In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Alex Hashash, Founder & MD of Global Capability, to explore why Africa—specifically Kenya—is fast becoming one of the most exciting untapped talent markets in global recruitment.

Alex shares his journey from a successful career in healthcare recruitment to launching a business in Nairobi, backed by his former employer. But this isn’t just another offshore story…

This episode dives deep into:

• Why traditional offshore hubs (India, Philippines, South Africa) are no longer the only options
• The rise of Kenya as a global capability centre and what makes it unique
• How Western misconceptions about Africa are holding businesses back
• The real truth about talent, education, and work ethic across the continent
• Why recruitment businesses should rethink the outdated 360 model
• How to successfully build offshore teams (and where most businesses get it wrong)
• The importance of trust, structure, and long-term thinking when scaling globally

Alex also breaks down the operational side of building offshore teams—from compliance and infrastructure to commission structures and culture—giving practical insights for any recruitment leader considering expansion.

If you’ve ever thought about offshoring but weren’t sure where to start—or assumed Africa wasn’t “ready”—this episode will challenge everything you think you know.

As Alex puts it: talent exists everywhere. You just need to look somewhere new.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Recruitment business owners looking to scale globally
• Talent leaders exploring offshore or nearshore models
• Founders tired of the same talent pools and rising costs
• Anyone curious about Africa’s role in the future of work
• Agencies wanting to move beyond the traditional 360 recruiter model

🔗 Connect with the guest

Alex Hashash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhashash/

Find out more about Global Capability: https://www.rectools.io/product/gcs-global-capability-limited/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Azuki Accounts: https://azukiaccounts.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

#RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #Offshoring #GlobalTalent #Kenya #AfricaRising #RecruitmentLeaders #TalentAcquisition #GlobalCapability #ScalingRecruitment

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Bobby Russell (Managing Director) and Lakhbir Singh (Commercial Finance Specialist) from Contact Business Finance to unpack one of the most overlooked opportunities in recruitment—using finance and property to build long-term wealth.

From invoice finance to commercial property, the conversation dives deep into how recruiters can stop leaving money on the table and start making smarter, more strategic financial decisions.

The guys break down real client stories, including how recruitment agencies are:

• Turning rent into ownership and boosting profitability
• Funding large-scale office refurbishments to attract top talent
• Leveraging property to create additional income streams
• Using finance strategically to scale and safeguard their businesses

A key theme throughout? Education. Many recruiters are great at billing—but not always equipped with the financial knowledge to maximise their success. This episode changes that.

You’ll also hear practical insights on:

• Why keeping too much cash in the bank could be costing you
• How to structure deals with lenders the right way
• The power of diversification and building generational wealth
• What sectors could thrive in recruitment moving into 2026
• Why storytelling, marketing, and online presence now matter—even to lenders

Plus, Bobby and Lakhbir share honest lessons from high-pressure deals, the importance of understanding a client’s “why,” and how finance can genuinely change lives when done right.

Who this episode is for:

• Recruitment agency owners looking to scale smarter
• Founders sitting on cash but unsure where to invest
• Recruiters considering buying office space instead of renting
• Anyone interested in property investment alongside their business
• New and growing agencies wanting to future-proof their finances

🔗 Connect with the guests

Bobby Russell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-russell-8b844565/

Lakhbir Singh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakhbir-singh-a2161668/

Find out more about Contact Business Finance: https://www.rectools.io/product/contact-business-finance/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Azuki Accounts: https://azukiaccounts.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

#Recruitment #Finance #PropertyInvestment #RecruitmentAgency #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #InvoiceFinance #CommercialFinance #RecTalk #Rectools

In this Founder Diaries episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Ross Linnett, Founder & CEO of Recite Me — a business born from personal struggle and built into a global accessibility powerhouse.

Ross shares how being undiagnosed dyslexic shaped his early life, forced him down unexpected career paths, and ultimately inspired him to build technology that makes the internet accessible for everyone.

From being told he “wasn’t dyslexic” at school, to nearly going bankrupt, to raising £8M and landing clients like Coca-Cola — this episode is packed with raw founder truths, resilience, and perspective.

We dive deep into:

• How dyslexia led Ross to build Recite Me
• Why 25–30% of people struggle to access websites
• The early struggles of selling “doing good” as a serious business
• Raising investment when your product doesn’t fit the hype
• The reality of building a company when no one believes in it yet
• Why success is a function of time, not just skill
• The truth about DE&I, accessibility, and commercial impact
• Founder mindset: surviving doubt, rejection, and near failure
• Why the journey matters more than the outcome

Ross also shares powerful insights on innovation, patience, and why most “overnight success” stories are anything but.

If you’re building something new, questioning your path, or navigating tough founder moments — this episode will hit home.

🎯 Who this episode is for:

• Founders and startup leaders building from scratch
• Recruiters and business owners interested in accessibility & inclusion
• Anyone navigating dyslexia, neurodiversity, or learning challenges
• Entrepreneurs struggling with doubt, funding, or early traction
• Leaders who want to build meaningful, mission-driven businesses

🔗 Connect with the guest

Ross Linnett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosslinnett/

Find out more about Recite Me (and try it for yourself):

https://www.rectools.io/product/recite-me/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Azuki Accounts: https://azukiaccounts.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

#RecTalk #FounderDiaries #RossLinnett #ReciteMe #Accessibility #Dyslexia #Neurodiversity #Startups #Entrepreneurship #DEI #Recruitment #Founders #BusinessGrowth #InclusiveDesign

In this episode of RecTalk, host Nitin Sharma sits down with Sarah Higgs, founder of Recruitment Angel, to explore a topic every recruitment business owner struggles with: time.

Sarah shares her journey from working as a legal recruiter to becoming Head of Operations in a recruitment firm and ultimately launching Recruitment Angel—a specialist virtual support service built specifically for the recruitment industry. Drawing on years of experience inside recruitment businesses, Sarah now helps agency owners and suppliers free up their time by handling operational, administrative, and marketing tasks that often slow growth.

The conversation dives into the realities of running a recruitment business today, especially for solo founders and smaller agencies. Sarah explains why so many founders end up overwhelmed wearing too many hats—handling everything from business development and invoicing to CRM management and marketing.

Nitin and Sarah discuss the power of delegation and why outsourcing operational work can be one of the most impactful decisions a recruitment entrepreneur can make. By reclaiming hours lost to admin, business owners can refocus on what really drives revenue: building relationships, winning clients, and making placements.

They also unpack how recruitment itself has evolved. Traditional cold calling is no longer the only route to success. Modern recruiters are increasingly building communities, hosting events, producing content, and nurturing relationships digitally. But with all of these new responsibilities comes an operational burden that many founders simply don’t have time to manage alone.

Sarah also shares insights into how Recruitment Angel supports agencies with tasks such as database management, market mapping, CRM setup, content creation, event coordination, and back-office operations—helping recruitment businesses operate more efficiently without hiring full-time staff.

A key theme throughout the episode is authenticity and work-life balance. Sarah talks openly about leaving traditional “stuffy” recruitment environments where personality was discouraged, and how modern founders are now building businesses that align with their lifestyles, families, and personal goals.

This episode is packed with practical insight for recruiters looking to grow smarter, delegate effectively, and avoid the burnout that often comes with building a recruitment business from scratch.

Who this episode is for:

• Solo recruitment founders and startup agencies
• Recruitment businesses with 1–15 employees looking to scale efficiently
• Recruiters overwhelmed by admin, operations, or back-office tasks
• Agencies exploring outsourcing or virtual support options
• Recruitment suppliers looking to streamline internal processes

🔗 Connect with the guest

Sarah Higgs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhiggs01/

Check out Recruitment Angel: https://www.rectools.io/product/recruitment-angel/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentStartups #RecruitmentOps #RecruitmentTech #AgencyGrowth #RecruitmentEntrepreneurs #RecruitmentMarketing #RecTools

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Eli Duane, Founder & CEO of NOVA by Dweet, to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the recruitment industry right now:

Is AI actually improving recruitment… or just adding more noise?

Eli brings over 20 years of recruitment experience to the table, having previously helped build and exit a staffing business before launching Dweet—a platform designed to connect frontline retail talent with employers quickly. Along the way, his team built internal AI tools to solve a problem many recruiters know all too well: how to efficiently identify the right candidates from thousands of applications and existing database records.

Those internal tools eventually evolved into NOVA, an AI-powered recruiting copilot designed to help recruiters source, screen, and resurface candidates faster—without removing the human element that makes great recruiters great.

In this conversation, Nitin and Eli dig into the realities of AI in recruitment, cutting through the hype to explore what actually works and where technology can genuinely support recruiters rather than replace them.

They discuss:

• Why most AI recruitment tools fail to move the needle
• The “ChatGPT in a trench coat” problem with many AI products
• How NOVA uses contextual intake to improve candidate matching
• The challenge of ATS “candidate graveyards” and resurfacing hidden talent
• Why sourcing automation should free recruiters to focus on human relationships
• The Iron Man analogy for AI-augmented recruiters
• The real truth about bias in hiring and how AI should (and shouldn’t) address it
• Why the future of recruitment is AI + great recruiters, not AI instead of recruiters

Eli also shares how NOVA was originally built to solve problems inside their own hiring platform before being spun out into a standalone product—giving the team a unique advantage: every feature is battle-tested with real recruiters and real hiring scenarios first.

If you’re feeling fatigued by the endless wave of AI tools in recruitment, this episode will help you rethink where technology can actually make a difference.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Eli Duane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-duane/

Check out NOVA by Dweet: https://www.rectools.io/product/nova-by-dweet/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTech #RecruitmentAI #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTechnology #AIinRecruitment #StaffingIndustry #HRTech #RecruitmentPodcast

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Tim Hogwood, Co-Founder of SourceWhale, to unpack the fascinating journey from launching a small recruitment agency in 2020 to building one of the fastest-growing recruitment technology companies in Europe.

Recorded at SourceWhale’s Shoreditch offices, Tim shares the real story behind how the business accidentally pivoted from agency life into SaaS, why recruiters originally adopted the platform for candidate outreach, and how market shifts forced the team to rethink their product, pricing, and positioning.

The conversation dives deep into the evolution of recruitment technology, why SourceWhale moved to a modular product structure, and how AI is transforming recruiter workflows without replacing the human element that makes recruitment work.

Nitin also challenges Tim on the future of CRMs, AI governance, recruiter productivity, and whether automation could “dumb down” the recruitment profession. Tim offers candid answers on where AI is actually useful today — and where the hype doesn’t match reality.

Key topics covered include:

• The origin story of SourceWhale and its unexpected SaaS pivot
• Why recruitment tech should focus on desk-level recruiter productivity
• The shift from candidate sourcing to business development workflows
• Why SourceWhale moved to modular products instead of one all-in-one platform
• The real role AI will play in recruitment automation
• How contextual data and communication layers power better recruiter workflows
• The evolving role of CRM systems in an AI-driven world
• Why recruitment will remain a human business despite AI advancements

Tim also myth-busts common misconceptions about SourceWhale — including pricing, enterprise adoption, and who the product is actually built for.

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how modern RecTech companies are thinking about AI, recruiter workflows, and the future of recruitment software, this episode is packed with insights.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Tim Hogwood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-hogwood/

Find out more about SourceWhale: https://www.rectools.io/product/sourcewhale/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTech #RecruitmentTechnology #RecruitmentAI #SourceWhale #RecruitmentAutomation #RecruitmentLeaders #RecruitmentInnovation #RecruitmentIndustry #RecTalkPodcast

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Andy Jones, CEO of Tracker, one of the longest-standing enterprise CRM platforms in recruitment, for a deep dive into the real impact of AI in the industry.

Forget the hype around AI writing job ads or taking meeting notes. This conversation goes much deeper — exploring what actually moves the needle for recruiters, why most AI tools are still “skin deep,” and how the future lies in agentic automation layered on top of strong CRM data.

Andy shares why many recruitment businesses are still struggling to see meaningful ROI from generative AI and why the real opportunity lies in combining AI, automation, and workflow agents that take care of the repetitive tasks recruiters hide behind.

They also unpack how recruitment CRMs should evolve from being just a single source of record into a single source of action, where intelligent agents automate processes like candidate screening, CV formatting, anonymisation, and even business development opportunities.

The conversation also tackles some of the bigger strategic questions facing the industry:

• Are AI tools making recruiters more productive — or just more efficient?
• Could automation actually make recruiters better by removing admin work?
• What role should CRM providers play in guiding agencies through AI adoption?
• Why governance, GDPR, and data security are the hidden risks most agencies aren’t thinking about.

Andy also shares how Tracker is building its AI layer, including EVA — an embedded LLM inside the CRM — combined with a growing library of automation agents designed to handle recruitment workflows behind the scenes.

If you’re a recruitment leader trying to cut through the AI noise, this episode delivers one of the most practical conversations you’ll hear about the future of recruitment technology.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between AI efficiency vs true recruiter productivity
• Why agentic automation may be the real breakthrough in recruitment tech
• How recruiters can automate CV formatting, candidate screening, and BD workflows
• Why CRM data is the foundation for meaningful AI adoption
• The hidden compliance and governance risks of using AI tools
• Why the future recruiter may need less tech knowledge and more relationship skills

🔗 Connect with the guest

Andy Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-jones-4871722/

Find out more about Tracker: https://www.rectools.io/product/tracker/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTalk #RecruitmentTechnology #AIinRecruitment #RecruitmentCRM #AgenticAI #RecTech #RecruitmentAutomation #AndyJones #TrackerRMS #RecruitmentLeaders

This time on RecTalk, we’re back with another live panel discussion recorded at the TEAM Network South Midlands Regional Meeting, in front of a record-breaking room of recruitment business owners and industry leaders.

No script. Just real, honest, unfiltered conversation about where recruitment is heading — and what you need to do to stay relevant.

Joining Nitin Sharma on the panel:

• Kerry Greenland – Director of Vantage Recruitment
• Sarah Grace – Regional Director (Midlands) for TEAM Network and Managing Director of KC Group and Animal People
• Miles Lloyd – Co-Founder of NorthStar People

This episode centres around one powerful theme: Locking In & Levelling Up

Inside this live discussion, we unpack:

• Why recruitment is NOT a sales business — and why that mindset shift matters
• The death of pure contingency and what’s replacing it
• Commitment fees vs retained models (and why language matters)
• Why most agencies are wasting 60–70% of their time
• How to increase fill rates from 30% to 80%+
• The rise of non-core recruitment revenue (market insight reports, partnerships, referrals, advisory services)
• Using your data as a monetisable asset
• Moving from “CV supplier” to talent partner
• Overcoming impostor syndrome as a business owner
• Why legacy agencies must evolve — and how
• Practical ways solos and micro-agencies can add value without overcomplicating it

Sarah shares how publishing a 70-page Market Insight Report led to 60 face-to-face client meetings in one month.

Kerry talks about moving from job-filler to trusted advisor — and why confidence is everything.

Miles breaks down the brutal maths behind contingent recruitment and why most agencies don’t realise how exposed they are.

And Nitin gets candid about business failure, sunk cost fallacy, and why “we’ve always done it this way” is the most dangerous mindset in recruitment today.

This isn’t theory. This is what’s happening right now in our industry.

If you’re still running your agency the way you did in 2018, this episode might just be the wake-up call you need.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Recruitment agency owners (solo or multi-consultant)
• Perm-heavy agencies struggling with fill ratios
• Leaders considering commitment or retained models
• Recruiters wanting to add non-core revenue streams
• TEAM Network members and regional leaders
• Anyone feeling the market shift and unsure what to do next

Key Takeaway:

Recruitment isn’t dying. But commoditised recruitment is.

The opportunity is bigger than ever — if you’re willing to evolve.

🔗 Connect with the panel guests

Kerry Greenland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-greenland/

Sarah Grace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-grace-02b66318/

Miles Lloyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mileslloyd/

Find out more about the TEAM network: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTalk #RecruitmentLeadership #TEAMNetwork #RecruitmentBusiness #PermRecruitment #RetentionStrategy #RecruitmentInnovation #TalentPartner #RecruitmentConsultancy #AgencyGrowth

This week’s RecTalk is recorded LIVE at the TEAM Network Service Providers Meeting in Coventry – and it’s an absolute belter 🔥

Nitin Sharma is joined on stage by:

• Sam Rasdall – Potent Positioning
• Michelle Davies – Candidate Source
• Christian Mather – One Day Wealth

In front of a room full of recruitment service providers, this panel dives deep into one big question:

👉 Why don’t suppliers collaborate properly… when we’re all selling to the same ICP?

Drawing from the live discussion , this episode explores:

• Why most suppliers say they know their ICP – but rarely leverage shared audiences
• The missed opportunity in supplier-to-supplier collaboration
• How to add value to recruiters’ clients (not just sell to them)
• Why webinars should be lead generators, not just “marketing assets”
• The difference between value-add and disguised sales pitching
• Fear, insecurity & trust issues in collaboration
• Why authenticity on LinkedIn actually works (even if you “hate LinkedIn”)
• The long-game mindset required to build real referral partnerships
• Why customer success teams hold hidden collaboration gold
• How to turn partnerships into multiple deal flow streams

There’s some proper honesty in this one. From cult-like networking groups to fear of competitors “stealing” clients, nothing was off limits.

🔥 Key Themes

1️⃣ Collaboration isn’t tactical – it’s strategic
One good partner relationship can drive 5–10 deals. Yet most suppliers focus purely on direct client acquisition.

2️⃣ Value-first wins

Run webinars for your partners’ clients. Share each other’s content. Build micro-packages together. Stop pitching – start helping.

3️⃣ Authenticity over polish

Michelle shares how going from “allergic to LinkedIn” to being unapologetically authentic actually generated real inbound business.

4️⃣ Marketing = Sales Enablement

Sam drops a killer point: marketing assets are useless without sales touchpoints. Every piece of content should create conversations.

5️⃣ Fear is the blocker

Are we scared of competitors? Of losing clients? Of opening our network? The panel unpacks the insecurity that holds suppliers back.

6️⃣ Play the long game

This isn’t transactional. It’s relational. The hockey stick only comes after consistency.

🔗 Connect with the panel guests

Sam Rasdall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-rasdall-501863108/

Michelle Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleadavies/

Christian Mather:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmather/

Find out more about the TEAM network: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

ThinkinCircles: https://thinkincircles.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

The Marketing Junction: https://themarketingjunction.com/

Konquest: https://konquest.io/

#RecTalk #RecruitmentIndustry #RecTech #RecruitmentSuppliers #BusinessDevelopment #LinkedInForRecruiters #Collaboration #TEAMNetwork

Welcome back to Founder Diaries, a RecTalk podcast hosted by Nitin Sharma.

This episode is a big one.

Most recruitment businesses measure success by headcount, revenue, and placements. But what happens when a founder decides to measure success differently — by building a resilient balance sheet powered by Bitcoin?

In this conversation, Nitin sits down with Scott Ellam, Founder & CEO of XCE – Connecting Excellence, to unpack one of the boldest strategic moves we’ve seen in the recruitment industry.

Scott didn’t just build a profitable international executive search business — he took it public, adopted a Bitcoin treasury strategy, and positioned the company as a long-term, balance-sheet-first growth vehicle.

What We Cover in This Episode

This isn’t a surface-level “crypto chat.” This is a deep dive into:

• Why traditional perm-heavy recruitment businesses struggle with exit strategies
• The limitations of chasing vanity metrics like headcount growth
• Why Scott rejected property, gold, and stock portfolios as treasury strategies
• The case for Bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset (not “crypto”)
• The impact of inflation and monetary policy on business owners
• Taking a recruitment business public with a Bitcoin-backed balance sheet
• Creating long-term equity incentives for consultants
• Building a recruitment PLC with zero debt and a scalable acquisition strategy
• Why “don’t get poor slowly” matters more than “get rich quick”

Scott also shares his personal journey — from working-class roots in the Northwest, to building a global executive search firm, to developing an 8-year conviction in Bitcoin before implementing it publicly.

This episode challenges conventional thinking about wealth creation in recruitment.

Why This Conversation Matters for Recruiters

Let’s be honest…

Recruitment is cash generative… but asset light.

Exits are difficult.

Private equity success stories are rare.

And inflation quietly erodes retained profits.

Scott makes the case that founders need to rethink how they store long-term value — and how they create real equity upside for consultants.

Whether you agree or disagree with the thesis, this is a conversation every ambitious recruiter should hear.

Who This Episode Is For

• Recruitment founders building long-term value
• Exec search owners considering an exit in 3–10 years
• Cash-rich recruitment businesses exploring alternative treasury strategies
• Consultants who want genuine equity upside
• Operators curious about public markets & capital strategy
• Anyone interested in Bitcoin’s role in business balance sheets

🔗 Connect with the guest

Scott Ellam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-p-ellam-5a097449/

XCE - Connecting Excellence: https://xce.io/

🔗 Connect with the host

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

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) currently drop on Wednesday and Friday.

Look out also for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club — dropping on Thursday.

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

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

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