Why Community-Building is the Ultimate Differentiator in Recruitment, with Leo Hewett, Ep #250

The Resilient Recruiter

Imagine building a recruitment firm where every placement creates a real positive impact. That’s exactly what Leo Hewett set out to do when he launched Core3—a finance & accounting recruitment agency built on purpose, ethics, and community.

After reaching Director level in corporate recruitment, Leo launched Core3 in 2022 with a clear mission: to build a B Corp-certified business that goes beyond profit. Since then, Core3 has won multiple awards including REC's Startup of the Year (2023) and Business Leader’s Business of the Year (2024).

In this episode, Leo shares his journey of launching Core3, building values-led teams, and navigating setbacks without compromising on culture or impact.

🎧 Episode Highlights:
[03:23] How Leo’s mom inspired him to give back through recruitment
[08:43] Why he launched Core3 after 10+ years in corporate recruitment
[15:30] What makes Core3 a purpose-led recruitment firm
[28:33] Why values-based businesses attract great talent
[30:39] Core3’s growth journey: milestones and challenges
[34:59] How to reactivate clients with authenticity
[37:15] ROI from building a personal LinkedIn brand
[40:41] Following up with voice notes after engagement
[43:10] Creating inner-circle communities that drive value
[51:50] Hiring experienced consultants the right way
[57:15] Overcoming scaling challenges: culture and cash flow
[1:05:31] Metrics Core3 tracks to measure what really matters

💡 Building a Purpose-Driven Recruitment Firm

Leo launched Core3 with an inheritance-funded buffer and a bold idea: to build a business where 3% of all revenue goes to charity—chosen by the client after each placement. Core3’s B Corp certification is a mark of accountability, ethics, and ESG leadership that attracts both clients and candidates who care about impact.

“The values aren’t just on the wall—you can feel them. Every placement has meaning,” Leo explains.

💬 Adding Value Through Inner-Circle Communities

Core3 created non-sales-driven communities to bring like-minded finance leaders together. What started with The Conscious Finance Podcast evolved into in-person roundtables. These events:

Build trust and deepen relationships

Position Core3 as thought leaders

Offer exclusive peer networking

Create sustained engagement and loyalty

📈 Scaling a Business with Heart—Overcoming Culture & Cash Flow Challenges

Leo shares the two major hurdles he faced while scaling:

Culture – Early-stage ambiguity made it hard to embed values. He solved it by:

Setting clear expectations

Involving the team

Hiring value-aligned people

Cash Flow – Despite success, geopolitical disruption led to a 6-month loss. His team responded by:

Increasing visibility and accountability

Shifting from input KPIs to meaningful output metrics

Implementing OKRs to drive performance

Collaborating across departments to course-correct

Core3 navigated this rough patch without losing a single team member.

👤 About Leo Hewett

Leo is the Founder of Core3, a purpose-led, award-winning recruitment firm specializing in Finance & Accounting. He believes business should be a force for good—and Core3 leads the way by pledging 3% of revenue to community and environmental causes.

🔗 Connect with Leo & Core3:
Leo on LinkedIn | Core3 Website | Conscious Finance Podcast
Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube

📚 Mentioned:
Start With Why by Simon Sinek

🎙️ Connect with Mark Whitby:
Free Strategy Call | LinkedIn | @RecruitmentCoach on Instagram
Twitter: @MarkWhitby | Facebook

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