Behind the Mic: The Talent Drive Story Ep #99

In this special episode of the Talent Talks podcast, we have a new host, Warren Munson, founder of Evolve and The Evolve to Succeed Podcast interview our normal host Martin Smith, about his journey as an entrepreneur and running a recruitment group of businesses.  Martin shares his early experiences in recruitment, the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of his company, Talent Drive. He discusses his aspirations to be a market disruptor and his passion for the procurement community.  Martin also talks about the expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with the launch of Talent Finance. He reflects on the growth and success of Talent Drive over the past four years. He emphasises the importance of focusing on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.  Martin discusses the future of the recruitment industry, highlighting the need for adaptability to technology and the rise of ESG and sustainability. He also shares insights on fostering a positive culture and transparent communication within a remote business. He envisions the future of Talent Drive as a growing international presence with a focus on diversification and a one-stop-shop service offering. Here are the key takeaways from this episode of the Talent Talks Podcast:Starting a recruitment business can be challenging, but with perseverance and a competitive spirit, it is possible to succeed.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Talent Drive faced significant challenges, but by pivoting their approach and doubling down on marketing, they were able to overcome the obstacles.Talent Drive aims to be a market disruptor in the recruitment sector by focusing on building relationships, providing thought leadership, and championing the procurement community.The expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with Talent Finance allows the company to diversify its revenue stream and better serve clients in the procurement community. Focus on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.Foster a positive culture through trust, transparency, and open communication. Chapters 00:00 - The Journey of an Entrepreneur 10:02 - The Itch to Start Something Myself 19:15 - Scary, Exciting, and Fun: Early Days of Talent Drive 23:24 - Being a Market Disruptor: Building Relationships and Providing Thought Leadership 25:49 - Expanding into New Horizons: Talent Drive"s Venture into Accountancy and Finance 26:18 - Building a Trusted and Valued Team 27:47 - Opportunities and Potential in Finance 29:41 - Shifting Focus from Numbers to Quality of People 30:05 - Creating a Great Business that Serves Customers 33:26 - Balancing Work and Personal Life 35:24 - Being Present and Grounded 37:17 - Thriving in the Recruitment Industry 41:37 - Adapting to Technology in Procurement 42:59 - Emotional Intelligence in Recruitment 43:56 - Fostering a Positive Culture in a Remote Business 48:42 - The Future of Talent Drive: International Expansion and Diversification 50:58 - Defining Success: Working with People Who Want to Work with You