Anthony Webster on authenticity, inclusion and leading DVF Recruitment to success
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 industryWhy authenticity and inclusion are vital for culture and growthHis journey from recruiter to MD and board memberThe impact of living openly on his career and leadership styleHow DVF has grown under his leadership as part of the Career Legal groupAnthony’s story is powerful, personal, and incredibly inspiring. It’s about resilience, honesty, and the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces in recruitment.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the RAG Podcast and Guest Introduction01:28 Anthony's Journey: Coming Out and Career Choices03:36 Career Path: From Recruitment to Managing Director08:25 The Drive for Success: Personal Background and Motivation11:19 Building Relationships in Recruitment: The Importance of Consistency15:28 The Decision to Come Out: Personal Struggles and Growth19:03 Navigating Life After Coming Out: Personal and Professional Changes22:51 Integrating into the LGBTQ Community: New Experiences and Friendships33:00 The Future of DVF Recruitment: Growth and Inclusion48:58 Creating an Inclusive Environment in Recruitment01:00:01 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for DVF and Personal Life__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour 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: HoxoRecruitment 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...
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1:08:48
Laura Clark on taking over OA Group from her mum and leading it into the future
This week on The RAG Podcast, we are revisiting my episode with Laura Clark, CEO of OA Group.Laura’s journey is one of the most unique I’ve ever shared on the show. She grew up watching her mum build Osborne Appointments (now OA Group), joined the business at 19, and earlier this year bought it from her mother to take over as CEO.We talk about:What it was like growing up with an entrepreneurial mother as inspirationJoining the business at 19 and proving herself in recruitmentNavigating four children while building her own career and leadership styleThe emotional and strategic process of negotiating the buyout with her mumHer vision for OA Group, balancing legacy with innovationThis was the first time I’ve had a guest who has bought their business from a parent, and it raises so many relatable themes for any founder, from negotiating long-term relationships to building a business that truly reflects your values.Chapters00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Laura Clark02:21 Laura's Journey in Recruitment and Family Dynamics12:03 Early Career Challenges and Growth in Recruitment18:19 Transitioning to Management and Leadership28:38 Taking Over the Family Business32:44 Navigating Business Challenges34:37 The Emotional Dynamics of Family Business38:35 Reflections on Business Exits41:30 Post-Acquisition Vision and Growth49:54 Balancing Remote Work and Team Dynamics55:03 Gender Equality in Leadership59:43 Juggling Work and Family Life__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour 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: HoxoRecruitment 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
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1:10:16
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1:10:16
How Ben Wallin and Dan Cox scaled Edison Smart to 31 staff and expanded globally
This week on The RAG Podcast, I’m revisiting my episode with Ben Wallin and Dan Cox, founders of Edison Smart.When I spoke to them in August 2022, they’d already hit £1.7m revenue and built a team of nearly 20 in just over a year. One year later, they scaled to 31 employees, expanded into the US, put boots on the ground in Dubai, and built a structure that no longer relies on their own billing.We talk about:How they built an operational and leadership team that runs the agencyWhy they hired experienced recruiters while others were letting people goThe rebrand to Edison Smart and its focus on smart technologyHow they achieved 40 percent growth in 2023What it takes to truly work on the business, not in itFor any founder asking how to become more operational and scale sustainably, this episode is a clear roadmap.Chapters02:58 Edison Smart's Growth Journey06:01 Operational Structure and Leadership Dynamics09:11 Market Challenges and Strategic Responses11:57 Hiring Strategies and Team Expansion15:09 Navigating Market Changes and Client Relationships17:58 Headcount Growth and Recruitment Strategies22:03 Geographical Expansion: US and Dubai25:10 Branding and Rebranding: Edison Smart27:47 Operational Working Arrangements and Company Culture30:57 Key Takeaways and Future Vision__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour 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: HoxoRecruitment 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
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1:10:58
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1:10:58
Kevin Frater on leading global recruitment growth from 12 to 180 at Frank Group
This week on The RAG Podcast, we are revisiting Episode 1 from Season 7 with Kevin Frater, Director at Stable10 and a recruitment leader with over 18 years of experience across Allegis and Frank Group.Kevin built his reputation as a fixer, turning underperforming offices into high-performing teams. Most notably, he grew a team in Germany from 12 to 180 recruiters over six years, creating one of the most successful divisions within Frank Group globally.We talk about:The playbook for turning around underperforming recruitment teamsScaling internationally across London, Singapore and GermanyWhat it really takes to grow and manage high-performing sales culturesHow to balance leadership, travel and personal life at scaleWhy Kevin chose to take a break before his next chapterWhether you’re a manager looking to build and lead bigger teams or a recruitment business searching for a leader to drive growth, this episode is packed with insight.Chapters03:02 Kevin Frater's Journey in Recruitment08:25 Transition from Allegious Group to Frank Group14:32 Leadership and Team Growth Strategies20:10 Turning Around Underperforming Teams31:50 International Experience: Asia and Germany40:37 Challenges and Successes in the German Market48:32 Scaling the Team from 12 to 18055:35 Reflections on Career and Future Opportunities__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour 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: HoxoRecruitment 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...
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1:06:54
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1:06:54
Joe Jani on growing Metric Search to 90 heads and a private equity deal in six years
This week on The RAG Podcast, I’m revisiting my episode with Joe Jani, founder and CEO of Metric Search, one of the fastest growing recruitment firms in the world.Joe launched Metric in 2019 and in just six years has scaled to 90 heads across the US and UK. At only 31 years old, he’s already closed a private equity deal, taking seven figures off the table while setting the business on course for a $100m valuation.We talk about:The strategic decisions behind launching and scaling MetricNavigating the COVID pandemic without slowing momentumHow leadership and culture have fuelled rapid growthThe truth about managing and billing at the same timeWhat private equity means for the next stage of growthJoe’s story is proof that with the right vision, culture and commercial focus, you can scale globally at pace while still building a business that lasts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Joe Jarny and Metric Search02:09 Joe's Journey in Recruitment11:52 Launching Metric Search and Navigating COVID22:03 The MBO Process and Growth Strategy35:14 Private Equity Deal and Future Plans49:21 Personal Life and Work-Life Balance01:00:38 Myths in Recruitment and Leadership__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasYour 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: HoxoRecruitment 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 fastHow 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...
About The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast
We’re having real and raw conversations with successful recruitment entrepreneurs about what is happening in their businesses right now and their plans to navigate market changes.
Listen to The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast, The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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