How Origio Partners Increased New Client Meetings by 125% with Atlas

About Origio Partners

David and Cat Jolley are the duo behind a new agency in the life sciences recruitment space, focused on senior-level appointments across pharma, biotech, medtech, and medical devices. David brings nearly two decades of experience in both agency and in-house recruitment, while Cat’s background in HR, compliance, and people success adds a layer of operational rigor.

Together, they’re building a business designed around service to both clients and candidates. Their focus isn’t volume, but high-quality delivery, long-term relationships, and a personal touch that keeps people coming back.

When they launched Origio Partners, they wanted tools that would help them work faster and smarter, without compromising on quality or control. We sat down to talk about the journey that led them to Atlas.

Check out our conversation or keep reading for the full story below:

Starting Fresh With a Platform Built for Modern Recruiters

With years of experience using clunky databases and legacy CRMs, David and Cat knew what they didn’t want when launching their business. The goal was to build a setup that worked for them, not one that forced them to adjust their workflow to fit the tool.

“We wanted a system that complemented us rather than the other way around,” they explained.

Early in their search, they explored free versions of other platforms that promised AI features and huge data sets. But the results fell short. Searches returned irrelevant profiles, outreach tools felt disjointed, and the promised AI rarely delivered value.

Atlas stood out from the beginning. Introduced through a peer founder network, it caught their attention not because of marketing hype, but because of how well it aligned with the way they actually work. Once they saw the product in action, the decision became clear.

They started with a trial and never looked back.

From Scattered Notes to Searchable Conversations

For years, LinkedIn was their go-to system. Messages, notes, and relationships all lived across different platforms. Even when CRMs were available, they rarely felt useful or trustworthy.

With Atlas, they saw an opportunity to break that pattern. Instead of importing outdated records or messy spreadsheets, they started clean. Every new candidate was captured directly from real conversations, with AI handling the heavy lifting on data entry and enrichment.

“It’s all there in real time,” they said. “If there’s anything he’s forgotten from a call, it’s just sitting there.”

Now, their CRM reflects the reality of their work. It’s accurate, easy to search, and updated automatically. That clarity helps them work faster, stay aligned, and deliver a more personal experience to both clients and candidates. Naturally, it led to an over 200% increase in the time they can spend doing actual calls compared to recruiting without Atlas.

Support That Feels Like Part of the Team

During their trial period, they managed to break part of the reporting functionality. Instead of being stuck in a ticket queue, they clicked a button and were chatting with someone from the Atlas team within minutes. The issue was fixed within a couple of hours. That responsiveness made an impression.

“Having access to someone who can talk you through a problem in real time is a game changer,” they said. “Email takes too long and loses context. It felt like a proper conversation.”

Atlas also extended their trial while they waited for a third-party phone integration to be configured. There was no back-and-forth, no hassle, only a shared goal of getting the setup right.

By the end of the trial, we had everything working how it should be. It was really seamless.

Simplified Scheduling, Better Conversations

Before Atlas, their weeks included a handful of client and candidate meetings, often spaced out by back-and-forth scheduling or fragmented tools. Now, everything is streamlined. Candidates and clients book directly into their calendar, and the average number of meetings has jumped significantly.

That shift isn’t about volume. It has also made their conversations more timely and more effective.

“When someone gets your calendar link, they pick the earliest slot that suits them. That builds urgency into the process without even trying,” they said.

Having scheduling, video, transcription, and notes in one place with Atlas removes all the friction and helps them stay focused on relationships instead of logistics.

We’ve gone from 5 or 6 meetings a week to more than 20. And they’re better conversations, not simply more of them.

Search That Understands the Brief

Cat comes from a background in HR, compliance, and people operations. Life sciences recruitment was new territory. With Atlas, she didn’t need to pause and study the industry in depth before getting started. The AI helped her learn in the flow of work.

Instead of relying on David to explain every role or profile, she used Atlas to uncover what she needed. Whether it was drafting emails, identifying candidate fit, or understanding qualifications, the AI tools made it intuitive.

“The magic columns are an absolute ace,” she said. “Atlas allows me to learn very quickly on my feet.”

For a fast-growing business, this kind of autonomy has a real impact. It saves time, builds confidence, and enables every team member to deliver value sooner.

Atlas makes it easy to learn fast and find the right people.

Client Collaboration That Builds Trust and Wins Work

When David ran a C-suite search for a global business, Atlas helped him turn the process into a standout experience. Instead of sending spreadsheets or waiting for updates, the client had live access to the search. They could view candidate pipelines, track progress, and get a real-time sense of momentum.

“The feedback from the client was incredible,” they said. “They were blown away by how professional and transparent it felt.”

That transparency had ripple effects. The hiring manager became an advocate internally, sharing the Atlas project view with other senior stakeholders. The experience helped strengthen relationships, speed up decision-making, and differentiate their brand from competitors.

It also uncovered valuable data. For one client, salary expectations were consistently out of sync with the budget. Atlas helped surface that trend early, giving the client time to adjust before their next round of hiring. It also resulted in a 75% decrease in the amount of time it takes to format and present CVs to clients compared to their previous solution.

This kind of visibility shows clients the value of our work in real time. It’s a true differentiator.

Helping Clients Plan Smarter and Hire Faster

Beyond candidate delivery, Atlas helps them bring strategic insight to their clients. One recent example stood out: while working on a tough search, they noticed the role requirements and salary expectations weren’t aligned. Rather than waiting for the process to stall, they used Atlas data to show the gap early.

“We were able to show them where the market was at long before it became a problem,” they said.

That level of visibility turns a recruitment process into a consultative relationship. Clients come away with more than a shortlist. They leave with market insight, salary benchmarks, and clear expectations for future hiring.

It also reinforces the value of their model. Instead of competing on price, they lead with outcomes and transparency, backed by data.

Advice to Other Recruiters: Don’t Work for Your System

For David and Cat, the value of Atlas is clear. It fits how they work rather than forcing them to change it. That flexibility was critical as they built their business from the ground up.

“Most systems ask you to change your workflow to fit their setup,” they said. “With Atlas, we didn’t have to.”

Their advice to other recruiters? Start by deciding what outcomes you want from your CRM. If your goal is to spend less time on admin and more time speaking with candidates and clients, your system should reflect that.

“It kind of feels like it’s ours,” they said, laughing. “You know you’ve got something good when you don’t want your competitors to have it.”

Most systems ask you to change your workflow. With Atlas, we didn’t have to.