In this episode, Andy Simpson sits down with Simon Brown, founder of Richard Knows Best and one of the most candid voices in recruitment, for a no-holds-barred conversation about agency growth, leadership, and learning the hard lessons of running a recruitment business.From selling Turtle Wax door-to-door as a teenager to building and exiting multiple recruitment businesses, Simon shares his unfiltered story—including the reality behind growing a business, dealing with imposter syndrome, and the shift from recruiter to strategic consultant. They explore what most recruitment founders get wrong, why culture eats process, and the importance of strategic planning in a sub-50 headcount world.If you're a recruitment founder, leader, or just someone in the game trying to build something sustainable, this one is a must-listen.🎙️ Key Topics 🔹 How Simon went from the phones at Walls Ice Cream to recruitment leadership 🔹 The role of strong female leaders in shaping his career 🔹 Why growing a business is harder than it looks from the outside 🔹 The story behind Richard Knows Best and redefining recruitment consultancy 🔹 How founders can get out of survival mode and plan for long-term growthShow Notes & Timestamps[00:00] – Opening & IntroductionsSimon’s cheeky take on agency know-it-allsWhy he and Andy hadn’t crossed paths until recently[03:00] – From Liverpool Estate to Sales HustlerSelling Turtle Wax from factory skipsEarly lessons in sales and graftChoosing uni after working at Walls Ice Cream[10:00] – Entering the WorkforceHow a customer service job led to internal recruitmentThe women who mentored him into leadershipMaking the leap to agency side with Reed[17:00] – Discovering His Strengths in BDWhy Simon thrived in strategic salesLessons from working with the police and public sectorThe power of process and relationships over smash-and-grab recruitment[27:00] – Hitting a Ceiling and Moving SouthThe laptop breakdown that changed his careerMoving from Liverpool to LondonCreating a client services division at Morgan Hunt[32:00] – Board Roles & Leadership LessonsImposter syndrome on the boardFemale leadership and emotional intelligence in actionChanging his accent to fit into London business life[40:00] – Why Richard Knows Best Was BornThe problem with short-term thinking in recruitmentWhy founders need long-term strategic planningThe “Tactical Review Day” explained[47:00] – Final Thoughts & TakeawaysThe most common struggles recruitment founders faceWhy sub-50 headcount agencies need real strategy, not just hustleEfficiency, clarity, and getting out of your own way

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