Check Out Elizabeth Simonov’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Simonov.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Riverside, California and grew up in Colorado as the oldest of four kids. From early on, I felt a pull to serve others internationally and eventually that took me overseas in my twenties, where I spent six years doing nonprofit work across Bangkok, Manila, and Buenos Aires. I helped co-direct nonprofit schools, recruiting and training national leaders in each country so the work could be sustained locally.

During my years overseas, I also became a mom – my first child was born in Bangkok – and it made that chapter even more meaningful and grounding for me.

After returning to the U.S., I landed in Detroit and walked into a staffing agency simply looking for work. Instead, the owner interviewed me and offered me an opportunity, and that unexpected moment launched what has become a 15+ year career. I discovered I’m wired to connect with people, understand what makes them thrive, and help match them with companies and roles that can change the direction of their lives.

Over time, I grew from temp and contract staffing and recruiting into direct hire placement; and I fell in love with the challenge of finding niche talent for very specific roles in specialized industries. I also realized I love leadership and helping people win – not just in their jobs, but in their confidence and in the way they see what’s possible for their future.

In 2025, I joined Arena Staffing based out of Ontario, California. I’m grateful to be part of a team that believes in high standards, integrity and real relationships, and I’m excited for what we’re building as we continue connecting great people with great companies nationwide.

In 2025, I also started building a career coaching business on the side called Summit Coaching Collective, focused on helping people gain clarity, build momentum, and make bold, aligned career moves that fit their lifestyles.

Outside of work, my life is centered around my kids, and my family and the things that keep me grounded. I’ve rescued two horses, one for my daughter and one for me, and being part of their journey of rehabilitation has been incredibly meaningful. In the last couple of years, I’ve also found a lot of joy off-roading in the Colorado Rockies – lifting my Jeep Wrangler, adding bigger tires, and learning firsthand that you don’t have to wait for a perfect road to start moving forward. Now, no terrain can stop me!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been a few defining seasons that shaped who I am and ultimately gave meaning to my life phrase and motto, “Push Back, Enjoy Life.”

In 2014, I went through a major life transition and made the decision to start over with my two kids. We were rebuilding from the ground up, and for a season I relied on the kindness of others and short-term state assistance programs while I stabilized our life. It was humbling, but it taught me something I’ll never forget: asking for help is not weakness, and you can rebuild a strong life from a hard moment. You grow muscles you never knew you had of resilience and grit – AQ – Adaptability quotient. And overcoming these challenges and growing these muscles enable you to help, inspire and encourage even more people in your lifetime!

In 2024, I went through another major personal transition and chose to leave a relationship that had become emotionally unhealthy and no longer aligned with the life I wanted to lead. That season reinforced a boundary I live by now: you can love deeply and still choose your peace, your voice, and your future.

In 2025, I closed a ten-year chapter in my career and stepped into a new one. It reminded me that growth often requires change – and that staying steady through transitions is a leadership skill.

Those chapters are where “Push Back, Enjoy Life” was born. For me, pushing back isn’t about proving anyone wrong. It’s the decision to respond to adversity with courage, grit and resilience – and to build a life where joy is not postponed until everything is perfect.

10 years ago my brother shared words of wisdom with me that I’ll never forget – the best way to win in life against anything that has happened to you is to go out and live a happy and healthy life anyway – I never forgot this and I put it into action every day, BIG TIME.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Talent Strategist and Career Matchmaker. At my core, I connect great people with great companies – and I do that nationwide, partnering with companies coast to coast. What I specialize in is helping high performers make bold, aligned career moves into roles that fit their goals, values, and lifestyle. I help companies grow and scale their teams and add revenue to their bottom line. I work primarily in direct-hire recruiting, and I’ve spent years supporting hiring managers and leaders in construction, manufacturing, and other specialized industries where the right strategic hire can change everything.

I’m known for a few things: I build trust quickly, I listen deeply, and I don’t treat people like transactions. Candidates aren’t résumés to me – they’re whole humans with families, pressure, potential, and a story. And clients aren’t just filling a seat – they’re trying to build teams that will carry their business forward. My strength is bridging both sides with clarity, urgency, and integrity so the match is not just “good on paper,” but good in real life and business.

What I’m most proud of is the ripple effect. I’ve watched people move from feeling stalled to stepping into roles with real impact, higher earning power, and a sense of purpose – and I’ve seen how that shift changes entire families. I also work alongside leaders and hiring managers as an HR and retention consultant – a true partner and extension of their HR team – helping strengthen leadership, improve retention, and drive results when it matters most. Over time I’ve grown from being a recruiter to leading teams and delivering at a strategic level, but the part I’m proudest of is that I’ve done it by staying relationship-first and results-driven at the same time.

What sets me apart is how I combine strategy and heart. I’m data-aware and outcome-focused, but I’m also deeply human in how I show up. I build strong relationships, relationships where candidates and clients become my lifelong friends. I tell the truth, I move fast, and I advocate hard for the right fit – while still protecting everyone’s confidentiality in the process. That same passion is also why I started Summit Coaching Collective in 2025: to help people create momentum, gain clarity, and make bold career moves with confidence that align with their lifestyle.

At the end of the day, my work is about one thing: helping people and businesses win – with courage, grit, and resilience – and proving that the right opportunity and the right hire, can change an entire life, and a company.

How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is truly enjoying life – and doing it through deep, meaningful connection with people. I’m happiest when I’m fully present with whoever is in front of me: laughing hard and recalling experiences and memories, loving well, and saying yes to adventurous experiences in the great outdoors with the people I care about.

Spending time with my kids is my greatest joy. They’re my why, and they’re a big reason ‘Push Back, Enjoy Life’ matters so much to me – I want to continue to model a life to them that’s full, brave, and authentic! I love spending time with my kids every chance I get.

I also thrive on challenging myself outside of work – especially doing activities that stretch me, even if they scare me at first. There’s something empowering about doing the hard thing, proving to yourself you can, and then carrying that confidence into every other area of your life! I believe this!

A perfect example is my horse, Prince Edmond. He’s an 18.2-hand Belgian Draft (yes, just like the Budweiser Clydesdales) – about 2,000 pounds and literally twenty times my size – and I didn’t grow up around horses. Learning to be calm, consistent, and become his confident leader stretched me in a big way. It taught me trust, patience, and the kind of strength that doesn’t come from force, but from presence and leaning into fear and overcoming it. I don’t ride him anymore as a he has a neurological disease in his hind quarters so he is now a very loved companion horse who I spoil on the ground with treats, ointments, and silly man buns!

Off-roading does the same thing for me. I’ll take my lime green Jeep Wrangler onto Rocky Mountain trails that push my comfort levels big time – crawling over boulders and climbing steep cliffs that absolutely get my adrenaline going. It’s scary, but it’s also a thrill like nothing else, and every time I get through it I feel stronger – mentally and emotionally – not just behind the wheel, but in life. To date, I have earned 3 Jeep ‘Badges of Honor’ that are proudly displayed on my jeep.

I am always up for an activity that challenges me!

I love time with my close family and my friends – the kind of nights where you reconnect over a glass of wine and appetizers, talk about real life, and leave feeling lighter than when you arrived. Those simple moments of deep connection are everything to me.

I genuinely love being the person friends can call when life gets heavy. I’m wired to help people process hard seasons, find their footing again, and see the light ahead. That kind of impact brings me real joy.

And I don’t take life for granted. I’ve had seasons that reminded me how precious it is, and I feel like I’ve been given a second and third chance to live fully. That’s why “Push Back, Enjoy Life” isn’t just a phrase – it’s a life motto and a decision. It’s how I choose to show up: with courage, grit, and resilience, and a commitment to live in a way that gives other people permission to do the same, no matter what they’ve been through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.summitcoachingcollective.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsimonov?igsh=MTE1bnBwMG9uMzgyMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliz.simonov
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-simonov-0197b555/