The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

From recruiter to CEO and majority shareholder, Matt Murphy’s journey at Levy Global is nothing short of remarkable. Now, with Rory McGowan joining from Opus as COO, the business is entering what they call "Levy 2.0" - a new chapter focused on scale, structure, and serious wealth creation. On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Matt and Rory, who now lead a 50-person business headquartered in the UK with offices in Amsterdam and Belgium. Matt shares how he joined Levy as a recruiter 22 years ago, led two management buyouts, and transitioned from top biller to CEO. Rory explains why he left a global leadership role managing 150+ people to join a high-margin, high-growth business with a clear trajectory and massive opportunity ahead. In this episode, we discuss * How Matt took ownership through phased MBOs to lead Levy into its next phase * Rory’s decision to downsize the team size but upscale in ambition * What it really takes to scale a recruitment business for exit * How they’re building a leadership team and operational engine to match their vision * Why clarity, culture, and autonomy are key to navigating the AI era If you're thinking about scale, succession, and what comes after strong performance, this episode is full of lived experience and strategy. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Levy Global and Its Growth Journey 03:03 Matt Murphy's Transition from Recruiter to CEO 06:05 Rory McGowan's Move to Levy Global 08:54 The Management Buyout Experience 12:03 Challenges and Lessons from the First MBO 14:49 Building a Leadership Team and Managing Growth 18:00 Navigating COVID-19 and Its Impact on Business 21:12 Cultural Differences in Professional Environments 25:11 Transitioning Leadership and Team Dynamics 28:41 The Drive for Growth and Legacy 36:36 The Role of a COO in Scaling Business 41:27 Navigating Change and Building a Strong Team 49:09 Financial Strategies and Preparing for Growth 50:57 Navigating Unique Deal Structures 52:05 Personal Reflections on Career Transitions 54:51 Exploring Business Opportunities and Challenges 57:58 Initial Impressions and Early Contributions 01:00:23 Gathering Insights from Team Members 01:02:22 Combining Business Models for Growth 01:05:08 Strategic Changes in Client Management 01:10:59 Future Vision for Recruitment and Growth 01:17:25 Advice for Future Leaders 01:23:49 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations __________________________________________ Episode Sponsor: Untapped Untapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies. They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES!  We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire.  If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be! Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly! Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ  __________________________________________ 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! __________________________________________

What does it take to bill over $1 million a year for seven years straight, while leading the highest-performing team in your company? On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Jay Wynter, SAP Practice Lead at Precision Sourcing in Australia. From a tough start in recruitment to becoming a standout performer, Jay has built an elite billing record and helped shape a team known for its consistency and culture. In this episode, we discuss * How Jay has billed $1 million annually for seven consecutive years * The leadership mindset that built the most consistent team in the business * How personal branding and podcasting helped deepen relationships * Why balancing delivery, culture and family is at the heart of his approach If you’re serious about high performance in recruitment—either as a biller or a leader—this is the one to watch. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Guest Introduction 01:07 Jay Wynter's Journey to Australia and Recruitment 07:25 Transition from Football to Recruitment 14:29 Early Challenges in Recruitment 19:45 Adapting to COVID-19 and Leadership Response 23:02 Embracing LinkedIn and Personal Branding 27:29 Early Wins and Building a Personal Brand 28:52 The Power of Podcasting in Recruitment 31:37 Leadership and Team Dynamics 36:19 Value-Driven Recruitment Strategies 41:36 Work-Life Balance and Family Impact 47:55 Future of Recruitment and Business Growth __________________________________________ 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/ [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 [https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0]  to get started. See you there!

What does growth really look like in 2025's recruitment market? For Dan Moussa, it means combining consulting skills, AI adoption and personal branding to move the industry forward. On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I'm joined by Dan Moussa, founder of Talesca, a specialist recruitment business in Australia. Dan’s story is one of consistent adaptation, leaning into the tools and strategies that add genuine value in a fast-changing space. In this episode, we discuss * How personal branding has shaped Talesca’s growth * Why consistency and consulting skills are more vital than ever * How AI is transforming recruitment models and client expectations * What it takes to build a business that stays relevant and delivers value If you’re a recruitment founder looking to evolve your business, sharpen your commercial edge or understand how to futureproof your brand and delivery, this episode is well worth your time. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Rag Podcast 01:50 Overview of Talesca and Its Growth 03:36 Reflections on Recruitment Career Beginnings 09:14 The Importance of Consistency in Recruitment 20:28 Current State of Recruitment and AI Impact 28:53 The Value of Time in Recruitment 31:12 Consulting Skills in Recruitment 34:29 The Future of Recruitment: Data and AI 39:16 Changing Recruitment Models 44:01 Defining Success in Recruitment 49:05 Building a High-Performing Team 55:35 Community Building and AI in Recruitment __________________________________________ Episode Sponsor: Untapped Untapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies. They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES!  We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire.  If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be! Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly! Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ  __________________________________________ 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!

What does it take to go from running a cleaning business to founding a global recruitment firm? Leon Mitton shares how he launched Agnes Cole Consulting during COVID and is now using AI to drive scale and efficiency in a way few are even attempting. On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Leon Mitton, founder of Agnes Cole Consulting, a specialist SAP and S4 HANA recruitment firm based in the UK and operating globally. Leon started with no background in business and built everything from the ground up. In this episode, he opens up about his journey, the role of personal fulfilment in entrepreneurship, and how he’s using AI to build a lean, high-performing business for the future. In this episode, we discuss * How Leon went from cleaning homes to closing global recruitment deals * What it was like launching a company at the peak of COVID * Why AI is the future of outbound and client engagement in recruitment * His vision for creating a long-term legacy for his family If you're thinking about what recruitment could look like in five years or want to hear a story rooted in grit, innovation, and purpose, this episode is not to be missed. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leon Mitton and Agnes Cole Consulting 02:14 Leon’s Journey: From Cleaning Business to Recruitment 10:01 Navigating Recruitment During COVID-19 12:29 The Transition to Entrepreneurship 15:05 Establishing Agnes Cole Consulting 17:12 Growth and Challenges in Year Two 19:11 The Messy Middle: Managing a Growing Team 24:28 Reflections on Business and Personal Fulfillment 27:08 Creating a Legacy for Future Generations 30:46 The Role of AI in Recruitment 32:19 Intentional Parenting and Education Choices 34:36 The Evolution of School Systems 37:04 Communication Skills as a Superpower 39:10 The Impact of Technology on Recruitment 41:44 AI's Influence on Client Relationships 46:18 Adapting to Change in Recruitment 51:00 The Future of Recruitment and Business Structure 55:23 Finding Joy in the Recruitment Journey 01:01:20 Inspiring Others Through Personal Stories __________________________________________ 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/ [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 [https://hubs.ly/Q03lBpYC0]  to get started. See you there!

What happens when scaling your recruitment business doesn’t bring success, but stress? Tom Warner opens up about the highs and lows of building GroTech and why going solo was the best decision he ever made. On this week's episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Tom Warner, founder of GroTech, a specialist go-to-market recruitment agency for SaaS businesses in the Nordics. Tom launched GrowTech during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced two strong years of growth, built a team of seven and then decided to scale it all the way back to just himself. Now he's billing over £500K annually and loving the freedom and focus of a lean model. In this episode, we discuss: * Why Tom chose to step back from managing a team and go solo * The lessons learned from hiring mistakes and scaling too quickly * The emotional and financial pressures that come with business ownership * How clarity, efficiency, and focus are driving his next chapter of growth If you’re a recruiter who’s scaled, stumbled, or simply wondering if bigger is always better, this episode offers a refreshing and honest take on what success can really look like. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Guest Background 02:52 Tom Warner's Journey to Founding GrowTech 05:46 The Early Days of GroTech and Initial Success 08:52 Challenges of Scaling a Recruitment Business 11:59 Navigating the Recruitment Landscape During COVID 15:06 Reflections on Growth and Future Plans 20:50 Navigating Recruitment Challenges 23:01 The Impact of Hiring Decisions 26:08 Crisis Management in Recruitment 29:57 Building a Personal Brand 34:03 Future Growth and Scaling Strategies __________________________________________ Episode Sponsor: Untapped Untapped is THE market leader and go-to agency for finding and hiring tried-and-tested offshore talent into UK, US and Australian-based recruitment companies. They’re providing top-class TEAMMATES, NOT OUTSOURCES!  We use Untapped for Hoxo’s own offshore hires, and it’s been a total game-changer for our team. No one else can compete with the quality of their network, their in-depth candidate assessment process or their time to hire.  If hiring elite-level overseas talent into your business to boost sales and increase productivity whilst saving yourself a huge amount in employment costs isn’t on your radar for 2024, it should be! Untapped are hiring recruitment, sales, marketing and support staff into recruitment agencies of all shapes, sizes and specialisms globally and they are growing rapidly! Join the waiting list today so you don’t miss out on the next cohort of business-launching hiring projects. https://bit.ly/47GGdvZ __________________________________________ 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!