Real Founder Journeys – Details, episodes & analysis

Alexandra Chirica, Founder of Recfindr, joins me to discuss her career journey that started when she was contemplating a career in law, then her segway into the recruitment industry, establishing her own recruitment agency during lockdown, and now launching the Rectech platform, Recfindr.

My conversation with Alex starts with some light-hearted banter about the Founder’s journey and the importance of wifi, she offers her insights and reflections on the recruitment industry, and she opens up about her personal and professional experiences that have shaped her entrepreneurial path.

Alex recounts her initial desire to pursue law, which stemmed from a longstanding ambition but ultimately shifted when she realised it wasn't a true calling. After completing her degree in English Literature, she felt lost in terms of career direction. Her entry into recruitment began incidentally during assessment days, where she unexpectedly found a fit in the role. Despite having no prior knowledge of recruitment, she flourished in the competitive environment.

She candidly emphasises the ethical challenges in the recruitment industry, reflecting on experiences that required a careful balance of trust between recruiters and candidates. She noted unprofessional practices in recruitment that exploit candidates' trust, stirring her moral compass. The discussion also touches on the difficulties faced by women in a male-dominated industry.

Transitioning to her entrepreneur phase, Alex shares how she co-founded Tale motivated by a desire to create a more ethical and candidate-centred recruitment experience. This venture exemplifies her commitment to upholding strong values in recruitment. At this point, we start to understand the origins of Recfindr, as the combination of her expertise in Fintech combined with recognising the value of specialised recruiters based on a niche model, really enhances efficiency and understanding in the hiring process.

Recfindr was conceptualised to address a gap in the recruitment market, where hiring managers often struggle to find suitable recruiters. Alex details her efforts to build an online community and how feedback has played a critical role in shaping the platform, also emphasising the importance of authenticity in personal branding and community building.

We explore her success with content creation and we deep-dive into her thoughts on the significance of creativity, resilience, and a solution-oriented mindset, as essential traits for Founders facing the uncertainties of entrepreneurship.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST FOLKS…

Alex wraps the conversation with BIG NEWS - she announces her ambitions for Recfindr over the next year, and her plans for angel investment to further enhance the platform's features and expand its user base. GET IN LINE INVESTORS!

MIC DROP! - We’re outta here….

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I'm super-excited to share this conversation with Michael Ekpe, Co-Founder of LEAP, as Michael's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, the power of continuous learning, and his sense of adventure and desire to meet and exceed a challenge. 

Arriving in the UK at just 16 years old, Michael had to work tirelessly to put himself through college while living with his brother. His determination saw him earn a degree in Business Information Systems and Computer Networks, but his path was far from straightforward. After facing rejections from numerous graduate programs, Michael found himself working in a call centre. However, his story took a significant turn when he received a call from a company where he had interned, kick-starting his formal journey into technology transformation.

From there, Michael's career trajectory soared. He became known for his technical expertise in handling large-scale tech transformation projects with leading companies like Fujitsu, Tesco Bank, and Worldpay. His reputation for exceeding technical challenges in fast-paced environments paved the way for his entry into UK Central Government.

Michael’s government career included key roles at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Treasury, and Public Health England. His journey into the C-Suite as Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Public Health England highlights his ability to navigate complex bureaucratic landscapes while driving digital innovation.

During our conversation, Michael shares his early experiences in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, where he learned the intricacies of government operations and met mission-driven team members. He discusses his transition into the C-Suite, emphasising leadership through strategy and people over technical expertise. Michael openly talks about the successes and challenges he faced, and he pays tribute to a previous leader who significantly influenced his leadership style within the UK Central Government.

We also explore Michael's latest venture, LEAP – Learning through Engagement, Application, and Practice. He shares the inspiration behind LEAP, its mission, and the vision for the next 12 months. LEAP aims to close the digital skills gap in the public sector by combining the structure of formal training with the flexibility of informal learning, providing a practical, engaging, and collaborative learning experience.

For some additional context, Michael and I met 12-years ago, when I was working in a recruitment agency and my client was Worldpay, and Michael was a contractor open to discussing a new career challenge; this again, is a testament to how Michael values and invests in building long-term relationships. 

Michael Ekpe is a human you're going to get to know very well during this conversation - even as a self-confessed introvert - he has a magnetic personality that draws you in as you want to learn more about his incredibly entrepreneurial journey. 

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Amali and I first met when she was CEO of Code First Girls, the largest provider of free coding courses for women in the UK; the impact she had here saw her awarded her MBE in the New Year's Honors list 2019 for ‘Services to diversity and training in the Tech Industry’. 

During our conversation, I learn about her experiences of Degree education and how she felt she'd "done the same degree twice", and she draws comparisons between the worlds of manufacturing and consumer product design. 

Amali talks to the importance of creating spaces to think and reflect, identifying opportunities for continuous learning and the importance of apprenticeships which can help individuals prepare for the working world, where the pace of technology is accelerating. 

Highlights of the conversation focuses on personal growth and continuous improvement (34:30), bringing thinkers together (38:00), measuring trust in business and adding a fiscal value on trust (41:00), innovation and company growth by hiring diverse talent (49:00), creating a culture where all cultures are welcome (50:40), building your own learning journey to be a better leader in a start-up (54:30), advising businesses around growth (1:05:00), and why she decided to join Subak, the world's first accelerator for climate not-for-profit (1:07:00). 

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My guest is the one usually asking the probing and insightful questions, so it was my pleasure to host Roderick Lambert and ask him about his career journey. 

Roderick’s mission is to help high-performing human-beings create 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮, 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮 and 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡 lives…and with a dual-focus on the 5 Pillars of Health: improve Sleep, Movement, Nutrition, Hydration, Stress levels, he helps people find and live the ‘best version of themselves’.

On the show we discuss Roderick’s early life and education focused on music and I discover he is a multi-instrumentalist amongst other musical talents…

...we discuss his thoughts and reflections on his own personal ambition, how his intrinsic confidence supported his decision-making when making bold career decisions that would open and end chapters of his life. 

We discover his two Aha moments... 

...the first, when he realised he’d become numb to his corporate job and that it didn’t have purpose, and the second, when he started to question health guidelines and that the simple “eat less, move more” advice would lead him to irreversible health issues. 

As we near the end of the conversation, we circle back on the subject of purpose and Roderick shares his theory on this subject and how we all have more choices -when it comes to our own  life’s purpose - than we realise!

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My guests are Joel De Mowbray and Morgan Da Silva, together they make the founding team of Yes Make. 
 
Yes Make believe in community empowerment through the construction of public spaces which inspire and are inspired by nature. Their process of ‘making’ in community spaces inadvertently fosters engagement from the community, from a place of curiosity rather than us giving unsolicited attention.

They aim to mitigate the Climate Emergency, both locally and globally, by encouraging outdoor education and facilitating low carbon transport and renewable energy whilst promoting creativity and play for people of all ages. 

Joel De Mowbray has six years of experience delivering public infrastructure projects from cycle superhighway 4 to liveable neighbourhoods with Greenwich and Lambeth councils. Joel has been woodworking and carving for the past 20 years. It is something that has run in his family for 4 generations and has culminated in the start of Yes Make.

In 2020 Morgan completed his master’s degree in sustainable energy systems and the transition away from fossil fuels and its social impact. Since then, he has joined Yes Make so that he can put all his experience into the practical execution of mitigating the climate crisis in his home town of London through circular economy construction practice and facilitating renewable energy in community spaces

I first met Joel and Morgan in a session on a Sustainable Accelerator Programme, where they were developing the Yes Make proposition, and exploring the use of technology in environmental impact. Since then, they have continued to evolve the business and create beautiful community spaces - check out their Instagram feed here 📽 Yes Make Instagram

Our conversation starts with their thoughts on the future direction of Yes Make, how they met again after 10-years, and rekindled a friendship. The beauty of a conversation with Joel and Morgan, is that it can go anywhere! - we learn about Joel's rebellious streak, Morgan's time in a hippy commune and his visit to the  Hadron Collider, their vision and excitement about the spaces they are creating, and where robotics might have a place in the future of their business. 

I am very thankful to have had this conversation with Joel and Morgan, and I thank them wholeheartedly for sharing their story and experiences. A truly AWESOME dynamic duo!

You can connect with my guests here: Joel De Mowbray and Morgan Da Silva

If you enjoyed the podcast, you can stay updated on all future Never Mind the Job Spec podcasts on our Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn

You can connect with me, Glenn Martin, on my website or via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

My guest is Mag Leahy, Head of Delivery & Tutor for Leaders Who Coach™, and Associate Certified Coach (ACC), has also had a successful career as a Responsive Angular Web Developer and Team Lead, driving the growth and development of Global brands, startups, and scale-ups. 

Mag and I met through a mutual friend, when we collaborated to create, deliver, and host an online event in 2020 called BC4Leaders - Decoding Leadership for a Changing World. 

On the podcast, Mag shares her experience of navigating through a male-dominated tech industry, how she became a mentor and advocate for fellow female tech professionals and those with ambitions for a career in tech. She is very positive about her experiences, with stories of supportive colleagues, opportunities to share, collaborate, and learn, and she shares what it takes to lead in a very competitive development space. 

As our conversation progresses, Mag shares her significant and life-changing battle with long-Covid, and this part of our conversation is very emotive for so many reasons - Mag shares how she realised that this was a longer-term illness, the journey she went on from a mental health perspective, how is shaped her thinking about her future, and she shares the support and help that has taken her to the very positive stage of her journey so far. 

We close out with Mag's advice for anyone leading through change and how employers can support their employees in a post-pandemic world. 

If you enjoyed the podcast, you can stay updated on all future Never Mind the Job Spec podcasts on our Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn

You can connect with me, Glenn Martin, on my website or via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

My guest is one of the nicest people you’re likely to meet on the talent acquisition, recruitment and HR circuit - Rohan Dickinson. 

Rohan and I were first introduced when he was a guest on The #SocialRecruiting Show back in 2019 and we’ve stayed connected since then…

...I wanted to get him on the podcast because he’s just recently changed careers and I wanted to learn more about the decision-making process behind that switch. 

Proof that on Never Mind The Job Spec, there isn’t really a script or structure - we start by chatting about Rohan’s ultra-marathon achievements and what motivates him to push himself to his physical limits and what “hitting the wall” feels like. 

Through our chat I discover more about Rohan’s educational background, how sport plays an important part in his physiological approach to work, his resilience in the face of personal and career challenges - such as redundancy due to Covid-19 - and his creativity in finding new opportunities and career pathways in HR and how he landed the Head of Partnerships at Adway. 

A really great moment for me was when Rohan shared his hopes for his son, Luca, as we chat about the future of work.

A note for listeners, I make reference to talking about being a Non-Executive Director and Leadership buy-in later in the podcast and we never actually get round to it...I think that opens the door for another chat with Rohan which I think would be really cool. For now, here's part 1 of our conversation....

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Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

My guests are entrepreneurs and co-founders Mae Yip and Samantha Hornsby

Mae and Sam are life-long friends and co-founders of ERIC, an acronym for the four principles that embody their process and company ethos - Empower, Represent, Immerse & Create.

Through the conversation, I discover why Sam and Mae established ERIC, how very different their respective career journeys have been, what they think about the world of talent acquisition and recruitment and how they aim to deliver continuous learning opportunities for the ERIC community.

ERIC is focused on supporting Gen Z individuals to source and find employment opportunities in the creative industry and Mae and Sam share fascinating facts and feedback from research they've conducted with their community - the findings are mind-blowing!

We also talk about investment in internships and apprentice level opportunities, employer responsibilities regarding their employees' mental health and well-being and how far does an employer's duty of care extend. 

A special moment for me personally was when Mae and Sam talk about how their relationship is the foundation for all they have achieved so far - VERY AWESOME and INSPIRATIONAL! 

We round out the show talking about their hopes for the future of ERIC and how they will continue on their mission to drive change for the betterment of their community! 

A small disclaimer for the show; we are interrupted a couple of times by my cat Iggy, and, full credit to Mae and Sam for answering possibly the most-winded question I’ve asked to date on the podcast to date - also, we laugh a lot!

You can connect with my guests on LinkedIn here: Mae Yip and Samantha Hornsby

If you enjoyed the podcast, you can stay updated on all future Never Mind the Job Spec podcasts on our Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn

You can connect with me, Glenn Martin, on my website or via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

My guest is the audio magician, Nicolae Bogdan Bratis

Nicolae is the founder of Saw & Sine & Saspod a boutique audio studio with a mission to offer the best sound for your music production, mixing & mastering and podcast and audiobook editing.

During the course of working with Nicole, I was struck by his passion for audio and music and this intrigued me - I was curious to know where this passion came from and what was the driving force behind it - so, I decided it was time to invite him on as a guest. 

Nicolae shares more about his early education and how this shaped his understanding of music, he discusses how music took him to the final of the Romanian X-Factor to playing in house bands across shows and TV in Bucharest....and most importantly, he shares his ‘Aha’ moment when he changed the direction of his career and came to the UK to study audio and then establish his business, Saw & Sine.  

For you music lovers who tune in, Nicolae also shares some of his early music and we chat about the future of his musical career under the name ‘Bratis’.

As a side-note, we do discuss the merits of classic Star Trek versus the new offerings such as Discovery - this could be quite contentious for fellow Trekkies! 

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Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/

My guest is the very AWESOME, Ted Hewett

Ted is now the Marketing Manager of Totem and he and I first met about 2-years ago at an HR and Recruitment event called DisruptHR, in London. I was struck by Ted’s energetic talk and his enthusiasm for promoting company culture - and at the time, I had no idea what he actually did for his company - an observation we chat about on the podcast! 

Ted joins me to talk about how his early career as a musician offered insights into marketing, how he decided to leave a degree in Law and study Philosophy and how he has navigated his way through a career in sales and his 'Aha' moment when he passionately connected with a company vision. 

We discuss his thoughts, observations and experience of company culture and he offers his opinion on how companies can be intentional about company culture and create meaningful connections with their people. We also discover why he has made the transition from sales to marketing and his vision for his new career pathway 

And of course...we find out why Ted encourages everyone to be Excellent To One Another! 

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Visit our website: https://nevermindthejobspec.com/