congratulatory engagement.
Localized Greeting + Expansion News
[Local language greeting]! We're excited to announce the opening of a new office in [location], in response to [business driver].
“Witam Polsko! We're excited to announce the opening of a new office in Łódź, in response to significant customer demand.”
→ The local language creates cultural specificity and signals respect, while 'in response to customer demand' frames growth as market-driven not vanity-driven.
Event Gratitude + Observation
Excellent [event type] at [company/location]. Many thanks to [stakeholders], and great to see so many of you [action].
“Excellent night at the First Derivative Toronto Summer Social. Many thanks to our organisers, and great to see so many of you out together.”
→ Gratitude is specific and public, which builds community goodwill and encourages event organizers and attendees to engage.
Keynote + Partnership Bridge
Enjoying the [event type] from [speaker] at [event] along with partners from [companies]. [Collaborative work statement].
“Enjoying the Keynote speech from KX CEO Ashok Reddy at the KX Live event last night along with partners from Microsoft Azure and Alpine F1.”
→ Name-dropping credible partners and executives creates FOMO and signals insider access without sounding boastful.
Top-performing hooks
“After 20 years across 2 stints at First Derivative, FD Technologies, and KX, it's time for me to move on.”
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Managing Director, Global Head of Professional Services at Botsford Associates!”
“Witam Polsko! We’re excited to announce the opening of a new office in Łódź, in response to significant customer demand. Our dedicated team will be well positioned to empower our clients with data-driven solutions to complex business challenges. Read”
“Excellent night at the First Derivative Toronto Summer Social. Many thanks to our organisers, and great to see so many of you out together.”
“Enjoying the Keynote speech from KX CEO Ashok Reddy at the KX Live event last night along with partners from Microsoft Azure and Alpine F1.”
“Flying the flag for Botsford Associates at the CDM conference in London today along with Dmitri Chernomurov”
→ Combines credibility through event participation and industry organization affiliations with forward-looking market analysis that positions the author as an informed insider tracking emerging trends i
“Ready for KX’s KXCON23 with our First Derivative team, Vlad Gellershteyn Jennifer Fitzpatrick Leo Quigley. Looking forward to learning all about the innovations on AWS, Python, AI and the Data Timehouse.”
“Enjoying the Raptors last night with some of my First Derivatives and Kx - a division of First Derivatives plc colleagues, and my son.”
“Many thanks to Donal Keane, Andrew Colhoun, Kevin McGuinness and Nicola Banerji for joining Ralph Debbas and I and our local leadership in hosting a wonderful Client Appreciation event in Toronto this week. It was great to have a strong turn out fro”
“What an incredible job our First Derivative Toronto crew did at 5K Foam Fest!”
What works
- Specific tenure anchoring drives 10x engagement. Post 1 opens with '20 years across 2 stints' and generates 783 engagement. The specificity creates credibility that makes the emotional payoff land harder.
- Micro announcements with exclamation points outperform long-form. Post 2 is under 30 words with an exclamation point and generates 692 engagement. The brevity forces readers to fill in gaps with curiosity.
- Localized greetings create novelty and cultural respect. Post 3 opens with 'Witam Polsko!' and generates 312 engagement with 56 reposts (18% repost rate, vs 3% average). Local language signals insider knowledge.
- Named people and companies build community goodwill. Post 1 names Brian Conlon, First Derivative, KX, and Microsoft Azure. Naming creates FOMO and encourages people tagged or mentioned to engage.
- Gratitude as a closing device invites comments. Post 1 ends with 'you know who you are, and I want to thank you.' This makes readers feel seen and compels them to comment with their own gratitude.
- Soft CTAs outperform hard CTAs. Post 3 ends with 'Read more here: [link]' rather than 'Apply now' or 'Get in touch.' The softness increases click-through because it feels like an invitation, not a demand.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start your next career announcement with a specific number and a structural detail. Instead of 'I'm excited to announce a new role,' write 'After 15 years across 3 companies, I'm joining [company] as [title].' The specificity makes the news feel earned.
- Use micro-posts (under 30 words) for announcements and let the comments section do the storytelling. Write the headline, add an exclamation point, and stop. People will ask follow-up questions, which boosts your conversation index.
- Lead expansion or growth announcements with local specificity or cultural respect. If you're announcing something in a specific market, use a local greeting or reference. This creates novelty and signals you're not just broadcasting to everyone.
- Name people and companies in your posts, not just ideas. Instead of 'Great leadership creates culture,' write 'Under the leadership of [name], [company] was always people-centric.' Naming creates FOMO and encourages people to engage.
- Close with gratitude or soft invitations, not hard CTAs. Instead of 'Apply here,' write 'Get in touch if you would like to know more.' The softness increases engagement because it feels like an invitation to a conversation, not a sales pitch.
- Post on Wednesdays at 11 UTC if your audience is US and European professionals. This is mid-week when engagement peaks and time zones overlap for maximum visibility.
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Posting patterns
Standy posts 4.9 times per week with 100% consistency over the last 90 days, treating LinkedIn like a daily communication channel rather than a weekly newsletter.
Wednesday at 11 UTC performs best. This is mid-week when professional audiences are most active and engaged, and 11 UTC aligns with morning hours across US and European time zones.
Micro posts under 30 words average 65 engagement, and short posts (30-80 words) average 58 engagement. Posts under 80 words outperform longer content by 2x. The exception is the long-form career transition post (783 engagement), which works because it's rare and emotionally loaded, not because length drives engagement generally.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 10 engagements per post
avg 31 engagements per post
avg 43 engagements per post
Standy's mix of 28% career transitions, 22% company announcements, and 18% event recaps works because his audience is enterprise software professionals who care about people, growth, and industry movement. Career transitions and company news are the currency of tech recruitment. Event recaps build community and signal insider access. The 14% hiring posts are sparse enough to feel valuable rather than spammy, which is why direct job announcements average 43 engagement despite being only 3% of his content.
