Emily Van Eyssen on why she's firing staff and replacing them with AI

"I automated someone's entire job out of my business."

"They're gone. That role doesn't exist anymore."

Emily Van Eyssen isn't talking about the future.

She's talking about last month.

She had no recruitment experience when she started.

Zero training. Never worked for an agency. Stumbled into it during the pandemic through a government contract she still doesn't understand why she won.

Most people would have crashed and burned.

Emily placed 200 young people into employment, made a lot of money, and accidentally built a completely virtual recruitment business.

When the pandemic ended and the scheme shut down, she had a choice.

Go back to managing Airbnbs (which she hated), or figure out how to make recruitment work.

Three years later:

• 30-35 placements per month
• Team of just 8 people
• 300+ people placed globally
• Jobs being automated out of existence in real-time

But here's what makes Emily's story urgent.

She's not planning for an AI future. She's living it right now.

South African talent + AI super users = roles disappearing overnight.

She fired someone last week for refusing to use AI. That job is now gone forever.

One of her team automated their own role out. They're still there. The role isn't.

She's training 5,000 people per month in South Africa on AI (and employing none of them).

She's targeting 100 placements per month by Easter. Same 8-person team.

This week on The RAG Podcast, Emily tells you exactly what's coming.

We cover:

• Why she fired someone for refusing to adopt AI (and automated their job immediately)
• How one team member automated an entire salary out of the business
• The South Africa + AI combination making UK roles obsolete
• Why she's training thousands in AI but employing none of them
• What happens to recruitment when one person can do the work of five
• Her plan to 3x placements without hiring a single person

This isn't a prediction about 2030.

This is happening right now. In Emily's business. Today.

And if you're not preparing for it, you're already behind.

If you want to understand what the next 12 months actually look like for recruitment, this episode is essential.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Mark Thomas walked away from a six-figure salary without a concrete plan.

Three co-founders. One investment. Strict 9-month covenants.

Then came March: dozens of pitches, everyone loved the vision, but almost no one was buying. 

The retained leadership search model wasn't landing. They started questioning everything.

One week later, four retained searches landed. Revenue hasn't stopped climbing since.

12 months in: £1M+ revenue, 75% retained work, and a business model nobody else in insurance recruitment is executing at this level.

In this episode:

• Why he nearly pivoted to golf (and why recruitment pays better)
• The £150k-£350k leadership gap nobody was serving properly
• Turning down every role under £120k to protect the brand
• Building the "Real Madrid of recruiters" with 10-15 elite billers
• How retained search gives you three-month revenue visibility
• The profit share model that creates a partnership without equity

This isn't a scale-to-50-people story. This is about building a boutique firm where being the worst recruiter in the room means you've hired brilliantly.

For recruitment founders who want quality over quantity and believe 10 great people beats 50 average ones.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Chris & Gemma built a 7-figure agency by saying NO to 90% of clients

Chris walked into a client meeting. Got the job brief. Then said "No way."

The client looked at him like he was insane.

"You haven't shown me the office. I don't know your team. I can't work on this job."

She'd just told him they were more expensive than every other agency.

He didn't care.

This is how Chris and Gemma built Mixos - a husband-and-wife recruitment agency that operates completely backwards.

They REFUSE to take briefs over email. They WON'T work with clients who rush them. They'd literally rather go bankrupt than cut their fees.

And somehow? Rookies from retail are billing £50k+ quarters. They've grown to 15 people in 18 months. Their LinkedIn DMs are full of warm leads.

In this episode:

• Why they lost one job last month and Chris "felt like someone stuck a knife in him"
• The cocktails-in-Mallorca conversation that merged two agencies during a pandemic
• How they got a psychology graduate with zero experience to £53k in 90 days
• Building a 400-person local community that makes cold calling irrelevant
• Why they walked away from their biggest client (and replaced it with 5 better ones)
• The "blueprint everything first" strategy that stops quality diluting as you scale
• What happens when you tell a client, "I can't help you" in the first meeting

This isn't about growth hacks or AI tools or scaling fast.

This is about two people who set impossible standards, refuse to compromise, and somehow built an agency where saying NO is their superpower.

For every recruiter who's tired of competing on price and wondering if there's another way.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Mick Donaghy: How he built $1.4M from $7K (after his partnership collapsed)

Mick Donaghy's mother died when he was in his twenties.

Life's too short became his operating system.

He left Ireland. Moved to New Zealand. Became a top-billing recruiter! 

A few years later, he got his shot at ownership. A partnership to launch an Australian business for the agency he worked. 

For many reasons, this partnership didn’t work, so Mick paid back his business partner and walked away with $7,000 in his bank account.

No business. No plan B.

This time, he was doing it alone.

GEDON was born - named after his Mum.

Ultra-niche: quantity surveying and cost management. One discipline. Total focus.

• 12 months later: $1.4M AUD in billings.
• 65 placements. One person every three days.

But here's what makes Mick different.

He's not building an empire.- he’s building freedom!

Currently has 9 people, 5 offshore making 40%+ profit margins.

Last week, he won 3 new clients from his personal brand. Zero cold calls.

He just bought a 100-year-old house in Belfast. Cash.

He drives an old Toyota Corolla, does 30 minutes in the sauna daily and is two and a half years into rebuilding his relationship with alcohol.

He’s now set a new and incredible target: 20-hour work week. $300-400K profit annually.

This week on The RAG Podcast, Mick tells the full story.

We cover:

• The partnership in Australia that COVID nearly destroyed
• How he started Gedon with $7K and built it to $1.4M in year one
• Why ultra-niche made his business borderless
• The personal brand strategy that replaced cold calling
• Why he refuses to scale headcount
• His sobriety journey and the 20-hour work week plan

This isn't about scaling fast.

It's about a man who lost his mom young, tried a partnership that collapsed, and rebuilt everything from $7,000 into a million-dollar business that gives him his life back.

No investor decks. No growth-at-all-costs.

Just freedom over headcount.

If you've ever wondered whether there's another way to build a business—one that doesn't trap you -this episode has the blueprint.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don't miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here's the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That's the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we've created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you'll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency's most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Jordan Shlosberg: Why agency recruiters will win (and internal TA won't)

Jordan Shlosberg runs Atlas CRM—the fastest-growing, AI-native recruitment platform in the world.

Thousands of recruiters use his technology every day. Real-time data. Real billings. Real problems being solved.

If anyone knows what's actually working with AI in recruitment, it's him.

"Internal talent teams have a lot to worry about. Agency recruiters? There's a renaissance coming."

Here's why:

Agency recruiters have years of candidate conversations. Reference calls. Market knowledge built through relationships. The ability to cut through 1,500 AI-generated applications with actual insight.

Internal TA has a resume. Sometimes a screening call. That's it.

But here's the problem: agency recruitment only represents 7-8% of all hires in Europe.

We could grow our share massively. Or we could shrink into irrelevance.

The difference? How quickly we become AI-literate.

This week on The RAG Podcast, Jordan and I go deep on what's actually happening in recruitment AI.

We cover:

• Why Atlas crossed $1M ARR in 10 months while the market contracted
• How clients are growing from 4 to 15 seats in under a year
• The fatal flaw in "agentic job boards" like Jack & Jill
• Why sourcing platforms only show you 50% of LinkedIn's data
• The partnership we're launching to make recruiters top 5% AI users

This isn't another "AI is coming for your job" panic post.

This is strategic intelligence from someone watching what actually works across thousands of recruiters every day.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don't miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here's the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That's the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we've created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you'll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency's most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Ricky Burns: How to build £1.1M profit in year one (after losing it all at 32)

Ricky Burns made incredible money at 28

Then he drank it all away.

Partied it into oblivion and got hit with a massive VAT bill he couldn't pay.

Most people never recover from that kind of failure, but at 32, he decided to shut the business down and start again.

He went back into employment for 11 years.

Ran European divisions. Watched. Learned. Took notes on what actually works.

Then in September 2024 he launched Pulse Group with his co-founder Tony.

12 months later:

• £1.4M in fees
• £1.1M in EBITDA (profit)

I don't know anyone who's achieved these numbers in year one.

This week on The RAG Podcast, Ricky breaks it all down.

We cover:

• How they hit £1.1M profit in 12 months (it's simpler than you think)
• What killed his first business (beyond the partying)
• The 10 years of lessons that made the comeback inevitable
• Why he paired recruitment with SOW consultancy
• The systems and client focus driving 83% margins
• How AI is making them more efficient without adding headcount
• Why work-life balance is now non-negotiable

This isn't your typical "I scaled fast" story.

This is brutal honesty about failure, sobriety, and building something sustainable the second time around.

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

Matt Fox achieved a life-changing exit and walked away in 90 days!

Matt Fox was 72 hours from a multi-seven-figure exit when COVID killed the deal.

What followed: a complete breakdown, 2 years of therapy, and a total rebuild.

But he did it differently the second time.

Cut from 30 stressed employees to 10 people he loved. Stripped costs. Turned it into a cash machine. By 40, he'd cleared his mortgage and bought Spanish properties with cash.

Then, in November 2024, he sold the business and walked away in 3 months.

In this episode:

• Why scaling to 30 people nearly destroyed him
• The "cash cow" strategy that made him wealthy before the exit
• How to build a team that doesn't need you
• What selling a business actually feels like (the bit nobody warns you about)
• Why 80% of recruitment founders get exits wrong

This isn't your typical scale-and-sell story. This is what it really takes to lose everything, rebuild on your terms, and exit with your sanity intact.

For recruitment founders running 5-30 person agencies, wondering what happens next.

Chapters

• 00:03:00 Building Dynamite Recruitment
• 00:09:00 Challenges and Resilience
• 00:15:00 Restructuring for Profitability
• 00:21:00 The Sale Process
• 00:27:00 Lessons Learned and Future Plans

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

This week on The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Nick Hoadley, founder of Insurance Search, a specialist executive search practice in the global insurance market.

Nick quit a successful broking career nine years ago and launched a recruitment business with zero agency experience. Since then, he has shifted from 100% contingent to 100% retained, built a lean team, and maxed out a seven-figure practice while holding 50 to 60% profit margins. He is now expanding in the US with a partner model designed to scale without fixed overheads.

We talk about:

- How he went from insurance broker to founder with no prior agency experience

- The playbook for moving from 100% contingent to 100% retained

- Why a podcast and thought leadership now drive executive mandates worldwide

- Building a lean delivery engine, research and board search that sustains 50% plus margins

- The US partner model that scales without headcount or fixed overhead

- What to productise next, from human capital research to peer forums

- Practical advice on letting go of delivery to win bigger work

If you are aiming to grow an executive search practice while protecting profit, this is the episode to watch.

Chapters

00:00:30 Nick Hoadley's Journey

00:01:00 From Contingent to Retained

00:01:28 Impact of Podcasting

00:01:57 Aligning Personal and Professional Goals

00:02:27 AI and the Future of Recruitment

00:02:57 Building Client Trust

00:03:27 Scaling with a Partner Model

00:03:59 The US Market Expansion

00:04:28 Conclusion and Future Outlook

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

It doesn’t only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it’s entering a whole new era.

With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.

Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that’s not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.

No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.

Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

This week, on episode 1 of season 9 of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Samm Green, co-founder of Few & Far, a UK-based product management recruitment business with 22 people and a powerful story of resilience.

Samm was the very first guest I ever recorded on The RAG back in 2019, and at that time, he had big plans to scale to 40 staff and eventually exit. While some of that came true, the road since has been far from smooth.

In this episode, Samm opens up about:

- The financial and emotional toll of losing over £350,000 during the market downturn.

- How burnout and stress led to physical illness and a trip to A&E.

- The decision to rebuild and focus on profit, not just growth.

- Why transparency and community have been key to recovery.

- How he’s turned the business around to be on track for £1m EBITDA in 2025.

This is one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had on The RAG. It’s a story about resilience, leadership and learning what success really means when the pressure hits hardest.

Chapters

00:00 Sam Green's Journey

02:53 The Growth and Challenges of Few&Far

05:55 Navigating the Post-COVID Landscape

09:00 The Impact of Financial Loss on Mental Health

11:27 Lessons Learned from Redundancies and Business Cuts

14:36 Rebuilding and Regaining Profitability

17:20 The Importance of Mental Health in Business

20:17 Strategies for Business Development and Community Building

23:16 The Future of Recruitment in a Changing Market

26:00 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations

28:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Admin is a massive waste of time. That’s why there’s Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.

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With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.

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Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.

Don’t miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Every recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.

Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.

Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.

But here’s the question almost no one can answer:

How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?

Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.

That’s the problem we solve.

At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.

Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn:

- Why most recruiters are getting zero measurable ROI from LinkedIn

- How small, niche teams are generating consistent inbound demand

- The 3X Revenue System we use to turn LinkedIn into a predictable cash-generating channel

So fill in the form today to see how this system could transform LinkedIn into your agency’s most profitable channel: https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0

This week on The RAG Podcast, I am revisiting my episode with Anthony Webster, Managing Director of DVF Recruitment and board member at Career Legal.

Anthony and I go way back - we worked together for five years and even planned to launch Hoxo together before his journey took a different turn. At that point, Anthony made a life-changing decision: he came out as gay after years of hiding his true self.

We talk about:

• The challenges of coming out in a male-dominated industry
• Why authenticity and inclusion are vital for culture and growth
• His journey from recruiter to MD and board member
• The impact of living openly on his career and leadership style
• How DVF has grown under his leadership as part of the Career Legal group

Anthony’s story is powerful, personal, and incredibly inspiring. It’s about resilience, honesty, and the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces in recruitment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the RAG Podcast and Guest Introduction

01:28 Anthony's Journey: Coming Out and Career Choices

03:36 Career Path: From Recruitment to Managing Director

08:25 The Drive for Success: Personal Background and Motivation

11:19 Building Relationships in Recruitment: The Importance of Consistency

15:28 The Decision to Come Out: Personal Struggles and Growth

19:03 Navigating Life After Coming Out: Personal and Professional Changes

22:51 Integrating into the LGBTQ Community: New Experiences and Friendships

33:00 The Future of DVF Recruitment: Growth and Inclusion

48:58 Creating an Inclusive Environment in Recruitment

01:00:01 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for DVF and Personal Life

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Episode Sponsor: Atlas

Your memory isn’t perfect. So Atlas remembers everything for you. 

Atlas is an end-to-end recruitment platform built for the AI generation. It automates your admin so you can focus on the business tasks that matter. 

How many conversations do you have every day? With clients. Candidates. Your team. Service providers.

Now how many of those conversations can you recall with 100% accuracy? How many hours a week do you spend making notes to try and retain as much as possible? And how much is still getting lost along the way? 

Traditional CRM systems weren’t built for the type of recruitment business you’re running right now. 

They were built to rely on the structured, tagged, categorised, and formal data you could feed it. Manual processes that needed you to input specific information, based on specific questions and answers. 

But what about all the other conversations you’re having every single day? 

Atlas isn’t an ATS or a CRM. It’s an Intelligent Business Platform that helps you perform 10X better than you could on your own. 

How? 

By removing all your low value tasks, acting as your perfect memory, and providing highly relevant recommendations to impact your performance. 

Learn more about the power of Atlas – and take advantage of the exclusive offer for The RAG listeners – by visiting https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/ 

__________________________________________

Episode Sponsor: Hoxo

Recruitment agency founders - this one’s for you.

What’s your plan for the rest of 2025?

If it’s based on more cold outreach, referrals, or hiring more recruiters… we’ve got news for you. That’s not where the smart money is going.

The market has changed. AI is everywhere. Noise is louder than ever.

So if you want to scale profitably this year, you need to do things differently!

It starts with what you already have.

Your experience. Your network. Your voice.

And we are showing you exactly how to use it in a brand-new, FREE Masterclass - built specifically for recruitment leaders like you.

You’re going to learn:

• Why your LinkedIn content isn’t working - and how to fix it fast
• How to generate inbound leads without being “LinkedIn famous”
• And the exact Hoxo 3X System agencies are using to book more calls - in just a few hours a week

78% of our clients made over 100K in the first 6 months using this. No fluff. No guesswork. Just stuff that works.

The Masterclass is free - but it’s only available for a limited time.

So if you’re serious about growing this year, don’t wait.

Head to https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0  to get started. See you there!