Episode 36: “The Recruiter Who Started A Failed Tech Co So Started Again” with James Jennings Sourcr

Recruitment Journeys: The Podcast Series from Mint R2R

Recruitment Journeys: The Podcast Series from Mint R2R

30:22

If your marketing grew like a dividend-reinvestment plan, would you still let a quarterly target dictate every decision? Agility requires stacking returning gains faster than the market changes—think compound interest, but for marketing campaigns. Today we’re going to talk about the Compound Marketing Engine, agentic AI, and why “data-driven” still needs greater adoption among leaders. To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Chris O'Neill, CEO of GrowthLoop. About Chris O'Neill Chris O’Neill is CEO of GrowthLoop and a board director at Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS). His 25+ year career includes leadership roles at Google Canada, Evernote, and Xero, and board experience at Tim Hortons. As an advisor and investor, his portfolio includes Koho, Plus AI, and Neeva (acquired by Snowflake). Chris lives in Northern California with his wife, two children, and their dog Teddy. Chris O'Neill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/croneill/ Resources GrowthLoop: https://www.growthloop.com https://www.growthloop.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 " Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company…

5 years ago 45:43

M4A•Episode home

James Jennings and his business partner, Chris Almond are a classic start-up story. Fuelled by total self-belief, financed with money from friends and family, and pushed on by not only a desire to not let those people down, but also because they absolutely believe there is a need for their business and their product in the Recruitment marketplace. In this chat, James is super honest about how they got Sourcr off the ground, what it meant to them and the sacrifices they had to make in their personal lives, and what they did when they were faced with the grim realisation that things were simply not going according to plan. Did they throw in the towel, or go back to the drawing board? There’s a clue in the title of this episode that we’ve called “The Recruiter Who Started A Tech Company, Which Failed, So Started Again”.

69 episodes

Episode 36: “The Recruiter Who Started A Failed Tech Co So Started Again” with James Jennings Sourcr

Recruitment Journeys: The Podcast Series from Mint R2R

published 5 years ago

M4A•Episode home

69 episodes

All episodes

1
Episode 69: Sandra Rowlingson from Bluefin Resources 56:54

2 years ago56:54

56:54

What’s is it like to join a company as one of their very first employees, then go on a 17 year journey with them through GFCs, recessions, pandemics, sale of the business, highs, lows and everything in between? And how does it shape you as a professional? Well, we ask these questions (and more) of the wonderful Sandra Rowlingson from Bluefin Resources, in this week’s episode of “Recruitment Journeys”.…

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Episode 68: David “DJ” Jackson from the S-Core Group and the Beneficial Beer Co 1:01:58

2 years ago1:01:58

1:01:58

For most Recruiters, it’s a giant leap of faith to start one recruitment firm… Let alone three or four! But this is exactly what serial recruitment entrepreneur David “DJ” Jackson has done over his his 20+ year recruitment career. (And that’s not including the ones that maybe haven’t been so successful!) Dave doesn’t like the word “entrepreneur”. He says that title is a little bit cringe. But, like it or not, that’s exactly what he is. He’s undoubtedly a man who takes risks, and turns opportunities and dreams into business realities. And that has been proven again most recently when DJ completely reinvented himself as a Brewer-extraordinaire of non-alcoholic, award-winning beer, Beneficial Beer. This podcast is a roller coaster ride. Hope you can keep up!…

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Episode 67: James Ward from Clarity R2R 1:14:21

2 years ago1:14:21

1:14:21

How many of us can truly say they’ve made Recruitment work for them? Well, this man certainly can! Swapping the illuminations of Blackpool for the palm trees of Miami, James Ward has had a glittering career in the industry that we call “Recruitment”. From top billing contract Recruiter at the SThree Group, to international Rec2Rec, Wardy has seen it all. And it was lovely reconnecting with James after all these years, and talking through all things SThree, Rec2Rec, and just recruitment life in general. Those of you who know Wardy will know he’s one of the industry’s good guys, and so I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. 🌴…

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Episode 66: Jay O’Brien from Redpath Partners 1:11:48

2 years ago1:11:48

1:11:48

Jay O’Brien worked for Hays, a global recruitment company for over 13 years. Then, he decided to spin his career completely on it’s head and go and work for privately owned specialist, Redpath Partners. Every element of his day-to-day worklife would now be completely different! Or would it? We chat with Jay around his reasoning to immerse himself into a completely different working culture and environment, the pro’s and the con’s, the key differences, and ultimately, if the move has paid off. This career pathway (from “global” to privately owned specialist) is not unique to Jay. Many have done it before, and many will do it in the future. So we were grateful to Jay for talking us through his own personal experience, in the hope that it can help others considering such a move. Hope you enjoy this weeks episode of Recruitment Journeys.…

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Episode 65: Paul Hallam from Six Degrees Executive 46:47

2 years ago46:47

46:47

Paul Hallam is an absolute stalwart of the Australian Recruitment Industry, enjoying a career spanning well over a quarter of a century. As one of the three founding Directors of Six Degrees Executive, this is a career spurred on by one key ingredient: Passion. Paul has many passions and drivers in his life, all of which are talked about in this episode of “Recruitment Journeys”, recorded live at the RCSA Shape Conference on Hamilton Island. I learned a few things about Paul that I didn’t know, having known him for at least 15 years, such was the openness of the conversation. To me, this felt less like a podcast interview in tropical paradise, and more like a couple of recruitment lifers sitting by a roaring fire and chatting the hour away! Hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did.…

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Episode 64: Jo Ward & Kat Docherty from MAYDAY Recruitment 41:09

2 years ago41:09

41:09

It took me about two years to get these particular recruitment leaders behind microphones, and I reckon they only agreed because the tropical holiday vibes were in full effect. Recorded live on sunny Hamilton Island at the RCSA Shape conference, Kat and Jo from MAYDAY Recruitment gave me a full, authentic and often amusing insight into how MAYDAY came about, and how they’re growing their company. The conversation was of course super sensible and business-like, but there was also quite a lot of chat about things like raving and pole-dancing. The MAYDAY Founders are a breath of fresh air, and I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.…

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Episode 63: Stu Holmes from The Green Collar Brigade and previously Co-Founder of Smaart Recruitment 1:06:32

2 years ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Stu Holmes comes from a loving and privileged family, and went to one of the best schools in the land, where his Father was the Principal. But sadly, despite this blessed start to life, life did not quite pan out for Stu the way it was possibly supposed to. Stu found himself in prison, which was a sad conclusion to a life (at the time) in a downward spiral. Without a shadow of doubt, this is the most honest and indeed confronting podcast interview I’ve ever conducted. I’m so grateful to Stu Holmes for agreeing to tell his story. But, now that I’ve got to know Stu, it comes as little surprise that he’s happy to share a story that can only serve as a warning to those who hear it. Stu now lives his life advocating for second chances through the Green Collar Brigade. He firmly believes people who make mistakes deserve a second crack at life. And a second chance is exactly what has been offered to Stu after finding himself in prison, at his own doing, just a few years after co-founding one of Melbournes best know recruitment brands. I hope this podcast touches you the same way it touched me, and you come out of it in agreement that absolutely everybody deserves a second chance in life.…

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Episode 62: Debbie Davis from Sirius People 45:25

2 years ago45:25

45:25

She doesn’t like talking about it too much, but Debbie Davis from Sirius People was recently awarded CEO Monthly Magazine’s “Most Influential CEO Award” for the IT recruitment industry. So we were chuffed and honoured that Debbie agreed to hop onto the Recruitment Journeys podcast to tell us how this farm girl from country New South Wales, and once budding Olympian, found herself to be the recipient of such a coveted award. Hope you enjoy the episode!…

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Episode 61: Nina Mapson-Bone from Beaumont People and the RCSA 54:12

2 years ago54:12

54:12

Nina Mapson-Bone is a busy human! She’s a Mum, an MD, Chair of the RCSA, sits on charity boards, and is now also an author! So high profile is her life, her colleagues affectionately refer to her as their very own “D-list Celebrity!” Nina crams a lot into her life, and she does it all with a very cheery disposition. But the subject of her new book “Meaningful Work: Unlock your unique path to career fulfilment” really caused me stop in my tracks and think about my own life… In a good way. Hope you enjoy the episode.…

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Episode 60: Erin Evans from Intelligen, and previously of Firesoft 58:16

2 years ago58:16

58:16

This is not a story that you often see play out in our industry. Erin Evans has just parted ways with her business partner of 11 years, and has sold her stake in the company that they started from scratch together from a small two desk office, to start all over again, on her own. They have mutually, and amicably, agreed to continue their entrepreneurial journeys separately, accepting that sometimes, things just don’t work out the way you planned. They originally had two businesses together (Intelligen and Firesoft) and they are now both 100% owners of just one of these companies. As I said, it’s not a story that’s overly common in our industry, but Erin has agreed to come on todays podcast and tell us with candour and transparency how they came to this tough decision. I’m so grateful to Erin for sharing this most recent, and potentially still raw, chapter of her life with us. Hope you enjoy the episode. ⛔️⚠️👹GREMLIN WARNING 👹⚠️⛔️ MANY APOLOGIES FOR THE POOR SOUND QUALITY OF (just) THE HOST ON THIS PARTICULAR EPISODE! THOSE BLOODY GREMLINS GOT HOLD OF MY MICROPHONE!👹…

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Episode 59: James Farrey from Just Digital People 51:16

2 years ago51:16

51:16

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Episode 58: Kristan De Sousa from Six Degrees Executive 42:25

2 years ago42:25

42:25

Most Recruiters don’t join a company and think to themselves, “Great, that’s me sorted for the next 16 years!” Most Recruiters, when they get that 7 year itch (or even 2 or 3 year itch), jump ship, or start looking for that greener grass. But what if you didn’t have to? What if the company you worked for allowed you to constantly evolve, constantly grow, be constant challenged, and be long-term happy? So that’s Kristan De Sousa’s story at Six Degrees Executive.…

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Episode 57: Ephram Stephenson from Collar Group. 1:00:53

2 years ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Ephram Stephenson epitomises the “recruitment entrepreneur”. In his 22 year career, he has successfully launched, scaled and sold more recruitment companies than most of us have had recruitment jobs. But with Collar Group, he seems to be achieving something a little bit out of the ordinary. Collar is less than 2 years old, but already has 13 offices, and 100+ staff, with close to 1000 temps running. What is the magic sauce that is helping Ephram achieve such crazy (early) successes? And what does the future look like for a business that’s achieved more in 2 years, than most do in their whole lifetime?…

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Episode 56: Ryan McCabe: “The Failed Engineer Who Pioneered VideoTech For The Recruitment Industry” 41:17

3 years ago41:17

41:17

Ryan McCabe was, in his own words and own admission, a failed engineer, then a failing Recruiter. But during his brief-ish foray into Recruitment, he has a lightbulb moment. With a wife seven months pregnant, zero evidence that his idea would work, but blind and unwavering belief, he founded Odro, and pioneered video-technology for the recruitment industry. In today’s candid chat, we chat with Ryan about the 7 year journey so far of launching a tech start-up from Glasgow, not the Silicon Valley, and how he set about getting the recruitment industry to start looking into camera phones all over the world. Hope you enjoy today’s chat.…

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Episode 55: “The Recruitment Industry Advisor Behind All The Big M&A Deals” with Paul Masters 42:49

3 years ago42:49