In this incredible Founder Diaries episode of RecTalk, Nitin sits down with John Shipley — former General Manager of Leicester Championship Wrestling (LCW). John shares the fascinating journey of how he turned his lifelong passion for professional wrestling into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent wrestling promotions.

From battling mental health struggles to building a legacy brand from scratch, John’s story is one of grit, creativity, and relentless drive. He opens up about:

• How a childhood dream reignited during a tough mental health period.
• The birth of LCW and how he scaled it from a 50-person village show to arena-level sellouts.
• The uncanny parallels between wrestling promotion and recruitment — from hiring, team motivation, and storytelling to branding and business growth.
• Working with global stars like X-Pac (WWE’s D-Generation X) and building a wrestling product that rivalled national promotions.
• The importance of knowing when to step back as a founder — transitioning from performer to promoter, and eventually to mentor.
• Leadership lessons drawn straight from the ring: how to manage talent, balance egos, and build lasting culture.

This episode isn’t just about wrestling — it’s about founder mindset, vision, and self-awareness. John’s reflections on legacy, personal growth, and learning when to move on will resonate deeply with any entrepreneur.

💡 Who this episode is for:

• Founders and startup leaders navigating passion projects and scaling challenges.
• Recruitment professionals seeking lessons in leadership and culture-building.
• Wrestling fans and creatives curious about the business side of the industry.
• Anyone looking for motivation to turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise.

🔗 Connect with the guest

John Shipley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-shipley-9b058b58/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services at Rectools.io:

https://www.rectools.io/

Find out about the Recruitment Curry Club:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/

New episodes of RecTalk, Founder Diaries and Talking Talent drop every Wednesday and Friday.

Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Carl Jones — Konquest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-jones-66093722/

Ben Fielding — Quinset: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfielding/

Ross Thompson — Infinity Staff Global: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/

Matt Fox — Exitus Advisory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fox-50b10311/

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