Leighton Newberry is the founder of Recruitment Ready, a consulting firm that helps high school & college girls prepare for sorority recruitment across the country. Her firm takes a positive approach by also teaching valuable skills clients can use during their transition to college and the years beyond. These life skills include: how to engage in small talk, social media etiquette, resume curation, confidence building, classy styling and more. Leighton is considered the sorority recruitment expert and has been featured in multiple publications including: The Wall Street Journal,  College Fashionista Magazine, Fox News and Country Living Magazine. 

Leighton wears the Yvette Convertible™ Midi Dress

Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi there! My name is Leighton Newberry and I am the founder of Recruitment Ready! I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee & decided to swap one college town for another to call Auburn University home for my college career. I now live in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband & we love to travel as often as we can. I started my company in 2019 after having mothers in my hometown reach out and ask if I would help their daughter with “what to say” and “what to wear” during sorority recruitment. I was happy to help, but at the same time-I viewed my business as an opportunity to teach younger girls confidence building skills they could use for a lifetime. I have a true passion for etiquette and mentorship! Six years later and I STILL get excited anytime someone places an order. This work is truly a blessing to me! 

Your business, Recruitment Ready, prepares high-school and college-aged girls for the recruitment process. What inspired you to start this business? 

I believe confident girls can accomplish anything. The inspiration for my company came from an authentic desire to give back to younger girls through my love of southern style, etiquette, mentorship and confidence building. I honestly never dreamed I would grow a company from the ground up, but I am so grateful I went for it & appreciate the lovely support system from friends and family along the way! My father is an entrepreneur and so is my husband, so I guess I have always had the virtue of hard work and GRIT modeled in front of me! 

See more on Instagram @recruitment.ready

You empower young girls by giving them the tips and tools they need to step into the recruitment process with confidence. Why is it important to you to empower young girls? 

Going to college is one of the first life phases girls do by themselves and so many emotions come with the experience! One of the phrases our team tells clients often is, “I believe in you!” I genuinely believe having a role model and mentor that believes in you shapes your psychological approach to difficult situations. This alone is worth it in my book, but personally, I also believe that it’s important to pass down etiquette essentials and classy styling tips to younger girls so they have exposure to these important and timeless lifeskills. 

Your personal style extends beyond the clothes you wear, but also into your home and life! How would you describe your style? 

When my husband and I were first married we moved to Palm Beach for a short stint and my style (both in life and home) reflects our time spent on the coast. I love touches of coastal blues, greens and whites. Serena and Lily meets southern tradition is probably the best way I could describe my style! 

Other than business, and fashion, what other hobbies or activities do you like to partake in? 

I grew up playing tennis and absolutely love the sport! Our house in Atlanta backs up to tennis courts and I try to walk over after work 4-5 days a week to hit on the wall or practice with my team. I minored in hospitality at Auburn and also cultivated a LOVE of hosting dinner parties. My husband is an amazing cook and we love gathering friends around the table in our home as often as we can. 

What are some ways you live stylishly inside and out? 

I strive to keep a spirit of gratitude and there is nothing more stylish (in my opinion) than approaching a day at work with a grateful heart! I really never dreamed I would build a company that is focused on mentoring girls and strive to approach how I show up at work with a sense of humility and gratitude because I truly love my job. You can have the most stylish outfit in the world, but at the end of the day it’s the beauty that comes from within that matters the most to me. 

Where are your favorite destinations to travel to for Spring Break? What are you packing? 

Oooo great question! I am a huge fan of Sea Island! My husband proposed on the beach there in 2020 so it’s certainly special to me. I also love Round Hill in Jamaica because they serve tea each afternoon and don’t have TVs in the rooms at the resort. I am OF COURSE packing Mestiza Bella Bow Pajama Set to relax in at night and packing the Etta Scallop Mini Dress for a fun dinner at night! 

Fun fact about the dress you’re wearing: it’s reversible! How are you styling the Yvette Convertible Midi Dress on both the solid side, and printed side? 

It’s such a fun dress!! I am styling the fun reversible fit in two different ways. On the printed side I will keep it simple with a neutral heel and rattan clutch. On the solid side, I will add pearls, a navy headband and wedges that lace up the leg! I LOVE how versatile the dress is! 

What do you love most about the Mestiza brand?

The motto of our brand at Recruitment Ready is “cute, classy, confident!” We always coach our girls to approach their own styling with the “three c’s” in mind. My favorite aspect of the Mestiza brand is how it embodies our styling goals just perfectly! 

How does wearing Mestiza make you feel?

Wearing Mestiza makes me feel feminine, confident and girly! I love bows and coastal colors. It’s so fun to grab a dress from my closet and easily feel confident while wearing it!